Mount Pleasant aka SoMa for South of Main is a vibrant and eclectic area known for its unusual stores, heritage buildings, artistic residents, and arts-focused festivals. The area is popular with urban professionals and families. Mount Pleasant is a young adult, well-educated and mobile community with a high population density. Most businesses are ‘micro’ sized – less than 5 employees. Recently, South of Main (SoMa) has transformed from a former working class neighbourhood into a cultured area with new upscale restaurants and bars along Main Street. There is a new area with commercial art galleries near the 2nd Avenue-Great Northern Way route called 'The Flats'.

Since 2004, The Drift Art Festival has included a wide range of arts and community-based events that occur in galleries, businesses, restaurants, open studios, community organizations and public spaces around Main Street from Industrial to 33rd during Fall. In more recent years, The Flats is now Vancouver’s hottest art district with galleries that have relocated to the affordable and large warehouse spaces along East 2nd Avenue and Great Northern Way. All within walking distance for convenience, galleries include: Catriona Jeffries, Chernoff Fine Art, Equinox Gallery, Gallery 295, Grunt Gallery, Macaulay Fine Art, Monte Clark, Winsor Gallery, WAAP and more!

The main dwelling type in the Mount Pleasant area is apartments and condos with less than five stories. Mount Pleasant is home to a much greater percentage of this type of housing as compared with the Vancouver average. This is primarily due to Mount Pleasant’s historical zoning mix, which is transforming to accommodate greater density to include mid-rises and high-rises. In recent years, new condominiums are clustered near the Kingsway corridor, while numerous loft homes flourish near 2nd Avenue, known as “Loftland”.

Mount Pleasant is a young adult, well-educated and mobile community with a high population density. The area is comprised of more residents with British (English, Scottish and Irish), Canadian and Filipino heritage than average for the city of Vancouver, and significantly fewer with Chinese heritage. Household sizes in this area are smaller than the Vancouver average, and with a higher proportion of apartment type housing. Reflecting their young age, a high percentage of Mount Pleasant residents are in the labour force.

Mount Pleasant residents enjoy several parks in the neighbourhood. Mount Pleasant Park is a newly redeveloped park at 3161 Ontario Street, featuring a central great lawn area, new playgrounds, sports court, parking lot, entry-level skate spot, a community garden, seating, universally accessible paths and picnic areas. Jonathan Rogers Park at 110 West 10th Avenue offers playing fields, playground, and spots for resting; a lovely community garden adds colour and vitality to the park while, Tea Swamp Park at 266 East 15th Avenue is a small and beautiful park that is a pleasure to visit. The name is a reminder of the Labrador tea plants that once flourished in the area. Robson Park at 599 Kingsway, is a gateway from a busy road into a colourful neighbourhood; stroll past the lovely community gardens, or bring a blanket and relax on the grass. Finally, Guelph Park at 2390 Brunswick Street is an ideal place for morning exercise or an evening stroll. An open walkway in the park connects a tree-lined field and a recreation area with playground and tennis courts.