Yes and yes. Look instead at Pacific wax myrtle for an upright growing broad-leaf evergreen. Or tall Oregon grape and evergreen huckleberry if that would be too big (in which case the laurel would have been also) - to a large extent benefit wildlife = choosing native species. With an observational study in the Seattle arboretum revealing that native species were greatly favored by songbirds over foreign ones even within the same genus of tree.

Vine maple would also be good if the hedge does not have to be entirely evergreen. Certain smaller-growing, horticultural selections of Thuja plicata might also have some potential. This last species is the main attractively green and comparatively lush-looking, dense growing evergreen tree of local forests.

I like Pacific Wax Myrtle. What are the species names for the tall Oregon grape and the evergreen huckleberry? Is skip laurel invasive?

the grape = Mahonia aquifolium and the huckleberry = Vaccinium ovatum.

I have seen the Oregon grape over 8 feet tall and producing wayward shoots. In the sun, the huckleberry might not get over waist to shoulder tall, and no two plants acquire the same mature shape unless sheared annually, but this greatly reduces fruiting.

I’m considering a hornbeam hedge which can be kept narrow. Deciduous but holds onto some leaves through winter and has a dense branching structure for screening even when bare. Can be pruned as high as you want.

Except there are plenty of evergreen plants that can be chosen for hedges and screening in Vancouver - view an existing sheared hornbeam or beech hedge in person during the wall of dead leaves time of year before deciding you want to live with one yourself.

I’ve been admiring Monty Don’s gorgeous hornbeam hedges at Longmeadow via the BBC. I think they’re gorgeous even bare. Beech is even more lovely especially when backlit by sunlight. Both also can be kept significantly narrower than most evergreen hedges.

I just bought a Golden Silverberry (Elaeagnus pungent) for a similar setting. It has interesting things happening in every season!

I was suggesting viewing a full of dead leaves sheared beech hedge in person before deciding it was what they themselves wanted.

What somebody else thinks about the appearance of such being irrelevant.