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Open Places in COVID-19 Vancouver

What's Open in Vancouver

The coronavirus forced many Vancouver stores, restaurants and other places to close temporarily. Some have remained open and most others have since reopened.

The purpose of this article is to highlight local places that are open. It features a list of venues you can visit and support with your purchases. The article also includes information about the state of the pandemic in the region.

For a list of places and events that have closed or been cancelled, click What’s Closed in COVID-19 Vancouver. To learn about places that are still open or have reopened since closing initially, continue reading.

(Note: This article is up-to-date as of January 27th, 2022.)

 


This article includes the following topics:

COVID Situation Update | Open Attractions | Lower Mainland Parks | Other Information


 

What’s Open in COVID-19 Vancouver?

The economy has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Pretty much every aspect of human life in fact has been affected! Consequently, it has been hard to tell what’s still open at various times over the past couple of years.

Below is a list of places that we know are open. After our list of some of the many places that have either remained open or have reopened after initially closing, we recommend other websites with more lists of open businesses and organizations. To learn more about places to find what’s open in different parts of the Lower Mainland click Resources for Open Places.

 


NOTE: Information in this article is accurate to the best of our ability and as of the date of publication. These are rapidly changing times, however, and there is a lot to track! Details are also subject to change. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, check official venue websites.


 

COVID Situation Update

Below is information about the current numbers of COVID cases and how both BC and Canada compare. Also below is information about what’s new with respect to the government’s response and the latest Healthy Authority orders.

 

COVID Cases and Comparisons

As of January 27th, 2022, 318,906 people had been diagnosed with the coronavirus in British Columbia to date. This included 29,556 active cases and 2,033 new cases (compared to the day before). 977 people were in hospital including 141 in intensive care (ICU).

 

Dr. Bonnie Henry
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry

 

Recent Health Authority Rules & Initiatives

On December 21st, 2021, the BC government announced additional restrictions. Initially it was going to be just large events with a capacity of at least 1,000 that could only happen with half the usual number of people. Now though, all events, regardless of size, cannot operate with more than 50% capacity.

Also new as of December 22nd, and in effect until further notice, are the following restrictions:

  • Bars and night clubs must close. Restaurants and pubs, however, are allowed to operate at up to 50% capacity and with a maximum of 6 people per table. Masks must also be worn when not eating or drinking.
  • All indoor events, including weddings and Christmas parties, are banned. Seated events, like professional sports and theatres, can operate at up to 50% capacity.

In addition to the above, since late August of 2021, masks have been required for access to all indoor public spaces in BC. As well, since mid-September, people in the province have to provide proof of vaccination to enter indoor places like sporting events, concerts, theatres, restaurants, nightclubs and gyms.

To see what’s open and still happening, see below. To learn more about the state of the coronavirus and government measures to control it, see the BC Centre for Disease Control website.

 

Stay Safe and Be Responsible

 

Open Attractions

Not all tourist attractions are currently operating in Vancouver. Most are, but others aren’t. As of early January, 2022, attractions and other places of interest that are open include the following (although exact details are subject to change at any time).

 

Open Attractions in the City of Vancouver

Below is a list of museums and galleries that were open in the City of Vancouver as well as a list of other places of interest (as of the end of January in 2022).

 

Open Vancouver Museums

  • BC Sports Hall of Fame – the attraction at BC Place Stadium was closed for a while but then reopened at the end of May in 2021.
  • Beaty Biodiversity Museum – the museum at UBC re-opened to the public in July 2020.
  • Bill Reid Gallery – the gallery featuring the works of Bill Reid and other First Nations artists is open.
  • Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden – the classical Chinese garden in Vancouver’s Chinatown is open although some of its events in December, 2021, were postponed.
  • Museum of Anthropology – UBC’s MOA reopened on July 8th, 2020, after being closed for a few months.
  • Museum of Vancouver – the museum with exhibits about Vancouver’s past reopened in June of 2020.
  • Roedde House Museum – the historic house reopened to the public in July of 2020.
  • Science World – the science museum reopened in the summer of 2020. The IMAX Theatre, however, isn’t currently operating as of the end of December, 2021.
  • Vancouver Aquarium – after being closed since 2020, the aquarium in Stanley Park opened again in the summer of 2021.
  • Vancouver Art Gallery – as of the end of 2021 the public can visit the museum 7 days a week.
  • Vancouver Maritime Museum – the attraction has been open since June of 2020.
  • The Vancouver Police Museum – the museum with exhibits about crime, criminals and policing was closed for a while but then reopened in June of 2020.

 

Other Open Places in Vancouver

(Note: Venue details are subject to change at any time. See official websites for the most up-to-date information.)

  • Arts Club Theatre – after months without live performances, the theatre finally reopened. As of December 22nd, however, maximum capacity is just 50%. They have also cancelled and postponed a few shows.
  • Aquabus – the passenger ferries are running (and have been since late May, 2020).
  • BC Place Stadium – most events at the facility are back up and running including home games for the Vancouver Whitecaps and BC Lions, both with fans in the stands. As of late December, however, maximum capacity is just 50%.
  • Bloedel Conservatory – this garden reopened in July 2020. It didn’t, however, offering its usual Christmas lights attraction in the winter of 2021.
  • Canada Place – a historic building with some great views in the heart of downtown.
  • False Creek Ferries – the passenger boats are running (and have been since late May).
  • Firehall Arts Centre – after a time being closed, the Firehall has reopened. As of December 22nd, 2021, however, it can only operate at 50% capacity.
  • Flyover Canada – the popular flight simulator attraction reopened in mid-June with a special new feature. As of the end of December, 2021, it’s at 50% capacity.
  • Granville Island – the public market and most of the district’s other retail shops and restaurants are open for business.
  • Guilt & Co. – the popular live music venue in Gastown has closed and reopened a couple times. As of late December, 2021, it’s open again.
  • H.R. MacMillan Space Centre the space centre and planetarium in Vanier Park has reopened for programs and workshops. The Planetarium Theatre is now open again as well.
  • Improv Centre – as of late January, 2022, the theatresports-style comedy venue on Granville Island is operating a few days each week.
  • Nitobe Memorial Garden – the Japanese Gardens at UBC closed last spring, reopened in the summer and then closed again for a few months in the winter. It reopened, however, on March 3rd in 2021.
  • Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy – the comedy club in New Westminster is open with limited capacity as of December, 2021.
  • Riley Park Farmers Market – on Saturdays at Riley Park near Nat Bailey Stadium.
  • Rocky Mountaineer – the local passenger train company suspended operations for the entire 2020 season. They re-opened in the summer of 2021.
  • UBC Botanical Gardens – the garden at the University of British Columbia suspended operations in the spring of 2020, but then re-opened with new safety measures and hours in the summer. It closed again for the months of January and February in 2021, but then reopened at the beginning of March.
  • Vancouver Mysteries – the company with crime-solving games in the streets of downtown Vancouver has resumed operations.
  • VanDusen Garden – the botanical garden has resumed operations. The Festival of Lights took place in 2021 although a couple of indoor spaces closed in late December.

 

Open Attractions on the North Shore and Sea to Sky Region

(Note: Venue details are subject to change at any time. See official websites for the most up-to-date information.)

  • Britannia Mine – the historical site reopened in June 2020 for the general public.
  • Capilano Suspension Bridge – the North Vancouver attraction closed for a while in the spring of 2020. It reopened for a few months, but then closed again in October and November of that year. It has remained open since then.
  • Grouse Mountain – the mountain is open for the 2021/22 season, although some big events have been cancelled.
  • Lonsdale Quay Public Market – most food retailers at the world-famous market are open as normal.
  • Lynn Canyon Park – the suspension bridge in the park was closed for over a year. As of the end of 2021, however, it is open once again.
  • Maplewood Farm – the attraction in North Vancouver with farm animals reopened in the summer of 2020.
  • Polygon Gallery – the art museum in North Vancouver is open again to the public as of the end of December, 2021.
  • Scandinave Spa – the European spa in Whistler.
  • Sea to Sky Gondola – after an unfortunate second closure of the great attraction due to vandalism, the gondola reopened in June, 2021.
  • Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre – the Indigenous museum and cultural centre in Whistler is open as of December, 2021.
  • West Vancouver Aquatic Centre – the fitness centre and leisure pool are open on a drop-in basis as of late December, 2021.
  • Whistler Blackcomb – the resort is open for the winter season as of the end of 2021.

 

Open Attractions Elsewhere in Metro Vancouver

(Note: Venue details are subject to change at any time. See official websites for the most up-to-date information.)

  • Britannia Heritage Shipyards – the heritage buildings closed in March of last year, but commenced a phased reopening on in the summer with new hours and protocols.
  • Burnaby Village – the outdoor museum at Deer Lake opened for the summer season on May 1st. It was also open over the Christmas season in 2021 (but then closed for the season until its regular summer season).
  • Clip ‘n Climb – the climbing wall centre in Richmond re-opened in May, 2020. As of late December, 2021, the party rooms are closed.
  • Cloverdale Flea Market – the market was closed for a number of months but then reopened on June 20th, 2021 with its usual 6 am to 3 pm hours on Sundays.
  • Extreme Air Park – indoor trampoline adventure parks in Langley and Richmond are open with reduced capacities in addition to other safety protocols.
  • Fort Langley – the National Historic Site resumed operations on June 8th, 2020.
  • Grand Villa Casino and other Gateway Casinos locations – the Burnaby casino was closed for a long time but as of the end of 2021 it has resumed operations. Other venues operated by Gateway Casinos have also re-opened. These include Starlight Casino in New Westminster, Cascades Casino in Langley, Chances Squamish, Chances Mission and Chances Abbotsford.
  • Gulf of Georgia Cannery – the National Historic Site in Steveston Village re-opened in mid-July, 2020.
  • International Buddhist Temple – this massive temple is open to the public.
  • Mackin House Museum – the historic house in Coquitlam was closed for a number of months, but then reopened in the fall of 2020.
  • Museum of Surrey – the museum in Cloverdale is on a scheduled holiday break from December of 2021, to February of 2022.
  • Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre – the Burnaby venue reopened as of June 2nd, 2020.
  • Paintball Venues – this includes Ambush Paintball in Surrey and Richmond Indoor Paintball.
  • Port Moody Farmers Market – the winter market at the Port Moody Rec Centre is operating as of December, 2021.
  • River Rock Casino Resort – reopened for the first time in over a year on July 1st, 2021.
  • Reifel Bird Sanctuary – the migratory bird sanctuary is open in Delta.
  • Stewart Farm – the farmhouse reopened on July 3rd, 2021, meaning the whole site is now operational again.
  • Vancouver Paddlewheeler – the New Westminster-based boat tour company suspended operations until further notice as of December 30th, 2020. They’ve since re-opened but are running less frequently than they did before.
  • Watermania – the aquatic centre in Richmond is open to the public as of the end of December, 2021, however the fitness centres are closed. The swimming pools remain open.
  • White Rock Promenade & Pier – the promenade reopened at the end of May and the pier reopened in the middle of June in 2020.
  • WildPlay Element Park – an outdoor adventure place with ropes courses and ziplines in Maple Ridge.

 

Open Attractions in the Fraser Valley

(Note: Venue details are subject to change at any time. See official websites for the most up-to-date information.)

  • Agassiz Speedway – the car race track near Harrison Hot Springs is open, but with maximum capacities of just 50 spectators.
  • Harrison Boat Tours – Shoreline Cruises and Harrison Eco Tours at Harrison Hot Springs have been operating since June of 2020.
  • Harrison Hot Springs Resort – the world-famous resort and spa closed for a number of weeks, but then reopened at the end of May in 2020.
  • Twilight Drive-In Theatre – the outdoor movie theatre venue in Langley has reopened.
  • Vancouver Zoo – the Greater Vancouver Zoo is back in business as of June 1st, 2020.
  • Wineries – most Lower Mainland wineries have reopened their wine stores, resumed wine tasting activities or are at least offering online sales and curbside pick-up.

 

As more tourist attractions and places of interest reopen we’ll continue to add to the above list. In the meantime, though, check out the lists of open farmers markets and parks below, and see official websites of venues for exact details. Further below you’ll also find details about open retailers and other information and resources.

 


STAY SAFE!

Whatever you do in Vancouver, be responsible and stay safe! Don’t make your bubble too big, maintain appropriate physical distancing, stay home if feeling sick, and wear a mask when needed. Have fun, but stay safe (and help keep others safe too). Together we can beat this thing!


 

Lower Mainland Parks

In addition to food, during a pandemic people also need to maintain their mental health. One way of accomplishing that is through exercise and being outdoors. Parks are great places to do that, especially ones close to home.

A number of major parks that are still open include those outlined below. Most smaller community parks throughout the Lower Mainland also remain open.

(Note: This list is accurate to the best of our ability at the time of writing of this article. The status of individual venues may change at any time.)

 

City Parks

 

Regional Parks

  • Belcarra Regional Park – the park just north of Port Moody remains open. To help people maintain physical distancing, the loop around Sasamat Lake has been designated one-way until further notice.
  • Boundary Bay Regional Park – the children’s playground has reopened. The beach and trails at the park in Tsawwassen are also open.
  • Capilano River Regional Park – the area around North Vancouver’s Cleveland Dam is open to the public, as are the trails from there down to Ambleside in West Vancouver.
  • Lynn Headwaters Regional Park – the trails and parking are open to the public once again.
  • Pacific Spirit Regional Park – the walking trails on the UBC Endowment Lands are still a great place to experience nature and get exercise.
  • Rice Lake in North Vancouver – the parking lot at the nearby Seymour Demonstration Forest has reopened and the trails around the lake remain open.

 

Provincial Parks

  • Alice Lake Provincial Park – the park near Squamish re-opened for day-use as of May 14th and camping as of June 1st in 2021.
  • Bridal Veil Falls – the provincial park up past Chilliwack re-opened for day-use as of the middle of May.
  • Cultus Lake Provincial Park – the park in the Fraser Valley opened for day-use. Its campgrounds are also open again beginning on June 1st.
  • Golden Ears – the provincial park north of Maple Ridge re-opened for day-use on May 14th. The beach at Alouette Lake is also open. Campground facilities, however, remained closed until June 1st. Like other places in the area, there were temporary closures due to flooding.
  • Kilby Provincial Park – the Kilby Museum opened for the season in April of 2021. Parts of the campground remain open to the public.
  • Porteau Cove Provincial Park – both the campground and entire park up towards Squamish were closed for a number of weeks. The park was also one of the last provincial parks to reopen, but did so finally at the beginning of June in 2020.
  • Rolley Lake – the provincial park north of Mission has reopened to the public for day-use. Campgrounds there have been back in operation as of June 1st.
  • Sasquatch Provincial Park – the park near Harrison Hot Springs has reopened for both day-use and camping as of June 1st.
  • Shannon Falls – the provincial park near Squamish is open as of June 1st, 2020, after being closed for a few weeks.
  • Stawamus Chief Provincial Park – the popular hiking spot in Squamish was closed but has now since reopened.

 


NOTE: The contents of this article are accurate to the best of our knowledge and as of the writing of this article. Things change, however, so see official venue websites for exact details.


 

Other Resources for Finding Open Places

At Vancouver’s Best Places we’d love to have a comprehensive list of shops, restaurants and other businesses that remain open during the current COVID-19 health crisis, including small single location places. That would be a big job, and far beyond what a small organization like ours could handle. Instead, we have compiled a list of other organizations and online resources that have their own lists of open places.

Check out the following for other lists of places that are currently open:

  • Explore Squamish – the Squamish tourism agency has a list of businesses in the area that are open.
  • Granville Island – the website for the popular tourist and shopping destination has a list of what’s open in the area.
  • Invest NewWest – the City of New Westminster compiled a list of places where people can still buy things from in their community.
  • Shipyards District in North Vancouver – the Lower Lonsdale BIA has a list of businesses that are open in North Vancouver’s Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood.
  • The City of Richmond – the City of Richmond has a list of places in Richmond that remain open on its website.
  • Tourism Harrison Hot Springs – the resort’s tourism agency has a list of restaurants and attractions that are open in the area.
  • Whistler’s Doors Open Directory – a list of open restaurants, hotels and shops on the Tourism Whistler website.

 

Other Information

For information about COVID-19 and what’s happening in BC, checking out the following websites:

For tourism-related attractions and businesses, free training and COVID-related resources are available at go2hr.ca.

For a list of Lower Mainland places that closed due to the pandemic, see our article about Vancouver Closures and Cancellations.

Other articles that might be of interest include the following: