Victoria Day typically marks the initial major outdoor weekend of the year, serving as the start of the camping season and an ideal moment for that inaugural road trip.
However, considering the uncertain weather conditions predicted, maybe you’d prefer using your additional day off for indoor activities such as completing your shopping list, working out at the gym, or swimming at the pool.
On Monday, May 18, which marks a federal statutory holiday, not all services or establishments will shut down. Below is an overview of what will remain open and what will close across Metro Vancouver during the extended May weekend in 2025.
Retail
Typically, malls and large retail outlets are bustling during the Victoria Day long weekend, with most operating under normal business hours or following Sunday schedules.
The Cadillac Fairview properties of Pacific Centre in Vancouver and Richmond Centre will have their regular Sunday operating hours extended until Monday, May 18th, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Similarly, Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby and Park Royal in West Vancouver will also operate during these same hours.
The McArthurGlen outlet close to YVR is open during normal business hours, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Many large grocery stores like Walmart, Real Canadian Superstore, Save-On-Foods, and Safeway remain open. However, Costco warehouse locations will be closed on Mondays.
Attractions
The majority of sites around Vancouver and nearby areas are functioning normally with all attractions like the Vancouver Art Gallery, Science World, and the Vancouver Aquarium remaining accessible.
The city-managed attractions such as the VanDusen Botanical Garden (open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and the Bloedel Conservatory (operating from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.), along with the Museum of Anthropology at UBC (which opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park located in North Vancouver (with opening times from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.), continue to observe their usual schedules.
To find additional suggestions for activities, check out our website.
event listings
For the Victoria Day long weekend.
Recreation
Approximately half of Vancouver’s community centers remain operational on Victoria Day Monday. The ones continuing their services include False Creek, Hastings, Kerrisdale, Mount Pleasant, Roundhouse, Strathcona, Sunset, and Trout Lake. Similarly, fitness centers present a mixed scenario; several offer gym sessions whereas others will be shut down for the entire day.
Individuals seeking physical activity have numerous alternatives provided by the city. The majority of swimming pools operate on Mondays, albeit with slightly shorter hours for a few locations. Meanwhile, ice rinks along with public golf courses such as Fraserview, Langara, and McCleery remain accessible to visitors.
To find out about the operating hours for any of the locations mentioned earlier, visit their website.
vancouver.ca
.
All Vancouver libraries will be closed on Victoria Day Monday with the exception of the Carnegie branch located on Main Street, which remains open as it does not observe holiday closures.
On Monday, buses, SkyTrain, and SeaBus will operate on a holiday timetable with uniform one-zone pricing throughout the network. The West Coast Express will remain out of service. Additionally, TransLink’s customer service centers and lost property offices will be closed.
Government
Government agencies such as Passport Canada and Service Canada will remain closed on Monday and will resume operations on Tuesday. Similarly, Canada Post will be closed on Monday with no collections or deliveries taking place. Nonetheless, post offices run by third-party operators might decide to stay open.
The ICBC offices are not open on Mondays.
The Vancouver City Hall will be closed on Monday and will resume operations on Tuesday.
Most Government of British Columbia Liquor stores will have their usual Sunday hours open on Victoria Day. Please check
bcliquorstores.com
for hours at the spot close to you.
The banks will be closed on Monday.
jruttle@postmedia.com
