BURST
Victoria Day is traditionally the first great outdoorsy weekend of the year, the kickoff to camping season and a great time for that first road trip of the year.
But with iffy weather in the forecast, perhaps you want to use the extra day off to get some things done indoors, like catching up on shopping or hitting the gym or pool.
Monday, May 18, is a federal statutory holiday but that doesn’t mean everything — or even most things — will be closed. Here’s a roundup of what’s open and closed in Metro Vancouver over the 2025 May long weekend.
Retail
Malls and big box stores are usually busy on Victoria Day weekend, and most are open on either regular or Sunday hours.
Cadillac Fairview’s flagship Pacific Centre in Vancouver and Richmond Centre will be open on usual Sunday hours on Monday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., as are Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby and Park Royal in West Vancouver.
McArthurGlen outlet near YVR is operating on regular hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Most big grocery chains are open, such as Walmart, Real Canadian Superstore, Save-On-Foods and Safeway. But Costco warehouse outlets are closed on Monday.
Attractions
Most attractions around Vancouver and region are open and operating as normal, including the Vancouver Art Gallery, Science World and the Vancouver Aquarium.
City-operated attractions in Vancouver like the VanDusen Botanical Garden (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and the Bloedel Conservatory (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) are keeping regular hours, as are the Museum of Anthropology at UBC (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver (8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
For more ideas about things to do, see our event listings for the May long weekend.
Recreation
About half of Vancouver community centres are open on Victoria Day Monday. Among those that will be operating are False Creek, Hastings, Kerrisdale, Mount Pleasant, Roundhouse, Strathcona, Sunset and Trout Lake. Fitness centres are a similar mix, with many offering gym time but some closed for the day.
People looking for some exercise have lots of other city-run options. Most pools are open on Monday, though a few have reduced hours, while ice rinks and public golf courses — Fraserview, Langara and McCleery — are up and running.
For information on hours at any of the above, go to vancouver.ca .
Vancouver libraries are all closed on Victoria Day Monday except the Carnegie branch on Main Street, which does not close for holidays.
Buses, SkyTrain and SeaBus will run on a holiday schedule Monday with single-zone fares across the system. The West Coast Express commuter train is not operating. TransLink customer service centres and lost property offices are closed.
Government
Federal government offices like Passport Canada and Service Canada will be closed on Monday, reopening Tuesday. Canada Post is also shuttered on Monday, with no collection or mail delivery. Post offices operated by third parties may, however, choose to open.
ICBC locations are closed on Monday.
Vancouver City Hall is closed Monday and will reopen on Tuesday.
Most government B.C. Liquor locations will be open on Sunday hours on Victoria Day. Check bcliquorstores.com for hours at the location near you.
Banks will be closed on Monday.