BURST
Gotta love those mid-week holidays. This year’s Canada Day falls on a Tuesday, which requires a bit more planning to arrange for a proper long weekend — and may throw a kink into your regular work week routine.
That said, there’s still plenty of retail stores, restaurants and attractions that will remain open, while others will close to mark the statutory holiday.
So if you’re trying to run errands or looking for family-friendly things to do, here’s a roundup of what’s open and closed on July 1:
READ MORE: Canada Day in Metro Vancouver: Here’s a list of free concerts and performances
Shopping
Metro Vancouver malls are open and welcoming shoppers, albeit with shortened hours.
These malls are open with holiday hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 1:
• Pacific Centre
• Richmond Centre
• Metropolis at Metrotown
• Park Royal
The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby will have holiday hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For outlet shoppers, the McArthurGlen Designer outlet near Vancouver International Airport will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., while Tsawwassen Mills in Delta will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Grocery stores and pharmacies are generally open on Canada Day.
Attractions
If you’re looking for something to entertain kids and out-of-town visitors on Canada Day, many attractions are open and keeping to regular hours.
Science World will be open its usual 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with early 9:30 a.m. entry for members.
Likewise, the Vancouver Aquarium is open its regular hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with an 8 a.m. early-morning entry for members.
In Kits Point, both the Museum of Vancouver and the Vancouver Maritime Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre will be open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
At Canada Place — which will be bustling with Canada Day festivities put on by the Port of Vancouver — Flyover Canada will be taking guests for rides during its regular hours (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Also in downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver Art Gallery will stick with its usual hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Canada Day is also one of Granville Island’s busiest days. Canada Day activities start at 10 a.m., while the public market opens from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early birds can grab a coffee at one of the market’s coffee shops between 7:30 to 8 a.m. (Don’t miss the ferry ballet performance by the False Creek Ferries fleet at around 8 a.m. at the dock behind the market).
The popular free water park beside the children’s playground will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting.
Recreation
In Vancouver, most community centres are scheduled to close on this mid-week Canada Day, but a handful plan to stay open, including:
• False Creek — 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Hastings — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Kerrisdale — 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Killarney — 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Mount Pleasant — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Roundhouse — 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Check the city’s website for more information.
Most fitness centres will be open, including Hillcrest, Britannia, West End and Kitsilano (check here for a complete list). Ice rinks and the city’s golf courses — Fraserview, Langara and McCleery — will be open.
For those who want to go for a dip on Canada Day, there’s good news. Most pools will be open. The only ones that’ll be closed are Kensington and Kerrisdale pools.
For libraries, all except Carnegie Branch in the Downtown Eastside will be closed on July 1.
For a look at recreational facilities in Surrey, including community centres and pools, check out Surrey’s holiday hours here .
Food and drink
Most restaurants and coffee shops, especially large chains, will stay open on Canada Day.
TransLink
TransLink buses, SkyTrain (except the Canada Line) and SeaBus will be running on holiday schedules on Canada Day. The West Coast Express will not operate.
Government offices
Vancouver city hall will be closed on Canada Day, reopening on July 2, Wednesday. It’s a similar situation for government offices, including Service Canada and passport offices and ICBC locations.
Canada Post will not be collecting or delivering mail on July 1. Banks will also be closed.
Most, but not all, B.C. Liquor Stores will be open with shortened hours. Check hours for specific stores across B.C. here .