Mother’s Day 2025: Where to Show Appreciation for Loved Ones in Vancouver

On May 11, 2025, Mother’s Day is celebrated in Canada, an occasion for thanking and spending quality time with the special moms and other important people in your life.

Vancouver, with its wide diversity of restaurants, activities, and local events, is the destination for ensuring that every loved one feels uniquely cherished on or around May 11. With the warm spring weather, this time of year is particularly spectacular for memorable outings around the city.

Here are some uniquely ways to experience Vancouver with those who mean a lot to you this Mother’s Day and beyond:

Cultural Events

For Moms and loved ones who are committed to respecting, upholding, and celebrating the many cultures and communities that make up the city, there are many events and activities taking place in Vancouver.

The annual Mother’s Day Traditional Pow Wow will unfold over three days (May 9, 7pm-10pm; May 10, 1pm-5pm, 7pm-10pm; and May 11, 1pm onwards), held by the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council. The free event, happening at Trout Lake Community Centre and John Hendry Park, will include drumming and dancing (outside on the southwest baseball diamond), a vendor village, an elder room, and a meal service. It’s the opportunity to honour the strength and vitality of community matriarchs.

The Museum of Vancouver (MOV) has scheduled two cultural events in honour of Mother’s Day. The first is a Matriarch Market (May 3, 11am-4pm), which spotlights Indigenous women, femme, queer, and/or Two-Spirit makers. This is also timed to recognize National MMIWG2S Awareness Day (May 5). The MOV is Pay What You Can that day as well. Secondly, they’re holding Cedar Bark Weaving ($50-$60) with Rita Kompst on May 11.

You could also take Mom to one of the two cultural/historical museums in Chinatown: the Chinese Canadian Museum and the Chinatown Storytelling Centre. Pair the visit with a meal in the neighbourhood, such as at Chinatown BBQ, Fat Mao Noodles, DD MAU, or the classic New Town Bakery.

Outdoor Activities

If you have a Mom or a loved one who adores being outside, Vancouver is definitely the place for them, particularly in the spring. VanDusen Botanical Garden, which is always amazing to wander around, will soon feature a special floral display inspired by a beloved television series. Fleurs de Villes Downton Abbey, presented by Oakridge Park, will be available for viewing May 23 to June 1, featuring flower-adorned mannequins, with artists drawing upon the characters in the show, as well as the fashion of the era (early 20th century England). The displays are sure to be spectacular even for those not as familiar with the show. Fleurs de Villes Downtown Abbey is free with admission to VanDusen, or a Garden Membership (which would be a great gift for Mother’s Day).

Given that it’s the highest point in the city, Queen Elizabeth Park has some of the most beautiful views. Spend a leisurely couple to few hours on its grounds, exploring areas like the Quarry Gardens and Rose Garden. You can pair your outing with brunch at Seasons in the Park.

Grouse Mountain, the Peak of Vancouver, has many activities, such as their BCMC Trail, available for active loved ones. You could add on a Mother’s Day Brunch (10am and 1pm seatings, $99 per person) at Altitudes Bistro. The price includes Mountain Admission.

For Moms Who Love the Performing Arts

There is a ton going on in Vancouver in the arts scene this spring. Vancouver Opera wraps up their season with Puccini’s heartbreakingly captivating Madama Butterfly (May 1, 3, 4) at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The tragic story between the opportunist Pinkerton and young Japanese Cio-Cio-San features a double cast, including soprano Yasko Sato, whose voice is achingly beautiful. Jacques Lacombe is conducting, and Mo Zhou directing. The set is breathtaking, the singing soaring, and the story provocatively reimagined in a post-WWII context. You can also buy Mom tickets to City Opera Vancouver’s upcoming performance of the chamber opera Sophia’s Forest (May 29-June 1, Studio T at SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts).

Vancouver Writers Festival has two events this May that might of interest to Moms. The first is Madeleine Thien in Conversation with David Chariandy (May 8, 7:30pm-9pm, The ANNEX), and the second is Books & Ideas: Worlds of Short Fiction (May 22, 7:30pm-8:45pm, The Revue Stage), featuring Andre Alexis, Clea Young, Catherine Bush, and moderator Caroline Adderson.

Arts Club Theatre Company is running Casey and Diana by Nick Green (until May 25 at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage), which tells the story of Princess Diana’s impending visit to Casey House, an AIDS hospice. Blackout Art Society, Firehall Arts Centre, and Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre co-present The Frontliners (May 1-11, Firehall Theatre) by Zahida Rahemtulla that involves hotel employees finding homes for Syrian immigrants.

Finally, Moms who are music fans might enjoy Choir Leoni’s The Big Roar (May 3, 4pm, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts), a community choral festival involving five choirs of all ages. Tickets are as low as $5 for a TD Community Roar special offer. And Joshua Beamish/MOVETHECOMPANY is celebrating with a 20th Anniversary Gala (May 29-30, Vancouver Playhouse) involving 5 pieces and dancers from companies like The National Ballet of Canada and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

Visual Arts

The Vancouver Art Gallery has three recently opened exhibitions: Postcards from the Heart: Selections from the Brigitte and Henning Freybe Collection (until October 5, 2025), Lucy Raven: Murderers Bar (until September 28, 2025), and Riopelle: Crossroads in Time (until September 1, 2025). Before or after your visit, enjoy a Mother’s Day Buffet (May 11, 9am-5pm, $75 per person, $25 per child under 12), which includes a carving station and seafood station, at 1931 Gallery Bistro.

Meanwhile, the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art has a number of exhibitions overlapping in May. Kihl ‘Yahda, Christian White: Master Haida Artist is on until February 1, 2026; Potlatch Gifts, examining reciprocity, runs until January 25, 2026, Spirit of the Ancestors on Terrence Campbell wraps up May 4, and Vital Signs, a group exhibition on climate change, is available May 14 to September 7, 2025, with an opening reception May 13, 6-8pm.

Mother’s Day Food Events and Brunches

Show Mom some love through food—like oysters and gin! Fanny Bay Oysters and Copperpenny Distilling Co. are teaming up for Shuck Yes!, a pop-up on May 11 (2pm-7pm at Copperpenny Distilling Co.). Fanny Bay will be shucking three different oyster varieties, and Copperpenny will be pouring their No. 006 Oyster Shell Gin. You can add a caviar bump to increase the fun.

Afternoon tea and Mother’s Day are always a refined combo. For a different take on the traditional experience, try an Indian-inspired high tea at Desi Indian Lounge (May 11, 1pm to 3pm, $35 per person). It includes treats like chicken tikka croissants, pav bhaji bruschetta, and Gajar Halwa tarts—served with masala chai, Indian coffee, or a summer refresher.

Showcase Restaurant & Bar is offering a decadent Mother’s Day Buffet Brunch (May 11, 10am-2:30pm, $105 per adult, $50 per child, aged 5-8), which encompasses a salad bar, chilled seafood on ice, carving stations, breakfast classics, a mimosa bar, and a waffle and pancake station. Showcase has also partnered with Lee’s Donuts for a donut wall.

Or, take your Mom for an a la carte brunch at one of the new brunch hot spots in town: Selene Aegean Bistro has just added brunch service, with dishes like pistachio honey toast; shakshuka with soft poached eggs, tirokafteri, and barrel aged feta, served with green olive focaccia; and ribeye steak with a soft boiled egg, pine nuts, and hummus. Your loved ones won’t be able to resist the charm of Elio Volpe, whose brunch items range from a lobster Benny to chicken scallopini with salsa rossa, arugula, parmigiano Reggiano, and basil pesto.

Relaxation Options

And finally, Moms and loved ones deserve some relaxation. Vancouver has some fabulous spas for slowing time down and engaging in some self-care. The Spa at the Wedgewood Hotel is offering a Mother’s Day Spa Retreat (150 minutes, $415), which includes The Luminous Glow Facial and their Citrus Blossom Wrap. Moms might also enjoy a booking at the Spa at Fairmont Pacific Rim, which in addition to many treatments (e.g.,. Neroli Blossom Renewal), has a Nordic Spa circuit on its 6th floor featuring cold plunges and a cedar sauna.

Meanwhile, the Spa by JW Vancouver has a Resilience Spa Journey ($465 Mon-Thurs, $480 Fri-Sun), which combines relaxation and resilience (perfect for hardworking Moms and loved ones). The Journey allows for a choice between two treatments, such as reflexology and a customized facial. Combine it with brunch or afternoon tea at Honey Salt, or a Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet ($90 per adult, $45 for children 12 and under) at The Victor.

And for some Moms, retail therapy might be just be the thing. Metropolis at Metrotown has a bunch of programming for Mother’s Day, running until May 19. This includes a Glampsite, with a tiki bar, a mountains-and-forest tableau, a beachside games room, and more, in the Grand Court; and a ticketed Mother’s Day Glampsite Party ($40 per person, $5 for kids 5-15) with cocktails, canapes, music, etc on May 10 (noon-2pm), with proceeds going to the Burnaby Family Life, Women Driving Their Future. And, Metropolis is offering a $20 reward for those who spend $200 pre-tax there (while supplies last).

Artisan goods can be found at She Market (May 10, 11am-7pm and 11, 10am-6pm, Roundhouse Community Centre), which will showcase the talents of local female makers, as well as cultivate community in honour of Mother’s Day. Got Craft also is holding a Spring Market (May 3-4, 10am to 5pm) at the Croatian Cultural Centre if you're looking to support local for a gift for Mom.

With its vibrant diversity, Vancouver has an activity around Mother's Day to suit each loved one’s personality and interests.