Resources

Support Local Heritage During COVID

Businesses and sites you can support

Many local businesses and organizations have worked with VHF to recognize local history through the Places That Matter plaque project and many more work from and help sustain local heritage buildings and sites found on the Heritage Site Finder. During this past year, we have reached out to contacts to find out who is open and in what capacity, as well as who has alternative ways to support them during this time. Many are striving to keep serving the community and, where possible, we encourage you to support these organizations and other local businesses in your area.

Please note that as the situation continues to evolve, all information below may not be current. For up to date information please visit the partner websites directly.

If you are a legacy business, heritage site, or museum we invite you to contact us about inclusion on this webpage. The situation for many businesses and organizations can change quickly. Please confirm open hours and available programming with individual listings before visiting, and please let us know of any errors or corrections.

Places That Matter Sites and Project Partners

All India Sweets & Restaurant – Open with social distancing measures in place

Arts Club Theatre Company – Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage has re-opened while other Arts Club venues remain closed until further notice. Tickets for live performances are available via their website, as well as  their new audio plays

BC Heritage Fairs – 2021 fair was offered virtually. For more information the 2022 fair, visit their website.

Benny Foods – Open regular hours

Bloedel Conservatory – Timed tickets are only available for purchase online with safety protocols and social distancing guidelines. Members are also required to book in advance

Cartems Donuterie – Locations are open with safety measures in place. Pre-ordering available online

Cedar Cottage Community Garden – Garden is open with safety and social distancing guidelines; group activities cancelled.

Choices Markets – Open with safety and social distancing measures in place. Online orders are available for seniors, first responders, people in self isolation or immunocompromised

Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC – Visit their Facebook page for posts about ways to support organizations in Chinatown, what restaurants are open and links to virtual lectures and experiences

Chinese Canadian Stories UBC – All resources are online. The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at UBC is available to all with no appointments required

City of Vancouver Archives – Public access to the Archives’ Reading Room is now by appointment only

COBS Bread – Locations are open with safety and physical distancing measures in place

Collingwood Neighbourhood House – Online and in-person low-intensity programming is running with safety protocols in place

Collingwood VPL – All Vancouver Public Library branches are open with limited service. Their digital library is also available 24/7. Excellent online resources for all ages, e-books and more. The VPL Facebook page also offers live storytime

CULTCH – Please visit their website for current information. Online programming available

David’s Tea – Currently all locations are open with safety measures in place. Online store is also available

Dayton Boots – Showroom is currently closed for 75th Anniversary preparations. Their online store is open

Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association – Through social media and e-newsletters, they are sharing many of resources about COVID-19, virtual downtown events and current information on downtown businesses

Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden – Re-opened with with timed ticketed entry required from Wednesday – Sunday 10am to 3pm. They are also offering online meditation sessions and art tour talks

East India Carpets – Showroom is open Monday – Saturday from 10am to 5pm with health and safety measures in place

First United Church – Supporting emergency shelter and housing for the homeless and community needs

Gathering Place Community Centre – Open with limited programs. Please visit their website for a full list of services

Granville Island –  The public market is open from 9am to 6pm everyday; however, not all businesses within the market are open, visit their website for a full list

Hamilton Harron Funeral Home – Open with special measures in place

Heatley Block – They are now open with physical distancing measures in place

Heritage Hall – Open with safety measures in place and limited service/options available

Historic Joy Kogawa House – Tours by appointment only. There is also virtual programming available

Jewish Museum and Archives of BC – Online exhibitions, extensive publications and research

JJ Bean Coffee Roasters – All of their Vancouver cafes have now reopened with limited hours while continuing take-out only, physical distancing, and cleaning guidelines

Kerrisdale Business Association – Listing of businesses open for take out or delivery

Kitsilano Neighbourhood House – Some in-person and online programming available, food program (cafe) and community fund in place. Many ways to volunteer and assist the wider community online

La Federation des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique – Maintaining a list of Francophone organizations that are offering resources, services and activities at this time

Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area – Providing online support and resources for the neighbourhood

Mountain View Cemetery – Remains open with physical distancing measures in place, however memorial service bookings are currently cancelled

Murchie’s Tea and Coffee – Locations and online store are open with safety protocols

Naam Restaurant – Open for take-out and limited dine-in with no reservations

Nikkei National Museum and Archives – Open with safety measures in place. Their exhibitions, research and education programming is available online

Northern Building Supply – Their office is open

Pacific National Exhibition – See website for events. Hastings Park is open and the Hastings Park Winter Farmers Market runs weekly through April

Purdy’s Chocolates – All shops are open with safety measures in place

Ruth Morton Baptist Church – Now called the Mountainview Christian Fellowship, they are currently closed but offer weekly online sermons and activities

Save-on-Meats – Public service is currently unavailable, however they are working to provide 1,000 meals daily to vulnerable people. You can support their efforts by donating to the Better Life Foundation or purchasing meal tokens

Science World – Open with safety measures in place. You must book in advance and purchase an online ticket

SFU Bookstore – Burnaby location is open and their e-shop is available for a selection of products, as well as online ordering for course materials

Societe historique francophone de la Colombie-Britannique – Many online collections and virtual exhibitions to explore

Solus Trust Company – Open however their physical offices are closed with staff working remotely

Starbucks – They are open for limited dine-in and take-out orders with drive-thru and delivery options still available

Strathcona Community Gardens – Open to gardeners following safety and social distancing guidelines, events cancelled

Tractor Fine Foods – All locations are open with online ordering and delivery still available

Trees Organic – All locations are open with safety measures in place

Unitarian Church – Currently closed but services and meetings continue virtually

Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Society – Currently closed to the public gatherings, however essential programs and services are open with safety measures in place

Vancouver Art Gallery – Open with safety measures in place, tickets must be purchased in advance

Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation – Most outdoor recreation facilities are open for casual use. Visit their social media channels for information and updates on how to use and access parks/facilities during this time

Vancouver Historical Society – New online lectures are scheduled and past lectures available digitally as well as archived online newsletters, resources, projects and the “Story of Vancouver”

Vancouver International Film Festival Theatre – The VIFF Centre has re-opened and is offering film screenings with safety protocols

VanDusen Botanical Garden – The gardens are now open under enhanced operational procedures to ensure everyone’s safety. You must book in advance and purchase an online ticket

Western Front – Open with safety guidelines in place

Local Museums, Heritage Sites and Other Businesses

Gulf of Georgia Cannery – Open with safety measure. They also have an online database and a collection of free herring fishing videos

Helen’s Grocery – Open with normal business hours

Moore’s Bakery – Open with normal business hours

Museum of Vancouver – Open with safety measures and timed-entry tickets. All visitors must pre-book a ticket online. They are also offering a selection of online content including colouring pages and worksheets, online exhibitions and collection related videos

Roedde House Museum – Open with timed ticketed entry required.

Vancouver Maritime Museum – Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. They have safety and health procedures to ensure that visitors can safely enjoy the museum. Visitors are encouraged to book online to avoid congestion at the front desk. Virtual resources are also available.

Other Resources

To discover other local businesses and organizations that are open, check out this additional resource:

Heritage Vancouver Society – They have created a map of local businesses that are open and operating

Scout Magazine – Local food and culture website with news and a map of restaurants with take out options and temporary outdoor seating