Coinciding with National Tourism Week, Earth Day is here reminding us to pay attention to our Mother Earth with ecological and additions to the Picks of the Week
Stewardship: Today at 7:30pm, UBC Celebrates Earth Day at the Chan Centre, with UBC Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship Professor Suzanne Simard one of the leading voices in ecology, Indigenous stewardship, law, literature, and music, as she launches her newest book, When the Forest Breathes. The program includes, Métis composer and UBC Professor T. Patrick Carrabré’ s Mother Tree, presented in collaboration with Early Music Vancouver and more.
Party: Saturday April 25, BC Largest Earth Day Celebration, Surrey’s Party for the Planet returns to Surrey Civic Plaza for its 15th year with live entertainment, food trucks, a sustainable marketplace & plant sale, Kids Zone and more all for free
Community: Sunday April 26, Trout Lake Community Centre hosts its 5th Annual Earth Day Celebration from 11am to 2pm with Indigenous Drum Circles, Arts, Crafts, Cooking, Bike Repair and Kids on Wheels training, and the chance to win prizes.
Trail: Earth Day’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” reinforcing the community-driven action and the everyday simple choices people make to empower the planet themselves, and connect with the natural world. The BC Bird Trail offers a free and easy way to take in nature, with a self-guided network of birdwatching destinations across the province, supported by Destination BC and local tourism partners.
Anniversary: Vancouver’s green oasis in the middle of the city, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden celebrates a milestone anniversary – 40 Years of Bridging Cultures: Celebrating Classical Chinese Culture as One Community – April 24th bringing back its opening admission price of $3, then celebrations continue April 25-26
Counterfeit: Award-winning Ojibway playwright, author, journalist, and filmmaker Drew Hayden Taylor brings Firehall Arts Centre his new provocative play, The Undeniable Accusations of Red Cadmium Light
Debut: April 23-25, acclaimed choreographer Joshua Beamish launches his new company, Ballet Vancouver with its debut program After The Rain & Other Works at Vancouver Playhouse
Opera: Opening this weekend, with its classic tale (the inspiration for the musical RENT) and recognizable music Vancouver Opera presents Puccini’s La Bohème with five performances April 25, 26, 30, May 2 & 3 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Ungala: Saturday, April 25 The Cultch shakes up its fundraising, instead of hosting a traditional Gala, The Cultch tries something new, The Un-Gala: A Cowboy Carnival Fundraiser hearkening back to the history of community square-dances at The Cultch Heritage Stage.
Photo: Moonrider Productions
Elizabethan: Comedy, love, and a bit with a dog, is exactly what the audience wants, and gets at the Metro Theatre presentation of Shakespeare in Love until April 25 –based on the 1998 film the lavish, period comedy is full of Shakespearean tropes, easter eggs, regal costumes and a grand set.
Princess: Carousel Theatre for Young People presents Western Canadian Premiere of a new adaptation of The Paper Bag Princess, by Alissa Watson, based on Robert Munsch and directed by Kathleen Duborg, at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island from April 22 to May 10.
Orge: Royal City Musical Theatre presents Shrek the Musical, at New Westminster’s Massey Theatre. The fun-filled family-friendly production, with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, and music by Jeanine Tesori, brings the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film to life until May 3rd.
Teens: It’s tough being a teenager, even more so when you’re the new kid. The Arts Club presents the acclaimed Tony-Award winning Kimberly Akimbo, a musical comedy about seizing the day, growing-up and finding yourself at Stanley BFL Canada Stage until May 3rd.
Tulips: Spring is blooming in the Fraser Valley at the 20th Anniversary Harrison Tulip Festival – welcoming guests daily and nightly, through at least May 3, with vibrant colour and immersive spring experiences spanning its 45 acres and featuring more than 14 million blooms — including tulips, daffodils and hyacinths.
Concert: Punjabi singer, actor and film producer Diljit Dosanjh made Vancouver history in 2024 when he became the first Indian artist to sell out BC Place, and this Thursday, April 23 he returns with his Aura Tour
Playoffs: Rogers Arena sees playoff action this Friday with the Vancouver Warriors & Halifax Thunderbirds playing in the National Lacrosse League quarterfinals.
Kicks: At the top of table Whitecaps FC aim to wrap up their final match before FIFA World Cup takes over BC Place with another 3 points hosting Colorado Rapids on Saturday April 25
Improv: Running Fridays & Saturday until June 27th The Improv Centre’s new show Exploration Blank – a rotating, rag-tag crew of space explorers blasts off on an adventure through audience suggestions and a series of improv mini games, exploring a brand-new, dazzling galaxy of comedy every show.
Dream: The Chinese Canadian Museum’s award-winning feature exhibition; Dream Factory: Cantopop Mandopop 1980s–2000’s has been extended by two months to allow more visitors to experience the acclaimed installation, held over until July 19, 2026.
River: Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art prepares to present the world premiere of Every River Has a Mouth: the visual languages that connect us, guest curated by Snuneymuxw artist Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun, on display until February 14, 2027
Comedy: Black Box Theatre Co. is presenting the heartfelt new comedy James Barclay’s WONDERWALL in only its second run from April 16 to May 2 at The NEST on Granville Island.
Photo: Western Canada’s largest lens-based art festival, Capture Photography Festival continues until April 30 bringing lens-based art in exhibitions around the city, at dozens of galleries and venues, throughout Metro Vancouver in Public Art installations, join in guided tours, art walks and talks, films other community events bringing all things photographic under the lens of Capture Festival.
Chicago: Ongoing, Awaken Canada plays in repertoire with the new Believe Chicago – Flyover’s first-ever film set entirely in an urban city, this multi-sensory journey takes guests 13,000 feet into the sky for a thrilling flight through the heart of Chicago passing skyscrapers, cinematic car chases, fireworks, and more.
Photography: The Polygon Gallery hosts a major exhibition by acclaimed artist, curator, and scholar Tania Willard, Photolithics, showcasing the artists inventive approach to photography – on view until May 24th, 2026
Border: On view until May 30, 2026, The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford presents Parallax(e): Perspectives on the Canada–U.S. Border / Perspectives sur la frontière Canada–É.-U., an ambitious exhibition that looks at the history of the 49th parallel that separates Canada and the US, and its lasting impacts on Indigenous communities