With still plenty of time left for an indoor escape from Vancouver's rainiest, greyest days, the city's iconic domed garden will re-open to the public following a two-month closure.
Bloedel Conservatory will once again welcome guests starting on Saturday, January 4, 2025, according to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.
Known for its flora and fauna in an eye-catching domed structure at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park, the venue had been closed since October 28 to undergo much-needed renovations.
The reopening is timed well, given that local schools are on winter break through the weekend, notes the park board. "With exotic plants, chatty birds, and newly enhanced pathways, Bloedel Conservatory promises a fun and affordable indoor activity for visitors of all ages," adds the park board in its reopening announcement.
The park board details the renovation work completed as follows:
- Expanded pathway access: Garden beds have been relocated to increase pathway access, reducing congestion and improving flow.
- Smoother, levelled surfaces: A new basalt flagstone surface has been installed, providing a uniform, gap-free path, making navigation smoother and safer for guests.
- Improved accessibility: Low points along the pathways have been raised to create a gradual, accessible grade for visitors with wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
In the fall, the park board noted that the repair work and improvements were significant due to the age of the infrastructure and the need to improve accessibility. In particular, the current pathways that wove through the conservatory and aviary were deemed "past their lifespan," and needed to "undergo full reconstruction."
The Bloedel Conservatory is the largest single-structure conservatory in Canada. The tropical paradise houses over 150 tropical birds and 500 kinds of exotic plants inside a triodetic dome (meaning it's not a full sphere).
Starting January 4, 2025, the dome will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours will be extended in March and April and again in May through Labour Day. Tickets and more information are available online via the City of Vancouver's website.
