Hi friends!
You know that Sunday in March where you lose an hour of sleep? And then spend five days dealing with a toddler who's wondering what happened to bedtime?
March 8th is the last time. Ever.
BC is making daylight saving time permanent. No more falling back. No more "why is it pitch black at 4:30pm" season. No more reworking the entire bedtime routine twice a year because the government decided to mess with the clocks.
It's over. We're liberated.
Now. With longer evenings on the way and spring break creeping up fast, I put together your Spring Break Cheat Sheet. Camps, drop-in options, free stuff. The whole plan so you're not panic-Googling "what to do with my kids" on March 20th.
Grab it below.
Save it. Forward it to your co-parent. Stick it on the fridge.
Here’s what’s inside this issue:
🚇 Yaletown Station upgrades (finally) and the new Olympic Village school timeline.
☕ Vancouver's massive new 5,000 sq ft café (yes, it has its own parking lot).
📚 A free drop-in book-making space at the library for the 9-12 crowd.
And More …
Let's get into it. 👇🏼
🚇 Yaletown Station is Getting Room to Breathe
If you've ever stood in that awkward fare gate standoff at Yaletown-Roundhouse: you trying to get in, someone trying to get out, both of you doing the "you go, no you go" dance. Relief is coming.
What: 2 new fare gates being added to Yaletown-Roundhouse Station.
Why it's a big deal: The station currently runs on just 3 gates handling both directions. They're literally the hardest-working fare gates in the entire Compass system.
When: Timeline TBD
The Move
Nothing to do here except smile next time you're squeezing through with a stroller. Less bottleneck is coming.
Why It Matters
If you take the Canada Line for Science World trips or the Olympic Village playground loop, getting in and out with kids and gear is about to get a lot less painful.
🏫 Olympic Village Is Getting Its Own Elementary School.
It's official.
City Council just gave the final green light to build a brand new elementary school in Olympic Village. If you're a family in that neighbourhood, you've probably been waiting for this one for a while.
What: A brand new elementary school for 630 students, plus a childcare facility with 60 before- and after-school care spots.
Where: Olympic Village
What's cool: The rooftop will have nearly 15,000 sq ft of outdoor play space (covered and uncovered). A rooftop playground. For real.
Timeline: Construction starts 2027, doors open 2029.
The Move
Nothing to act on yet. But if you've got a toddler and you live in Olympic Village, mentally file this one. By the time they're in kindergarten, this could be their school.
Why It Matters
Olympic Village has been one of the fastest-growing family neighbourhoods in the city with no local elementary school to show for it. This changes that. And 60 before- and after-school care spots in a neighbourhood where childcare waitlists are a whole personality? That's a big deal.
🔬 Science World After Dark: The LEGO Edition (Adults Only)
Remember when you used to go to cool stuff at night? This is your excuse. Science World is doing a 19+ evening with a spring LEGO theme: floral LEGO kits, speed-build tournaments, matching games, and their Artemis Space Adventure exhibition before it closes.
It's basically date night meets your inner 8-year-old.
What: Science World After Dark, Blooming LEGO Edition (19+)
Where: Science World
When: March 26, 6 PM to 10 PM
Cost: Early bird tickets $34.99
The Move
Early bird pricing is live now. If you need to line up a sitter, March 26 is a Thursday, so start working on that. Grab tickets before the price goes up.
Why It Matters
Date nights that don't involve a restaurant reservation are hard to find. This one's actually fun, it's ticketed so it won't be chaos, and you get to play with LEGO without a toddler stealing your pieces.
🔍 Hidden Gem
☕️ Vancouver's Largest Café Just Opened.
You know that feeling when you walk into a coffee shop with a stroller and immediately feel like you are driving a tank through a china shop? That won't happen here.
Where: 195 E 36th Ave (Just off Main, near QE Park).
The Stats: It is 5,000 sq ft. That is massive.
The Perk: They have their own free parking lot. (Yes, you read that right).
The Move
This is your new "Rainy Saturday" backup. When the playgrounds get rained out, you pivot here. There is enough room to park the stroller without banking it off a stranger's shin.
Why It Matters
We love our cozy local spots, but sometimes you just need space to breathe (and a Korean-inspired pastry). This place has both.
🧸 Got Toys Your Kids Have Outgrown? This World's Ours Wants Them
That bin of toys your kid hasn't touched since September? Someone else's kid would love them. This World's Ours Centre is looking for gently used toy donations to replace broken toys and games at the centre. Anything they can't use gets donated elsewhere, so nothing goes to waste.
What: Gently used toy donation drive
Where: This World's Ours Centre,191 E 10th Ave, drop off at the front desk
What they need: Toys and games in good condition that your kids have aged out of
The Move
Next time you're doing a toy purge, bag it up and drop it at the front desk. No appointment, no sign-up, just walk in.
Why It Matters
One less bag going to landfill, one less thing cluttering your house, and some kid gets to play with "new" toy. Everybody wins.
📚 Free Book-Making Workshop for Kids at VPL
Your kid can learn to make pop-up books, accordion books, and tiny books for writing and drawing. It's a drop-in, it's free, and it's at the library. That's basically the trifecta.
What: Book Maker Space at Vancouver Public Library
Where: Kitsilano Branch, 2425 Macdonald St
When: Thursday, March 5, 3:30 to 4:30 PM
Ages: Grades 4 to 7
Cost: Free
Registration’s needed: 19 Spots Remaining.
The Move
This is an after-school window, so it works if you're already doing pickup. It's at the Kits branch, not in the Corridor, but if your kid is into crafty stuff and you're looking for a free hour of screen-free focus, it's worth the trip.
Why It Matters
Free activity. One hour of screen free time for the older kids. Registration is needed but it’s easy and spots are still available.
🧶 Got a Side Hustle? Cavell Carnival Wants You
Edith Cavell Elementary is hosting their annual carnival on Friday, June 5th, and they're looking for vendors from the school community and neighbourhood. If you make baked goods, art, jewelry, accessories, stationery, or really anything crafty, this is your chance to set up a table at a community event expecting 500+ visitors.
Where: 500 West 20th Ave (Douglas Park area)
When: Friday, June 5, 3:00 to 7:00 PM
Cost: Tables start at $15
Early bird deadline: March 16 (you'll hear back by March 20)
Regular applications: Open until May 1, but subject to availability
Contact: [email protected]
The Move
If you're even a little bit interested, apply by March 16. Early applicants get featured in the official carnival program, and spaces are limited. $15 for a table at a neighbourhood event with 500 people walking by is a pretty low-risk way to test the waters.
Why It Matters
This is a neighbourhood thing, not a big commercial market. It's the kind of event where your kid's friend's mom buys your banana bread and tells everyone about it. If you've been sitting on a small business idea, this is a low-pressure place to try it out.
That’s a wrap for this week.
We’ve got this!
Saba Yazdani
The Cambie Memo
