Hi friends!
The sun's been out. The blossoms are popping. And it's still cold enough that you need a jacket but warm enough that your kid refuses to wear one. Classic Vancouver spring.
Speaking of blossoms. I put together a Cherry Blossom Map for Cambie Corridor families. Best spots near where you actually live, when each variety peaks, which playgrounds are nearby, and where to find coffee while your toddler loses it over petals. It's a free PDF. Download it here.
Now. It's a big week.
Here’s what’s inside this issue:
⛸️ Spring skating registration opens Thursday at 7pm (set your alarm)
🌲 QE Park is getting a treetop canopy walk and zipline (not a typo)
🔥 Monster Jam at PNE this weekend (loud, ridiculous, your kids will love it)
⚽ The actual FIFA World Cup trophy is coming to Vancouver, free (register now for a photo slot)
Let's get into it. 👇🏼
⛸️ Spring Skating Lesson Registration Opens Thursday at 7pm
If your kid has been asking to learn to skate (or you've been meaning to sign them up), set a reminder for Thursday, March 26 at 7:00 pm. That's when spring skating registration opens city-wide across all Vancouver rinks.
What: Spring 2026 skating lessons (Set 1). All ages and levels.
When to register: Thursday, March 26 at 7:00 pm (online and in-person)
Where to register: Vancouver Recreation online
Local rinks: Hillcrest (year-round), Sunset (year-round), Killarney, Trout Lake, and others
The move
Have your Vancouver Recreation account set up and ready to go before 7pm Thursday. Know which rink and level you want. Log in at 6:55. This is not a drill.
Why it matters
Popular time slots fill fast, especially for beginner kids' levels. If you wait until Friday morning, the good spots may already be gone.
Know a parent who's been meaning to sign their kid up for skating? Forward them this email. Thursday at 7pm — they'll thank you later.
If the Space Centre has been on your "we should do that" list all break, the clock is ticking. Their Spring Break programming ends this Sunday, March 29. After that, the daily bonus activities are done until summer.
The highlights this week:
Thu–Sun (Mar 26–29): Augmented Reality Experience. Kids wear AR headsets and walk around 3D planets. Ages 7+. It's not a screen. It's genuinely cool.
Fri, Mar 27: Canada Youth Robotics Club, 11am–3pm. Hands-on robot demos, mini drones, AI-powered games. Drop-in, all ages.
Sat, Mar 28: Space Camp Saturday with UBC Astronomy Club. Galaxy talks, scavenger hunt, space pin.
When: 10am–5pm daily through March 29.
Cost: $17–$26/person (regular admission). All Spring Break activities included in your ticket. Free for members.
The Move
Grab tickets online to lock it in. If you want to stretch the outing, take the False Creek ferry to get there — it kills extra time and the kids think it's part of the ride.
Why it matters
It's your last chance to squeeze the final drops of entertainment out of Spring Break before school starts again.
This is not a subtle event. It's monster trucks jumping over crushed cars. It's loud, it's ridiculous, and your kids will talk about it until summer.
What: Monster Jam (massive trucks doing high-flying stunts).
Where: Pacific Coliseum, 2901 E Hastings St
When: Fri Mar 27 at 7pm | Sat Mar 28 at 12pm & 6pm | Sun Mar 29 at 12pm
Cost: ~$35–$95/ticket depending on seat. Everyone age 2+ needs a ticket.
Parking: ~$25 on-site
The Move
Buy tickets now. They will sell out quickly. Crucial tip: Bring noise-canceling headphones for the kids (and maybe yourself). It is spectacularly, aggressively loud. You can take the 14/16 bus straight there if you want to skip the parking hassle.
Why it matters
It's a rare, high-novelty event that completely breaks up the usual weekend routine.
🐰 Hillcrest Easter Family Carnival (Register Now, Spots Are Limited)
Bouncy castle. Carnival games. Arts and crafts. No planning required beyond showing up. The Hillcrest Youth Council is putting on an Easter carnival at Hillcrest Community Centre and registration is open now.
What: Easter Family Carnival. Bouncy castle, arts & crafts, carnival games.
Where: Hillcrest Community Centre, 4575 Clancy Loranger Way
When: Saturday, April 4, 1:00–3:00 pm
Cost: $8/child. Registration required.
Register: Sign up here
The move
Register now. These community centre events fill up quietly and fast. By the weekend it could be full.
Why it matters
It's in the Corridor, it's indoors, it's two hours, and someone else is running the activities. You show up, the kids bounce around, you leave. That's the whole deal.
⚽ The Actual FIFA World Cup Trophy Is Coming to Vancouver (Free)
Not a replica. The real one. 18-karat gold, 13.6 pounds, the trophy that gets lifted on the biggest stage in world sports. And you can see it for free at the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza on April 10–11.
Vancouver is the first Canadian city on the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, hosted by Coca-Cola. Beyond the trophy itself, there'll be interactive activations, games, giveaways, and a Coke sampling station. You can register for a free ticket to guarantee a photo with the trophy, or just walk up and take your chances.
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza (Robson Square area)
When: Friday, April 10 & Saturday, April 11
Cost: Free. Register for a photo slot here, or walk up day-of.
Ages: All ages
The move
Register for your free photo slot now. There are 13,600 tickets for Vancouver but they won't last. Even if you're not a soccer family, this is the kind of thing kids remember.
Why it matters
This is a zero-effort, zero-cost "we saw that in real life" moment. BC Place hosts its first World Cup match on June 13. The buzz is building, and this is the earliest way to be part of it.
🌱 Scout Soil Sale at Edith Cavell (Pre-Orders Open Now)
Garden season is coming and the 46th Chown Scouts are doing the heavy lifting. Literally. Soil and manure are getting delivered to Edith Cavell Elementary on April 11, and the Scouts will be on-site shovelling it into bags. You show up, you leave with garden-ready soil, and a bunch of kids experience what a fundraiser looks like.
What: Annual soil and manure sale (Black Magic Organic Veggie Manure & Black Gold Soil Amender).
When: Saturday, April 11. Pick-up 10am–noon. Same-day walk-up sales from 11am (while supplies last). Pre-order deadline: April 7.
Cost: $8/bag. Delivery available for a $10 flat fee (2nd Ave to 41st, Granville to Knight).
The Move
Pre-order online right now and absolutely choose the delivery option. Your lower back will thank you.
Why it matters
You get your garden ready for spring, you support local kids, and most importantly, they offer delivery.
🌲 QE Park Is Getting a Treetop Canopy Walk and Zipline
You know that walk through Queen Elizabeth Park you've done a hundred times? It's about to go vertical. The Park Board just approved a massive new aerial setup built by Greenheart (the local company behind canopy walks all over the world), complete with food service and a new visitor centre.
What: A 300-metre tree canopy walk and 120-metre zipline.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Park
When: Implementation begins Summer 2026, rolling out in phases.
Cost: Preliminary estimates: ~$20/person for the canopy walk, ~$16/person for the zipline. Final pricing TBD. The attractions will be integrated into the Leisure Access Program.
The Move
Nothing to do yet. But bookmark this one for summer planning. I'll flag it the moment booking opens.
Why it matters
This is a genuine new family activity right in our backyard. Plus, they're adding a seasonal tour bus connecting QE Park, VanDusen, and Granville Island, meaning we might actually be able to hit all three without moving the car.
P.S. Know a soccer family? Forward this email. Free photo with the actual FIFA World Cup trophy — but the 13,600 Vancouver tickets won't last. Register here.
That’s a wrap for this week.
We’ve got this!
Saba Yazdani
The Cambie Memo
