Are you visiting a charity on Valentine’s Day without realizing?

We are sure you have been busy planning the perfect Valentine’s Day with your special someone. But, what you might not know is that a number of popular date spots in Vancouver are actually charitable organizations!

Here are a few places you could choose if you’d like to support a local charity on Valentine’s day:

Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium is an Ocean Wise initiative, meaning it is dedicated to the protection and conservation our oceans. This Valentine’s Day, you can explore the exhibits after hours for a unique date night you won’t forget. Throughout the evening, enjoy shows with a drink in hand and learn more about the many wonders of our oceans.

Vancouver Art Gallery

If you are looking for a culture fix, spend a few hours together enjoying beautiful art at the Vancouver Gallery. This non-profit gallery is reliant on support from the community, so you can feel great knowing your visit is helping them continue to make art accessible.

Van Dusen or Bloedel Conservatory

Spend some time outdoors by getting lost in the hedge maze at Van Dusen Gardens, or see who can spot the most tropical birds at Bloedel Conservatory. Van Dusen and Bloedel are both part of the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association – they aim to engage people in the importance of biodiversity and to foster a love of plants and gardens.

University of British Columbia

Head out to the University of British Columbia’s beautiful campus, where you can visit the Museum of Anthropology or explore the botanical gardens. UBC, like many universities in Canada, is a registered charity. The funding they receive from alumni and donors helps them to run programs, build new facilities and support research projects.

Vancouver Opera House

This month, Vancouver Opera presents La Bohème – an extravagant production that will transport you to bohemian Paris. The Opera House has been contributing to Vancouver’s art and culture scene for nearly 60 years, thanks to support from donors. Their fundraising efforts help them to keep their productions and educational programs running.

BC National Parks

If you’d like to use Valentine’s day as an excuse to escape the city for a long weekend, why not visit some of the beautiful national parks that BC has to offer? You could hit the slopes in Mount Revelstoke National Park, visit the glaciers in Glacier National Park or visit Yoho National Park, in the Rockies.

Or, you could volunteer together!

If you’d like to give back to your community for Valentine’s Day, why not spend a few hours volunteering together? Many charities offer one-off volunteer opportunities so you can spend some time giving back with no long-term commitment.

Are you visiting any of these date spots for Valentine’s Day? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch at @wearecharitable.