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Photos + Video: A look back at Queen Elizabeth's trips to Vancouver

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During her life Queen Elizabeth II came to Vancouver a total of six times on official visits, meeting with locals and dignitaries, while also visiting notable sights around the city (and opening one important site).

Her first official trip to B.C. came in 1951, while she was still Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth; less than a year later she would become Queen after her father passed. The 25-year-old princess, along with her husband Prince Philip, spent a month travelling the country by train, with a couple of days in Vancouver and Victoria, as well as a private retreat in Qualicum Beach.

Less than a decade later she and Prince Philip returned to Canada's West Coast on another coast-to-coast trip. on this visit the young queen was busy, attending a performance at Theatre Under the Stars, visiting veterans and attending an event at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, which had just opened and named in her honour.

For the next couple of decade,s the Queen was not often a visitor to the area. In 1971 she visited Vancouver and B.C. to celebrate its entry into the confederation. Along with Vancouver she, along with Prince Philip and Princess Anne, visited Victoria, Comox, Prince Rupert and Williams Lake.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (@fairmontvan)

In 1983 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrived in town on the Royal Yacht Britannia on a three-day trip to the area, which also included New Westminster, Nanaimo and Vernon.

A longer trip to Canada in 1987 included Vancouver, where she helped rededicate the Expo Centre as the new Science World. While in B.C. she also unveiled B.C.'s new Coat of Arms.

While in B.C. in 1994, she skipped Vancouver and spent more time in Victoria where she opened the Commonwealth Games.

Her final trip to B.C. was in October of 2002, almost exactly 51 years to the day she first came to Vancouver. On the trip, which was part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, she unveiled a stained glass window in Victoria and dropped the puck at a Canucks exhibition game.

On Sept. 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, having reigned over the United Kingdom and Commonwealth (of which Canada is a member) for more than 70 years.

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12 things to do in and around Victoria this weekend—June 1st and 2nd

Northern lights could once again be visible over vancouver island tonight, langford’s new street flags celebrate indigenous and 2slgbtqia+ communities, fireworks and more: here’s what’s happening at butchart gardens over the summer, 5 things to do in and around victoria this friday, may 31st, here’s a list of queen elizabeth ii’s royal visits to british columbia (photos).

After 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning monarch.

It was announced by Buckingham Palace this morning that she passed away peacefully at Balmoral castle in Scotland with the company of her family.

During her reign as Queen, Elizabeth II had visited BC on six royal trips to Canada.

Prior to her being Queen, in October 1951 Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke of Edinburgh went on a coast-to-coast tour of Canada. They visited Victoria on this journey.

In 1959 on her first official visit to Canada as Queen, she and the Duke of Edinburgh visited several cities on their journey through BC on the royal train. They stopped in Victoria and Nanaimo on this royal tour.

In May 1971 Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip and Princess Anne visited BC on the Royal Yacht Britannia to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of BC’s entry into confederation.

During the 80s, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visited Vancouver Island twice.

In 1983 they traveled to Victoria on the Royal Yacht Britannia during another royal tour. The royal couple also took the Royal Yacht to Nanaimo and Vancouver.

Then in 1987, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip went to a luxurious retreat in Qualicum Beach before spending time in Greater Victoria. During this visit they attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting and Queen Elizabeth II unveiled BC’s newly updated coat of arms.

In 1994, The Queen and Prince Philip opened the 15th Commonwealth Games in Victoria and paid a visit to CFB Comox.

The last time she was in BC on an official tour was in 2002. The Queen was celebrating her Golden Jubilee and she unveiled a stained-glass window in the BC legislature. She also dropped the puck at an NHL exhibition game in Vancouver.

“British Columbians are deeply saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth II,” said Premier John Horgan in a media release. “The Queen will be remembered for her full-hearted service to her people, and her steadfast commitment to her duties as the sovereign and head of the Commonwealth.”

“Our thoughts are with all members of The Royal Family.”

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In pictures: Queen Elizabeth II's last visit to B.C.

Throughout her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II visited B.C. on numerous occasions, participating in local events and touring different regions in the province.

Her first visit was in 1951, when she was still Duchess of Edinburgh. She and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrived by train in Vancouver and visited Victoria and Nanaimo. Her first visit as Queen was in 1959.

Queen Elizabeth II's most recent visit to B.C. was in 2002. Photos of the royal tour saved by the Province of B.C. show highlights from the 12-day stay, which was in celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

2002 VISIT, IN PICTURES

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are welcomed by then-premier Gordon Campbell.

Queen Elizabeth speaks with Campbell at the University of British Columbia.

The Queen speaks to members of the public.

The Queen unveils a new stained glass window in the Hall of Honour that was designed to celebrate her Golden Jubilee.

Queen Elizabeth drops the ceremonial puck at the start of a hockey game at GM Place.

"British Columbians are deeply saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen will be remembered for her full-hearted service to her people, and her steadfast commitment to her duties as the sovereign and head of the Commonwealth," Premier John Horgan said in a statement Thursday, after the Queen's death was announced.

"The Queen held a special place in her heart for British Columbia. We were honoured to host the Queen seven times, six as reigning monarch. With each visit, the Queen brought British Columbians together in common purpose."

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A timeline of every B.C. visit made by the Queen (photos)

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Over her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II paid numerous visits to Canada and its westernmost province British Columbia.

But it was a young princess that Elizabeth — then Duchess of Edinburgh — embarked on her first coast-to-coast tour of the country.

On Oct. 8, 1951, Elizabeth’s train pulled into Vancouver with Prince Philip. The couple would later visit Victoria and Nanaimo, before enjoying a private retreat in Qualicum Beach.

She departed on Nov. 12, only three months before she acceded the throne upon the death of her father George VI.

As news echoed across the world of Queen Elizabeth II’s death Thursday, we look back at her seven visits to this corner of the Commonwealth.

Princess Elizabeth signs the visitors book in the Mayor's office. Vancouver Archives

1959 - June 18 to Aug. 1

Queen Elizabeth II visits the University of British Columbia in her first trip to Canada as monarch. Vancouver Archives

In her first visit to Canada as queen, Elizabeth II toured the entire country with Prince Philip aboard the royal train. In B.C., the royal couple made a number of stops, including Golden, Revelstoke, Kamloops and Spences Bridge. They would also visit New Westminster, Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo.

1971 - May 3 to 12

The Queen and Prince Phillip wave farewell to the crowd from the deck of HMS Britannia in 1971.

Along with The Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Ann, Queen Elizabeth II visited B.C. on the Royal Yacht Britannia. The visit would mark the centenary of B.C.’s entry into Confederation. Stops included Greater Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Prince Rupert and Williams Lake.

1983 - March 8 to March 11

Queen Elizabeth II visits Parliament Hill in Ottawa on a tour that would eventually land her in B.C. Canadian Heritage/Flickr

In another visit aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, first pulled into Victoria. The royal couple also visited Vancouver, Nanaimo, Vernon and New Westminster during their West Coast tour.

1987 - Oct. 9 to 24

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip outside Science World in 1987. Science World

The royal couple returned to Qualicum Beach for a private retreat before spending time in Vancouver and Greater Victoria, where they attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. During this visit, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled B.C.’s new, updated Coat of Arms.

1994 - Aug. 13 to 22

Queen Elizabeth II greeting people while on a visit to Prince George. City of Prince George

On this visit, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip opened the Commonwealth Games in Victoria and had a private retreat at Twin Island. The Queen visited CFB Comox and Prince George.

2002 - Oct. 4 to 15

The Queen acknowledges the crowd during her visit here in 2002. Times Colonist File Photo

In her final visit to British Columbia, Queen Elizabeth II visited Canada as part of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. They would visit Victoria, where she unveiled a stained-glass window in the B.C. Parliament Buildings.

In Vancouver, she shook hands with throngs of students at the University of British Columbia and dropped the puck at an NHL exhibition game.

Queen Elizabeth dropped the ceremonial puck at the start of an exhibition hockey game at GM Place, Vancouver. Province of B.C.

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From Nanaimo bathtub races to Victoria parades: Looking back at Queen Elizabeth's visits to Vancouver Island

People across the world are commemorating the life of British monarch Queen Elizabeth II, who died Thursday at the age of 96 .

The British and Canadian head of state was respected by many people across the world, and made seven official trips to Vancouver Island, six of which occurred during her 70 years on the throne.

FIRST VISIT

Her first official visit to Vancouver Island was in 1951, when she was still Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh.

During the trip, she visited Victoria and Nanaimo, making stops at the B.C. legislature building as well as taking a short holiday in Qualicum Beach.

"Three months after leaving Canada, Princess Elizabeth would begin her reign as Queen Elizabeth II," said the B.C. government in a release Thursday.

SECOND VISIT

She visited the island again about a decade later in 1959, making stops at Government House in Victoria, as well as Nanaimo.

While in the Harbour City, the Queen was given the name "Ar-Oh-Muthl," or "Mother of All People" by the Coast Salish people, according to the province.

Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog says Queen Elizabeth II was an example of "real leadership."

"For someone of my generation, she has been my monarch throughout my life," Krog told CTV News on Thursday.

"And the symbolism of her devotion to her job, the role she was given without desire on the sudden death of her father, shows an example of what real leadership is about," he said.

BATHTUB DERBY

In 1971, the Queen returned to the island to mark B.C.'s 100th anniversary of entering the Canadian Confederation.

Her visit included a trip to Nanaimo where she watched one of the city's famous bathtub races.

FOURTH VISIT

Twelve years later, a crowd of approximately 15,000 people gathered in Victoria's Inner Harbour to greet Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1983.

While in Victoria, the royal couple visited Christ Church Cathedral, the Royal Road Military College (now known as Royal Roads University) in Colwood, and the University of Victoria.

She also visited Nanaimo, this time arriving by boat. The Queen sailed to the Mid-Island community on a yacht flanked by a "flotilla of bathtubs," according to the province.

FIFTH VISIT

In 1987, the royal couple returned to B.C. to help unveil the province's updated coat of arms. Before the ceremony, the couple had a private holiday in Qualicum Beach.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Seven years later, in 1994, the Queen returned to Canada to help open the Commonwealth Games, which were being hosted in Victoria. During that trip, she also visited Canadian Forces Base Comox.

GOLDEN JUBILEE

Her most recent official visit to Vancouver Island occurred in 2002. The Queen was in Canada marking her Golden Jubilee, which celebrated her 50th year on the throne.

During this trip, she visited Christ Church Cathedral again to attend a Sunday service, and helped unveil a stained-glass window at the B.C. legislature.

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps describes the Queen's passing as a "big loss."

"You don't think that somebody like that is ever going to pass, which is ridiculous because she is a human being, but there's almost a moment of disbelief," said Helps.

"We've seen her for our whole lives – she has been the Queen. There's a way in which people like her with her legacy and her stature almost seem immortal," she said.

B.C. Premier John Horgan issued a statement Thursday acknowledging that many British Columbians are affected by the Queen's death.

"The Queen will be remembered for her full-hearted service to her people, and her steadfast commitment to her duties as the sovereign and head of the Commonwealth," he said.

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'Home away from home': A look back through Queen Elizabeth II's official visits to Canada

Of all the countries in the Commonwealth, Canada was the late Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite destination, judging by how many times she graced our shores.

Over the course of her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II officially visited Canada more than 20 times, ranging from sweeping royal tours to visits for anniversaries and special events.

Canada’s relationship with the monarch has always been significant. The Queen was head of state for 16 countries in the Commonwealth, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica, among others, but of these 16 countries, the Queen has visited Canada the most.

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“My mother once said that this country felt like a home away from home for the Queen of Canada,” the Queen said during her last visit to Canada, in 2010.

“I’m delighted to report that it still does, and I’m delighted to be back amongst you all.”

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, she is the “most travelled monarch in history.”

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The first time that the Queen set foot on Canadian soil was when she was only 25 years old and still a princess — in 1951, she took her ailing father’s place to visit Canada with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince Philip, who died on April 9, 2021, was particularly fond of Canada, and travelled to the country 46 times in total, including his many visits by the Queen’s side.

Two years after her first visit, in 1953, she was crowned Queen. She made a brief appearance in Gander, N.L. that year during a stopover on the way to tour other parts of the Commonwealth, but wouldn’t return for an official visit of Canada until 1957.

John Diefenbaker, the prime minister at the time, was eager to strengthen ties to Britain and cement the Queen’s role in Canada, and even had the Queen preside over a cabinet meeting during her brief visit.

During that trip, the Queen also opened Canada’s new Parliament, an event that she was proud to mention in her Christmas speech later that year, the very first televised Christmas speech from a British royal ever.

“Last October, I opened the new Canadian Parliament,” she said in the speech. “This was the first time that any sovereign had done so in Ottawa. Once again, I was overwhelmed by the loyalty and enthusiasm of my Canadian people.”

But her longest trip to Canada — and arguably the most important — occurred in 1959, when she toured all of the provinces, as well as both current territories, with Prince Philip for 45 days. This is still the longest tour any reigning monarch has made of Canada, and although the Queen visited Canada many times after, she never did so on this scale again.

Buckingham Palace instructed the visit to be referred to as a “royal tour” to emphasize the importance, and to position the Queen as comfortable in her role as Queen of Canada.

Although the Queen was greeted with crowds wherever she went, travelled more than 24,000 kilometres on this trip, shook nearly 5,000 hands and attended sixty-one formal functions, according to the book “Canada and the End of Empire,” the tour was not without controversy. Indigenous people were present at many events on her tour, often meeting with the Queen to perform dances or demonstrate cultural knowledge — but any issues such as treaties or land rights were not permitted to be brought up.

In the years to come, the Queen would make around 20 more official visits to Canada. Including brief stopovers, the Queen has been in Canada more than 30 times.

Most trips have involved ceremonial duties, tours of the country or charity work, but she has also come to Canada to act in an official capacity, such as when she opened Parliament in 1957, and when she delivered a Speech from the Throne again in 1977.

The speech to outline the federal government’s plans for the coming session of Parliament is usually read by the Governor General as the Queen’s representative. The Queen’s second time reading the speech herself in 1977 was part of her Silver Jubilee tour, the 25th anniversary of her ascending to the throne of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

Another notable visit was when the Queen came to Canada in 1982 to sign the landmark Proclamation of the Constitution Act, the passing of which gave Canada full independence.

During her visits, the Queen often honoured Canada through her wardrobe. In 1957, on her first trip to Canada post-coronation, she wore a striking cream gown covered in sparkling green maple leaves to the state banquet at Rideau Hall, dubbed the “Maple Leaf of Canada Dress.”

During her tour of Canada in 1959, she wore a blue and pink evening gown designed by Sir Hardy Amies to a dinner at the Government House in Nova Scotia, which was embroidered with blooms representing mayflowers, the provincial flower of Nova Scotia.

In her later years, she was frequently seen wearing an iconic diamond brooch in the shape of a maple leaf, called the “Canadian Maple Leaf Royal Brooch.” It had been a favourite of her mother, and after it was passed down to the Queen, she wore it to Canada numerous times, as well as loaning it to family members such as Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, when they visited Canada.

Over the years, the Queen developed strong relationships with Canada’s prime ministers, having met with many of them in person.

The Queen appointed Jean Chretien, Canada’s 20th Prime Minister to the Order of Merit in 2009, a distinction that is restricted to only 24 living people within the Commonwealth. It is given to “persons who have rendered exceptionally meritorious service to the Crown, in armed services or towards the advancement of arts, literature and science.”

Two other Canadian Prime Ministers had received the award before: William Lyon Mackenzie King in 1947, before the Queen took the throne, and Lester B. Pearson in 1971.

The very last time the Queen visited Canada was in 2010, for a nine day visit through five different cities, a trip that saw her celebrating Canada Day in Ottawa on Parliament Hill. Continuing her tradition of honouring Canada through her garments, she even had a favourite dress adjusted to add Canadian maple leaves in Swarovski crystals down the right shoulder and sleeve to wear to a state dinner at the Royal York Hotel.

“My pride in this country remains undimmed.” the Queen said the first day of the trip, speaking to a crowd in Halifax.

The Queen never publicly declared which city or region of Canada was her favourite to visit, but outside of her numerous trips to Ottawa, she visited Victoria, B.C., five times, and visited Winnipeg, Vancouver, Regina and Toronto four times as well, not counting her 1959 tour of the entire country or brief stopovers.

Despite a lack of consensus in Canada over whether we should maintain our ties to the monarchy, a debate that has simmered for decades, the Queen’s visits always brought out numerous Canadians eager to catch a glimpse of the monarch.

And her regard for Canada was evident across her reign, from start to end.

“Throughout the years, particularly since your Centennial year, I have watched Canada develop into a remarkable nation,” the Queen said in 2017, on the 150th anniversary of Confederation. “You have earned a reputation as a welcoming, respectful and compassionate country.

"On this eve of national celebrations, my family and I are with you in spirit.”

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Royal Tour 2002

Royal Tour Timeline
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

On the occasion of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, The Queen and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh toured Canada. During the 12 day tour, the Queen thanked Canadians for their “loyalty, encouragement and support” during the 50 years of her reign.

Queen Elizabeth II accepting flowers at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria

October 4, 2002 to October 15, 2002 – The Queen visited Victoria and Vancouver, B.C. She also visited Nunavut, Ontario, New Brunswick and National Capital Region.

Highlights of the 2002 Royal Tour:

The Queen unveiling stained glass window in the B.C. Parliament Buildings
Golden Jubilee stained glass window
Detailed Golden Jubilee stained glass window
The Queen and Prince Philip welcomed by Premier Gordon Campbell
The Queen dropping ceremonial puck at a hockey game
The Queen and Premier Gordon Campbell at University of British Columbia
Queen talking to members of the public

The Queen unveiled the new stained glass window that was designed to honour her Golden Jubilee, B.C. Parliament Buildings, Victoria

More Images from 2002 Royal Tour
Royal Tours to Canada
Monarchy and the Crown
Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy
Learn more about The Royal Family

The Queen - Dropping the Puck at GM Place, Vancouver

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Contact information

The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

The Queen in Canada: 22 visits during her reign

Elizabeth made nearly 2 dozen official visits to canada since 1952.

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The Queen, who died Thursday at her Balmoral estate in Scotland, made 22 official visits to Canada after ascending to the throne in 1952. Her first time here as Queen was in 1957, the last in 2010. During those years, she visited every province and territory.

Here are some highlights from those visits.

1957: First visit, first live TV address

Prince Philip accompanied Elizabeth on her first official visit as Queen to Canada. The couple had visited previously in 1951 while Elizabeth was a princess.

They spent four days in Ottawa and the Queen became the first reigning sovereign to open the Canadian Parliament.

WATCH | Queen Elizabeth opens Parliament in Ottawa:

The Queen opens Canada's Parliament

She delivered the throne speech for the 23rd Parliament on Oct. 14.

WATCH | The full speech from the throne:

Queen Elizabeth: 1957 Opening of Parliament

She also made a televised address, the first one she had done live, during which she praised Canada's population growth and strong currency.

The address was one of the first examples of the monarchy adapting new technologies during her reign. As communications evolved, attention continued to focus on the Queen's first forays on new platforms such as Twitter or Instagram.

1964: An angry reception in Quebec

The Queen and Prince Philip visited Charlottetown, Quebec City and Ottawa.

She was invited by the prime minister to attend the centennial of two 1864 pre-Confederation conferences in Charlottetown and Quebec City. Elizabeth was warmly welcomed to Charlottetown, but when she got to Quebec City, she was greeted by anti-monarchist and separatist protesters.

WATCH | Protesters greet Queen Elizabeth:

Protests greet the Queen in Quebec

Quebec's relationship with the monarchy wasn't always strained. When the Queen's father, King George VI, and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, visited in 1939, they received a warm welcome, as Canadians rallied in support of the war effort.

But the emergence of Quebec nationalism and the Quiet Revolution led to the separatist movement, which was inherently republican.

WATCH | CBC journalists Knowlton Nash and William Depoe talk about the incident on the news that night:

Queen's visit to Quebec City marred by violence

It was a very different story upon her departure from Ottawa, though, as nearly 1,500 well-wishers turned out to see her off (Philip had left a few hours earlier).

WATCH | Queen Elizabeth leaves Canada after visiting in 1964:

Queen departs after 1964 visit to Canada

1967: the centennial and a huge cake.

The year 1967 was significant for Canada. The country was marking its centennial and the Queen was there for celebrations on Parliament Hill.

She delivered a speech that day, describing Canada as "a nation that has grown and prospered in an atmosphere of freedom where differences are respected and where the rights of individual men and women to work out their own salvations have never been long denied."

You can watch here full speech from that day here .

Do you have a personal connection, story or memory to share about Queen Elizabeth? Do you have any questions about what happens next? Send an email to [email protected] .

After their time in Ottawa, the Queen and Prince Philip travelled to Montreal, arriving there on July 3 to visit Expo 67.

There was some concern about how the royal couple would be received in Quebec, given the protests just a few years earlier. But on this visit, they got a warm reception.

They visited the British and Canadian pavilions and toured the full site on the Expo minirail.

1976: The whole family cheers on Anne

If the Montreal Olympics weren't reason enough for the Queen to visit Canada in 1976, she and her family, who accompanied her on the trip, had the added bonus of seeing their daughter and sister Anne competing on the British equestrian team.

The visit was noteworthy because it was the only time the Queen's entire immediate family was in the country at the same time. Prince Philip and Anne's brothers Charles, Andrew and Edward were also on hand to cheer Anne on.

WATCH | Queen Elizabeth opens the Olympics in Montreal:

The Queen opens the 1976 Olympics

The Queen also visited New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on this trip.

1982: The Constitution and a mystery giggle

The Queen returned to Canada in 1982 for the proclamation of the Constitution. An estimated 32,000 people came out in the rain in Ottawa on April 17, 1982 for the ceremony on Parliament Hill.

And there was a memorable moment during the ceremony that was only reported years later. While signing the document after the Queen, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau broke the tip of the pen. When the justice minister, Jean Chrétien, went to sign it, he couldn't, and uttered "merde," causing the Queen to laugh. He was forced to reach for a second pen.

WATCH | The signing ceremony for the proclamation of the Constitution (the moment when the Queen laughs begins at about the 1:56 mark):

The Queen proclaims the Constitution Act

Following the signing, the Queen delivered a speech, stating, "Today I have proclaimed this new Constitution, one that is truly Canadian at last. There could be no better moment for me as Queen of Canada to declare again my unbounded confidence in the future of this wonderful country."

WATCH | The Queen's full speech:

The Queen's speech after proclaiming the Constitution Act

2002: golden jubilee with a twist of controversy.

Her 2002 visit to Canada was part of a year of celebration for the Queen as she marked 50 years as monarch.

Elizabeth came to Canada as part of her Golden Jubilee tour — which also took her to New Zealand, Australia and Jamaica — and thanked Canadians for their "loyalty, encouragement and support" during her reign.

But there was a bit of controversy courtesy of Canada's deputy prime minister, who was assigned to be her escort in Ottawa during the visit.

John Manley had said that he hoped to see the end of the monarchy in Canada after Elizabeth's reign.

WATCH | The Queen presents a horse to the RCMP following a performance of the Musical Ride:

The Queen gives the RCMP a horse

2010: the final visit to a place like 'home'.

The Queen's final visit to Canada was in 2010. She visited five cities and spent Canada Day in Ottawa with about 100,000 others on Parliament Hill.

"This nation has dedicated itself to being a caring home for its own, a sanctuary for others and an example to the world," she said during the visit.

Elizabeth visited Canada more times as Queen than any other Commonwealth country. And she referred to Canada as "home" as she arrived in Halifax — a term she used throughout her reign when speaking of this country.

WATCH | The Queen's last speech on Canada Day from Parliament Hill:

The Queen on Canada Day

WATCH | A collection of highlights from the Queen's visits to Canada from 1957 to 2010:

The Queen in Canada 1957-1976

The Queen in Canada 1977-2010

Queen Elizabeth, Canada's head of state, dead at 96
With Queen Elizabeth's death, Canada prepares for an official mourning period

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1939 Royal Tour

Article by Carolyn Harris

Published Online April 22, 2015

Last Edited March 25, 2022

Albert and Elizabeth

The future King George VI was born on 14 December 1895. At the insistence of his great-grandmother, Queen Victoria , he was named Albert after his great-grandfather, who died on the same day in 1861. As the second son of the future King George V , the young prince was not expected to succeed to the throne and instead trained for a naval career. At 17, he visited Canada for the first time on a six-month training cruise in 1913.

In 1930, the Canadian government requested that the Prince, who had become Duke of York in 1920, be chosen as Governor General . The British government decided against this because of the changing relationship between the United Kingdom and Canada — including Canada’s growing autonomy — soon to be enacted under the Statute of Westminster .

In 1923, the Duke of York married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the ninth of the 10 children of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, members of the Scottish aristocracy. The wedding and the arrival of the royal couple’s two daughters, the future Queen Elizabeth II (born 1926) and Princess Margaret (1930–2002), attracted public interest throughout the English-speaking world, including Canada. (When her daughter succeeded to the throne in 1952, Elizabeth became known as the Queen Mother .)

On 20 January 1936, King George V died and was succeeded by the Duke of York’s older brother, who became King Edward VIII . Almost a year later, Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite. The Duke of York became King as a result of the Abdication Crisis and assumed the name George VI to symbolize continuity with the reign of his father, George V.

King and Queen of Canada

In 1931, the Statute of Westminster granted Canada control over its own foreign policy. The Statute changed the relationship between Canada and the monarchy, creating a distinct Canadian Crown . Canada became the political equal of the United Kingdom, sharing a common monarch. The Governor General’s position transformed from representative of the British government to representative of the shared monarch alone. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth therefore toured in 1939 as King and Queen of Canada.

Lord Tweedsmuir , Governor General from 1935 to 1940, extended the invitation to the royal couple to visit Canada after a planned tour of India was cancelled in 1938. Tweedsmuir met with George VI on 24 September 1938 at Buckingham Palace, where the King confirmed the historic trip to Canada. The itinerary was published in newspapers on 4 January 1939. The threat of the Second World War influenced preparations. Queen Elizabeth later recalled, “We were going [to go to Canada] in a battleship and had to change to a liner in case [the warship] was wanted. It was as close as that.”

Canada by Train

The King and Queen spent a month in Canada, touring the country from 17 May to 15 June (excluding four days in the United States from 8 to 11 June). They crossed the country twice in a blue and silver royal train that became the most recognizable symbol of the tour. The tour began in Quebec City when the royal couple arrived on the Canadian Pacific liner Empress of Australia escorted by two destroyers and two cruisers of the Royal Canadian Navy . Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King formally welcomed the couple with a speech that included the words, “Today as never before the throne has become the centre of our national life.”

The westbound journey included stops in Trois-Rivières , Montreal , Ottawa , Kingston , Toronto , Winnipeg , Regina , Calgary , Banff , Vancouver and Victoria , as well as numerous small towns and villages. The train then travelled east, stopping, among other places, in Jasper , Edmonton , Saskatoon , Sudbury , Guelph , Kitchener , Windsor , Hamilton , St. Catharines and Niagara Falls . After the visit to the United States, the royal couple returned to Canada and continued their tour through Rivière-du-Loup , Fredericton , Saint John , Moncton and Charlottetown before departing by ship from Halifax . Before returning to Britain, the royal couple sailed to St. John’s , capital of the separate Dominion of Newfoundland at the time.

Mackenzie King welcomed the royal couple at every stop on the tour. George VI gave royal assent to nine bills and became the first Canadian monarch to directly meet his Parliament . He and Elizabeth also dedicated the National War Memorial in Ottawa and laid the cornerstone on the new Supreme Court of Canada building then under construction.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth with Prime Minister King

First Royal Walkabout

The now-familiar royal walkabout, where members of the royal family meet and greet crowds of citizens during their tours, was spontaneously born in Ottawa in 1939. After dedicating the National War Memorial on 21 May, the royal couple, instead of returning to their motorcade immediately afterward, spent half an hour mingling with the 25,000 First World War veterans who were part of a crowd of at least 100,000 people. It was a stunning gesture, especially in an age when members of the royalty were often perceived as distant figureheads. A CBC radio announcer covering the event observed the warm rapport between the royal couple and the crowd: “One these old veterans is patting the King most affectionately on the shoulder…Her Majesty is chattering with one of the veterans of the amputations association…The Queen is speaking to a blind veteran now…The King is shaking hands….”

Tweedsmuir , who was also there, recognized the lasting impact of the walkabout on the eve of the Second World War : “One old fellow said to me, ‘Aye, man if Hitler could just see this.’ It was wonderful proof of what a people’s King means.”

Great Spectacle

The King and Queen were greeted by enormous crowds throughout the tour. The CBC described the reception as “a majestic mayhem.” Millions of Canadians gathered in cities, towns and rural railway crossings to see the royal couple or to simply watch the train pass through areas where no stop was scheduled. The enthusiasm was shared by Canadians of all backgrounds. In Quebec , prior to the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, the Crown was viewed as a protector of minority rights within the larger democracy and the royal couple was well received by French Canadians. Queen Elizabeth wrote to her daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth II , “The French people in Quebec and Ottawa were wonderfully loyal; & [in] Montrea l there must have been 2,000,000 people, all very enthusiastic & glad to have an excuse to show their feelings. Yesterday in Toronto it was the same….”

The King and Queen gave speeches in both French and English. While the King still suffered from a mild stammer when giving speeches in English, he did not suffer the same impediment in his French addresses.

In his journals, Mackenzie King also made frequent mention of the enthusiastic crowds at every stop. For example, when the royal train reached Brandon , Manitoba , there was “wonderful cheering. A long bridge overhead crowded with people. The hour: 11 at night.”

French Canadian Responses

The enthusiastic response to the royal tour in Quebec was influenced by the views of French Canadian political and religious leaders. Two French Canadian cabinet ministers, Ernest Lapointe and Fernand Rinfret, encouraged public interest in the tour. Camillien Houde , the mayor of Montreal , ensured that Montreal spent more money on royal tour events than Toronto . Cardinal Jean-Marie-Rodrigue Villeneuve , archbishop of Quebec, had met King George V and supported the monarchy. At the time, the Roman Catholic school system in Quebec taught that the British conquest of Quebec had protected the region from the secular influence of the French Revolution.

The presence of the King and Queen in Quebec received extensive press coverage, and Quebec tourism increased by 65 per cent in the aftermath of the tour. French-language newspapers emphasized that French Canadians were loyal to the Crown and admired the royal couple on a personal level but did not support British imperialism or view themselves as having assimilated into the British Empire. La Presse criticized the displays of British flags and decorations in Quebec as “imperialistic propaganda” and instead placed the royal tour in a French Canadian context, stating, “Why don’t we, French Canadians, profit from the occasion to manifest our loyalty and attachment to our sovereigns, certainly, but also to our language, our nationality, our rights, our ethnic character. If we must have inscriptions, let them be worded in French, if we cheer, cheer in French….”

American coverage of the royal tour assumed that Quebec was comparatively indifferent or hostile to the presence of the King and Queen in the province. Both Time and Life magazines reported that the royal couple had travelled in bulletproof limousines in Quebec City and Montreal for security reasons without mentioning that the royal couple would use the same kind of vehicles at other stops across Canada. Quebec commentators objected to the implications of this coverage. Le Devoir declared, “The only gangsters or gunmen we have come to us from the US” and compared the fine French cuisine that the King and Queen had enjoyed in Quebec to the “hot dogs or peanut butter sandwiches” that the royal couple might receive in the United States.

Media Coverage in English Canada

Coverage of the 1939 Royal Tour was extensive in both Canada and the wider world. CBC Radio sent a staff of 100 to cover the tour, and newspapers reported extensively on the events. The tour provided the impetus for inaugurating a Canadian shortwave broadcasting service. There was an international press corps as well, which also travelled on the royal train.

Queen Elizabeth wrote to her mother-in-law, Queen Mary: “In Ottawa , we had a reception for all the journalists who are travelling with us on the pilot train — about 80 of them! The Americans are particularly easy and pleasant, and have been amazed I believe at the whole affair. Of course, they have no idea of our Constitution or how the monarchy works….”

There were a few mishaps in the media coverage, including a Winnipeg radio announcer who swore on the air during his live commentary after becoming tongue-tied trying to describe the reception of the King and Queen by Mackenzie King and Winnipeg mayor John Queen.

American Visit

In the midst of their Canadian tour, the royal couple spent four days in the United States, which included a visit with US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt at his private residence at Hyde Park in New York and in Washington, DC. The royal couple visited the British and Canadian pavilions at the 1939 New York World’s Fair and enjoyed a picnic lunch of hot dogs with the Roosevelts.

The King and Queen developed a strong rapport with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, which lasted throughout the Second World War . Queen Elizabeth recalled decades later that the American visit “was very valuable because the King was able to talk to Roosevelt. Endless night talks they had, because Hitler was looming then.”

“Canada Made Us”

Although the original purpose of the 1939 tour was to allow the monarch to engage with Canadians as King of Canada, the impending outbreak of war shaped the significance of the event. Queen Elizabeth alluded to the threat of war in her thank you letter to Lady Tweedsmuir , stating, “Our chief emotion is one of deep thankfulness that [the tour] was such a success, for more & more one feels that a united Empire is the only hope for this troubled world of today.”

The separation of British and Canadian foreign policy in the Statute of Westminster meant that Canada did not automatically declare war on Germany along with the United Kingdom. The tour, however, renewed ties between Canadians and Britain, helping to ensure support for joining Britain in its war effort. On 10 September 1939, Mackenzie King advised George VI to declare war on Germany in his capacity as King of Canada — just one week after the United Kingdom had made its own declaration.

For Queen Elizabeth, the 1939 tour began a 50-year personal relationship with Canada that helped establish her and her husband as a modern royal couple and set precedents for future Canadian royal tours. She would say later that “Canada made us.” Her great-grandson Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge , repeated this sentiment in 2011 at the conclusion of his first royal tour in Canada with his wife, Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge . As the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth visited Canada 14 times and became a patron of numerous Canadian charities and honorary colonel-in-chief of Canadian military regiments. In 2000, the Queen Mother was appointed to the Order of Canada at the age of 100.

Interested in the monarchy?

Royal Family

External Links

CBC's archived coverage of the first royal walkabout

A feature on the dazzling cars used by the royals on their 1939 tour

A National Film Board documentary of the 1939 royal tour

Associated Collections

Recommended, king george vi, queen mother (hm queen elizabeth the queen mother), king george v, royal tours of canada, 10 memorable royal tours of canada, 1901 royal tour, william lyon mackenzie king, john buchan, 1st baron tweedsmuir.

King Edward VIII

Queen elizabeth ii, prince william (hrh the prince of wales), catherine (hrh the princess of wales).

Queen Elizabeth's Royal Visits to Canada

Chris Jackson-Pool/Getty Images

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B.A., Political Science, Carleton University

Queen Elizabeth, Canada's head of state , always draws crowds when she visits Canada. Since her accession to the Throne in 1952, Queen Elizabeth has made 22 official Royal visits to Canada, usually accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh , and sometimes by her children Prince Charles , Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Queen Elizabeth has visited every province and territory in Canada.

2010 Royal Visit

Date: June 28 to July 6, 2010 Accompanied by Prince Philip The 2010 Royal Visit included celebrations in Halifax, Nova Scotia to mark the centennial of the founding of the Royal Canadian Navy, Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and a dedication of the cornerstone for the Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

2005 Royal Visit

Date: May 17 to 25, 2005 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended events in Saskatchewan and Alberta to celebrate the centennial of the entry of Saskatchewan and Alberta into Confederation.

2002 Royal Visit

Date: October 4 to 15, 2002 Accompanied by Prince Philip The 2002 Royal Visit to Canada was in celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The Royal couple visited Iqaluit, Nunavut; Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Toronto, Oakville, Hamilton and Ottawa, Ontario; Fredericton, Sussex, and Moncton, New Brunswick.

1997 Royal Visit

Date: June 23 to July 2, 1997 Accompanied by Prince Philip The 1997 Royal Visit marked the 500th anniversary of John Cabot's arrival in what is now Canada. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited St. John's and Bonavista, Newfoundland; NorthWest River, Shetshatshiu, Happy Valley and Goose Bay, Labrador, They also visited London, Ontario and viewed the floods in Manitoba.

1994 Royal Visit

Date: August 13 to 22, 1994 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip toured Halifax, Sydney, the Fortress of Louisbourg, and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; attended the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia; and visited Yellowknife , Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit (then part of the Northwest Territories).

1992 Royal Visit

Date: June 30 to July 2, 1992 Queen Elizabeth visited Ottawa, Canada's capital, marking the 125th anniversary of Canadian Confederation and the 40th anniversary of her accession to the Throne.

1990 Royal Visit

Date: June 27 to July 1, 1990 Queen Elizabeth visited Calgary and Red Deer, Alberta, and then joined the celebrations for Canada Day in Ottawa, Canada's capital.

1987 Royal Visit

Date: October 9 to 24, 1987 Accompanied by Prince Philip On the 1987 Royal Visit, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip toured Vancouver, Victoria and Esquimalt, British Columbia; Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Canora, Veregin, Kamsack and Kindersley, Saskatchewan; and Sillery, Cap Tourmente, Rivière-du-Loup and La Pocatière, Quebec.

1984 Royal Visit

Date: September 24 to October 7, 1984 Accompanied by Prince Philip for all parts of the visit except Manitoba Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip toured New Brunswick and Ontario to participate in events marking the bicentennials of those two provinces. Queen Elizabeth also visited Manitoba.

1983 Royal Visit

Date: March 8 to 11, 1983 Accompanied by Prince Philip At the end of a tour of the U.S. West Coast, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited Victoria, Vancouver, Nanaimo, Vernon, Kamloops and New Westminster, British Columbia.

1982 Royal Visit

Date: April 15 to 19, 1982 Accompanied by Prince Philip This Royal Visit was to Ottawa, Canada's capital, for the Proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982.

1978 Royal Visit

Date: July 26 to August 6, 1978 Accompanied by Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward Toured Newfoundland, Saskatchewan and Alberta, attending the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta.

1977 Royal Visit

Date: October 14 to 19, 1977 Accompanied by Prince Philip This Royal Visit was to Ottawa, Canada's capital, in celebration of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Year.

1976 Royal Visit

Date: June 28 to July 6, 1976 Accompanied by Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward The Royal family visited Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and then Montreal, Quebec for the 1976 Olympics. Princess Anne was a member of the British equestrian team competing in the Olympics in Montreal.

1973 Royal Visit (2)

Date: July 31 to August 4, 1973 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth was in Ottawa, Canada's capital, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Prince Philip had his own program of events.

1973 Royal Visit (1)

Date: June 25 to July 5, 1973 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth's first visit to Canada in 1973 included an extended tour of Ontario, including events to mark the 300th anniversary of Kingston. The Royal couple spent time in Prince Edward Island marking the centennial of PEI's entry into Canadian Confederation, and they went on to Regina, Saskatchewan, and Calgary, Alberta to participate in events marking the RCMP centennial.

1971 Royal Visit

Date: May 3 to May 12, 1971 Accompanied by Princess Anne Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne marked the centennial of British Columbia's entry into Canadian Confederation by visiting Victoria, Vancouver, Tofino, Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, William Lake and Comox, B.C.

1970 Royal Visit

Date: July 5 to 15, 1970 Accompanied by Prince Charles and Princess Anne The 1970 Royal Visit to Canada included a tour of Manitoba to celebrate the centennial of Manitoba's entry into Canadian Confederation. The Royal Family also visited the Northwest Territories to mark its centennial.

1967 Royal Visit

Date: June 29 to July 5, 1967 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were in Ottawa, Canada's capital, to celebrate Canada's centennial. They also went to Montreal, Quebec to attend Expo '67.

1964 Royal Visit

Date: October 5 to 13, 1964 Accompanied by Prince Philip Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Visited Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Quebec City, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario to attend the commemoration of the three major conferences that led up to Canadian Confederation in 1867.

1959 Royal Visit

Date: June 18 to August 1, 1959 Accompanied by Prince Philip This was Queen Elizabeth's first major tour of Canada. She officially opened the St. Lawrence Seaway and visited all Canadian provinces and territories over the span of six weeks.

1957 Royal Visit

Date: October 12 to 16, 1957 Accompanied by Prince Philip On her first official visit to Canada as Queen, Queen Elizabeth spent four days in Ottawa, Canada's capital, and officially opened the first session of the 23rd Parliament of Canada.

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What to Do at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver is situated at the highest point in the city, but the majestic panoramic views of our skyline and North Shore Mountains are just the beginning.

You’ll find there are tons of amazing things to do at Queen Elizabeth Park.

Let’s visit Queen Elizabeth Park together and see what’s on offer.

Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Park

Aside from world-class Stanley Park there’s no greater jewel in the Vancouver parks crown.

The 130-acre municipal park on Little Mountain, just minutes from Downtown Vancouver was once an old-growth forest with its own salmon stream, then later became a basalt quarry providing material for Vancouver’s roads.

It was only in 1936 at the urging of the BC Tulip Association that the space was handed over to the Vancouver Parks Board and beautified into a lush urban oasis of flowers, trees, and gardens.

Today it’s one of the top things to do in Vancouver and an automatic on any Vancouver itinerary .

Things to Do at Queen Elizabeth Park

The bloedel floral conservatory.

In our list of things to know before visiting Vancouver we may have mentioned a drop of rain or two.

In fact, the gloomy Vancouver weather is the inspiration for the Bloedel Floral Conservatory and its triodesic dome that’s a tropical rain forest, subtropical rain forest, and desert all in one.

The vision here? A conservatory of simulated climates and their tropical plants, free flying bird species, and tropical fish ponds.

In all, a frolic through here is like a vacation to South America with its waterfalls, bridges, talking parrots, orchids and more – I like grabbing a bird checklist and trying to check the 20+ species off.

The warmth here feels amazing so it’s one of the top things to do in Vancouver in winter .

Panoramic View of Vancouver

With all due respect to Grouse Mountain , you’ll know where the best panoramic view in the city is – because there have been three life-sized bronze statues posing for photos here since 1984.

This Vancouver icon called Photo Session was created by American sculptor J. Seward Johnson, Jr.

You’ll probably have to wait your turn to pose with the smiling, lifelike characters but it’s well worth the wait.

This is the best view in the park (152 metres above sea level, the highest point in Vancouver proper) and the only place you can truly appreciate just how much our city gets dwarfed by the Coast Mountains.

Seasons in the Park Restaurant

Seasons in the Park is the only Queen Elizabeth Park restaurant, and it has been a fantastic special occasion place for locals dating back to 1989 – Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin even ate here in the 90’s.

From a food standpoint it compares with many of Vancouver’s best restaurants , but as far as West Coast atmosphere goes the garden/skyline/mountain combination is unbeatable.

The Pacific Northwest menu is also a great place to try local Vancouver food . Careful though, you’re paying for fine dining with a view so expect entrees to run upwards of $45.00.

Related : The Best Vancouver Food Tours

The Quarry Gardens

Just west of the Bloedel Conservatory is this meticulously landscaped garden.

Going for a walk through its weaving trails, rhododendron bushes, and beautiful annuals selected for foliage and flower is almost like a mini day trip from Vancouver , if not for the fact you’re right in the middle of the city.

The oriental horticulture influences provide great contrast to local specimens, and the stream and cascading waterfall is a nice touch.

Just below the Bloedel Conservatory you’ll find the highest point in the Quarry Gardens, from the wooden bridge (seen in photo above) you’ll get the best view.

Dancing Waters Fountain

It’s nice to break up the gardens, views, and tropical plants every now and then.

I like doing it with this 70-jet fountain show that runs on 85,000 litres of recirculating water from Vancouver’s main drinking water reservoir.

The programmed fountain creates an enthralling water dance effect, changing heights and dazzling with pumps and drops in unison.

At night a warm white light illuminates the fountain for an even more superior visual. This is a great nightcap after a dinner at Seasons in the Park – in fact, the fountains are just a 2-minute walk away.

capilano suspension bridge and grouse mountain tour banner for 2024

Painters’ Corner

If you’re looking for a unique gift to take home from your Vancouver visit then this the place.

In fact, though we’ve raved about Gastown and Granville Island being the best souvenir spots in the city this is a place you’re guaranteed an original, local product.

All the artists here are vetted to be Lower Mainland residents, and are chosen for superior landscape, photography, and portrait skills.

In spring in Vancouver that’s when they start beautifying the park with their easels, near the Bloedel Conservatory.

The Arboretum

Canada’s first civic arboretum started off very local in scope, an ideal spot for local timber species blocks featuring subalpine spruce and Douglas fir.

You can also see some fantastic Coast Redwood trees here, the tallest species of tree in the world that can reach up to 350 feet.

Over 1500 trees grow here now, with some dating back to at least 1949. The highlight here though, especially in spring, is decidedly exotic: the billowy pink and white blooms of the Cherry Blossom.

Our city has over 50,000 of these trees and even hosts the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival .

The QE Rose Garden

If you’re visiting Vancouver in summer it’s worth a visit to the city’s biggest rose garden. Over 2,500 roses are found here, planted in the shape of Queen Elizabeth’s crown.

Although I’ve never seen the aerial photography evidence I’ll have to take their word for it. That said, seeing the roses up close is spectacular.

Expect to see some hardy hybrids that were created right here in Canada – in fact, the entire garden was created to honour Canada’s centennial birthday in 1967. The Parkland variety was developed to survive our harsh winters, so you may even see them out of season.

Pitch and Putt Golf

If you’re looking to get active, challenge a friend, or just plain have a laugh hacking your way through a short golf course then Queen Elizabeth Park Pitch & Putt is a great idea.

This works both for seasoned golf pros and for golf-curious folks who don’t have the time to practice – or even learn the game at all. The average skill level is quite low, so much so that beginners can get by with a couple practice swings (and maybe a beer).

All you’ll need is one iron and a putter, both rentable at the ticket booth.

Looking for an even more picturesque course? Stanley Park has a great pitch and putt course too.

How to Get to Queen Elizabeth Park

You’ll find the main entrance of Queen Elizabeth Park at the intersection of 33rd and Cambie Street in Vancouver.

If you’re taking public transportation it’s a 10 minute walk from the King Edward Skytrain station, which is just 4-5 stops from downtown Vancouver.

Expect a trip with public transit to take about 30 minutes in total.

There are three entrances to the park:

Ontario Street (ideal for cyclists)
West 33rd Ave (the main entrance for cars)
West 37th Ave (between Columbia and Mackie streets)

Parking at Queen Elizabeth Park

As of 2019 there is no more free parking at Queen Elizabeth Park. All of the parking spaces are pay only and the prices are seasonal:

October 1st – April 30th: $2.75 an hour ($7.50 daily maximum)
May 1st – September 30th: $3.75 an hour ($13.75 daily maximum)

That said, there is free parking outside the park along a street called Kersland Drive – it’s denoted in the map above with a green line.

How to Visit Queen Elizabeth Park

Parking can be expensive so try and park for free along Kersland Drive
If it’s raining book the Bloedel Conservatory and make it the focus
Leave about 60-75 minutes to explore the park well
Looking for romance? Bring a lock and leave it at the Love in the Rain monument
There is a large grassy area below the pitch and putt that’s one of the city’s best off-leash spaces
Tennis lover? Bring a racket as there are tons of free tennis courts
In summer try to time a visit with a Vancouver Canadians baseball game (5 min away)

Queen Elizabeth Park Vancouver FAQ

How much does it cost to go to Queen Elizabeth Park?

Entrance to Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver is free. This includes the Quarry Gardens, the Rose Garden, Painters’ Corner, and the Arboretum.

Other QE Park attractions like the Bloedel Conservatory and the Pitch and Putt Golf Course are pay only.

Is parking at Queen Elizabeth Park free?

No. There are two parking lots at Queen Elizabeth Park, one by the pitch and putt golf course and another near the Seasons in the Park restaurant. Rates start at $2.75 an hour.

That said, along Kersland Drive just below the park there is free parking in the residential area. It is about a 10 minute walk from the main attractions in the park.

Can you picnic at Queen Elizabeth Park?

Yes, there are some great picnic spots in Queen Elizabeth Park, especially in the grassy areas to the west of the pitch and putt golf course.

On the north side of the park just west of Duck Pond you’ll also find picnic tables and BBQ pits (May to October) as well as portable toilets.

Is Queen Elizabeth Park open 24 hours?

Yes, entrance to the park is open 24-7 (including the Rose Garden, Quarry Gardens etc.) so you’re allowed to explore any time, though some attractions like the Bloedel Conservatory operate on their own hours.

Visiting Queen Elizabeth Park?

I’d hate for you to go in unsure about anything. That’s why I’m inviting you to write me in the comments below – with any Vancouver question you could have – for a guaranteed response within 24 hours.

Also, I’m curious to hear your Queen Elizabeth Park reviews. Did QE Park live up to your expectations or is there something you’d change?

Looking forward to hearing from you 🙂

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Concert review: Tedeschi Trucks Band plays one of the best Vancouver shows of 2024

It was a brilliant night of blues, soul and swamp rock genius from Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre

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Article content

There are a lot of very, very good bands out there. Then there is the Tedeschi Trucks Band .

Concert review: Tedeschi Trucks Band plays one of the best Vancouver shows of 2024 Back to video

Based on its show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Saturday night, there may not be a better purveyor of Southern rock ‘n’ soul on the circuit today.

The dozen-member dynamo left the sold-out crowd in utter ecstasy on the one Canadian date of the West Coast leg of its North American tour. (If you missed the Vancouver concert, there are still two nights in Seattle coming up. Toronto fans can catch the group on Aug. 15 . Truthfully, this is a group worth going the distance to see.)

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Tedeschi Trucks was founded in 2010 when couple Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks decided to marry together their two bands after touring 2007 as the Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival.

The group has five full-length studio recordings and three live albums to its credit. Their 2011 debut, Revelator, won the 2012 Grammy for best blues album. But the only way to truly appreciate the unit’s fusing of the best elements rock, blues, swamp boogie and more is to experience it live.

The sound coming from the double drummers, three-piece horn section, trio of backup vocalists, organ and the twin guitar attack of the namesake founders was massive from the opening notes of Playing With My Emotions. The tidal wave of crazy groove the band rode in on had everyone on their feet as Trucks delivered the first of many incredible solos.

The nephew of the late Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks became an official member of the legendary Southern rockers in 1999, and his prodigious talents on his instrument also drive the more experimental Derek Trucks Band as well. His dexterous fingerpicking enables him to not only shred like a demon, but also to deliver heartfelt fluid rhythm playing in a jazzier vein. His slide work on his custom red Gibson SG has rightfully earned him global fame as a master.

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Of course, the group has another phenomenal guitarist in its ranks as well.

Susan Tedeschi’s guitar work brings to mind the swinging, biting attack of blues greats such as Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland. Her wah-wah work on Ain’t That Something was a master class in how to use the often clunky pedal as a means of colouring the chords rather than full-on funking out. The group did plenty of that as well.

The sound doesn’t stop with the two guitar titans. Tedeschi is a brilliant belter in the tradition of Bonnie Raitt and Lou Ann Barton, who burns with emotion when she sings. Every member in the crew brings their best to the performance.

Singer Mike Mattison took the lead on his sweet ballad Emmeline, clearly demonstrating that any band would be glad to have him as their lead singer. Ditto keyboardist Gabe Dixon, singer Alecia Chakour and Mark Rivers who all also had their moments in the spotlight. The rhythm section of bassist Brandon Boone, drummer Tyler Greenwell and Isaac Eady never stopped swinging, and saxophonist Kebbi Williams, trumpeter Ephraim Owens and trombonist Elizabeth Lea blew some epic solos as well.

When they all went for broke on the boogie of Made Up Mind, the audience was brought to its feet screaming just because of how much energy was running through them. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre became a cathedral for the gospel-rocking congregation.

How the group would followup that experience in the second set was anyone’s guess. Kicking it off with a wicked take on Blind Willie McTell’s Statesboro Blues, which the Allman Brothers made famous on the Live at the Filmore album, made it seem like there hadn’t even been a break.

The group would go on to play a brilliant version of the Allman’s Dreams, a searing take on Aretha Franklin’s It Ain’t Fair and closed out the night with a Bayou-soaked version of Joe Cocker’s High Time We Went. Fans would have been happy to have the band play all night.

No one left early. Most woke up this morning with a perma grin pasted on their faces.

The Tedeschi Trucks Band has always been great live, but you probably needed to have some taste for their chosen genre. Last night, the band took it to a level that could make a non-blues rocker into a devout believer. It was that good.

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IMAGES

Looking back on Queen Elizabeth's visits to BC (PHOTOS)
a large dome with fountains in front of it and mountains in the backround
Queen Elizabeth II visits Canada, Royal Tour 2010
Queen Elizabeth Park Vancouver
Queen Visits Canada
Queen Elizabeth Park

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