WWF Canada

On Saturday, March 23 at 8:30pm, Vancouver will be plunged into darkness as residents and businesses across the city switch off their lights for Earth Hour – the largest environmental event in the world.

Given that Vancouver
a. Knows how to celebrate,
b. Plans to be the world’s Greenest City by 2020, and
c. And is a strong contender to win the Earth Hour City challenge,

There’s no shortage of ways to spend Earth Hour in the city.

You might notice some local landmarks looking a bit darker than usual…

Some of our most iconic attractions and hotels have committed to turning down non-essential lighting for Earth Hour:

• Canada Place will dim the lights on its iconic sails.
• BC Place has pledged to shut down its award-winning, multi-coloured LED lighting.
• Rogers Arena
• Pacific Centre plans to power down all escalators and non-essential lighting.
• The Burrard will turn off lights and encourage guests to dine by candlelight.
• H.R. MacMillan Space Centre will have a special showing of “Vanishing Skies” on light pollution at the planetarium, and if the skies are clear the observatory will be open for viewing by donation.

Canada Place before Earth Hour | Photo: WWF-Canada/Flickr

Canada Place during Earth Hour | Photo: WWF-Canada/Flickr

Other members taking part include:

• Museum of Vancouver
• Vancouver Lookout
• Vancouver Aquarium
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Telus World of Science
• Grouse Mountain
• Pan Pacific Vancouver
• Park Inn & Suites Vancouver Broadway

As for us? We’ll be spending Earth Hour (unofficially re-dubbed “Earth Cocktail Hour”) dining, sampling and sipping at local eateries that have come up with some pretty creative ways to participate. With 29 of Vancouver’s finest establishments on board, the only hard part is choosing where to go. Top picks include:

• West Restaurant + Bar’s “Beet-nyk” is a gin-based cocktail featuring organic golden beets from Barnston Island, apple and Meyer lemon.
• Herons West Coast Kitchen + Bar will feature their fresh, local and light Rooftop Honey Collins cocktail on special for $6 (to see the recipe, click here).
• Red Card Sports Bar “Swampy Marsh” features gin, lemongrass infused sake, lime juice, simple syrup, mint and cucumber muddled and garnished with a mint leaf and a mini marshmallow on a lemongrass skewer.
• CinCin Ristorante + Bar
• Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
• Observatory and Altitudes Bistro at Grouse Mountain
• Araxi Restaurant + Bar
• Raw Canvas
• The Edge Social Grille & Lounge
• Fraiche Restaurant
• Max’s Restaurant
• The Lobby Lounge at Fairmont Pacific Rim
• Riverway Clubhouse
• Cafe Pacifica and Cascades Lounge at Pan Pacific Vancouver
• p2b bistro bistro & bar at the Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel
• Bacchus Restaurant
• Pier 73 Restaurant at the Delta Vancouver Airport
• Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro
• Cavino Coffee & Wine Bar
• The Oakwood Canadian Bistro
• UVA Wine Bar
• Cibo Trattoria
• Spencer’s at the Delta Vancouver Suites Hotel
• Sol Sun Belt Eatery
• Fresh Restaurant & Lounge at the Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport
• Five Sails Restaurant
• Dunn’s Famous Restaurant
• Globe YVR at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport
• Mosaic Bar and Grille at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver

So here’s our excuse to dine out on Saturday, March 23 (as if we needed one). Just don’t forget to turn off the lights before you head out!

Earth Hour is organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as a symbolic stand against climate change. For one hour, millions of people will switch off the lights, demonstrating how great things can be achieved when we come together for a common cause.

Staying in? Check out these ideas from WWF.

How will you be spending Earth Hour?