Pride can mean many different things to different people.
It’s an opportunity to celebrate, reflect, and advocate for a better future while celebrating the victories made up to today. And while it highlights the collective, it is also a profoundly personal experience that serves to highlight and commemorate the things that make us unique while honouring a community built on support, understanding and compassion.
It’s a time to channel and appreciate love, whether for a partner, a community, or yourself - a concept these local businesses support and hope to help with.
Here are some unique opportunities to celebrate love, in all forms, this Vancouver pride.
Indulge in a memorable and calming spa experience
Whether spoiling a partner or practicing the self-love you 100% deserve, you don’t need to travel across the world to treat yourself to the pinnacle of lavish luxury - an authentic Thai spa experience. Sabai Thai Spa allows you to indulge in an experience of ultimate relaxation and serenity without the expensive plane ticket.
Attention to detail drives Sabai Thai to achieve excellence in customer service, creating a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere for all through soothing music, soft lighting, and carefully curated decor. This tranquil ambience allows customers to release their stress and tension, replacing it with relaxation and inner peace.
Authenticity lies at the heart of operations. The spa comprises a skilled team of Thai therapists trained in traditional Thai healing techniques utilizing holistic herbs and oils. In addition to traditional Thai massage, customers can enjoy various other services, including complete massage and facial packages, herbal compress therapy, aromatherapy, RMT, and foot reflexology.
Sabai Thai also offers a wide range of vouchers. Use promo code VIAFIVE to get an additional 5% discount on select ongoing promotions. They have seven locations in Lower Mainland. Find the nearest location near you.
Get whisked away to a magnificent mountain escape
Nothing says romance like a gorgeous chalet getaway. Escape the routines, deadlines and the hustle and bustle of everyday life and replace it with the ideal blend of relaxation, adventure and quality time to reconnect.
Nita Lake Lodge, located in the whimsical wonderland of Whistler, is the only lakeside resort and spa in the area, boasting the perfect package for rejuvenation and romance. Here, there is no better way to awaken your senses and get back in tune with yourself and your senses than by connecting with the elements.
From cozy, warm fires ideal for snuggling and admiring the stunning lake views to rooftop hot tubs, water crafts, immediate access to countless outdoor activities, and local seasonal cuisine, Nita Lake Lodge provides the ideal atmosphere for guiltless indulgence. Did we mention there’s a spa, too?
The possibilities for relaxation are endless, with every moment bringing a new opportunity to bring you closer to nature and your loved ones.
As if you needed any more motivation, B.C. residents have access to exclusive savings of up to 20% off at Nita Lake Lodge this summer.
Visit nitalakelodge.com/specials/bc-residents-special to learn more.
Feed your heart, body and soul
As much as Pride is a celebration of love, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the dedication, perseverance, and tenacity of the LGBTQ2+ community and the passionate individuals who have fought for their equal representation and rights.
While there is much work left to be done, it is also important to acknowledge and appreciate the victories as they come – like the opportunity to celebrate love loudly and proudly with those you care for most.
Women-owned and led business Emelle’s Catering is proudly represented by a diverse team comprising people of colour, members of the LGBTQ2+ community and those of diverse ability backed by 24 years of experience. Receiving best employer awards from Small Business BC and Autism BC, Emelle’s delivers unique experiences that take your events to the next level, with a passion for giving back to its community while minimizing its footprint.
The Emelle’s brand embodies a “we cater to you” attitude, offering a collaborative and flexible approach to bring your vision to fruition without being pretentious. Whether you’re after classic family-style “grandma’s” meatballs or an elegant presentation of luscious lamb chops, the team is dedicated to delivering exactly what you want.
Learn more about Emelle’s Catering services and browse menus for weddings, corporate events, personal events and more by visiting emelles.com.
Bask in the beauty of the big screen
Celebrating Pride doesn’t necessarily mean extravagant parties, fantastical floats and outrageous antics all the time – although those are fun, too!
It can also mean indulging in and celebrating the advancement of representation through art, and one such venue to experience this firsthand is The Cinematheque. Located at the cross streets of Howe and Helmcken in downtown Vancouver, The Cinematheque is a holistic hub of creativity, passion and artistic expression, bringing the essential cinema experience to Vancouver audiences since 1972.
The neighbourhood venue promotes two large series coming this August.
The first is their much-loved Film Noir series which runs, from August 3 to September 4. Featuring a deep dive into the deliriously dark and prosperous period of hardboiled, high-body-count American cinema, this year’s lineup consists of 12 heavy hitters in the noir genre, three of which pay homage to golden-age screen siren Gloria Grahame in celebration of her centenary.
Playing adjacent to Film Noir is the Suzuki Seijun 100 series (August 17 to September 4), comprises 12 representative films across the famed Japanese filmmaker, actor, and screenwriter’s impressive catalogue. The collection provides an opportunity to appreciate how Suzuki could reconfigure his modernism across genres and eras, blazing a trail that we’re only now catching up to.
Learn more about The Cinematheque and upcoming screenings at thecinematheque.ca.
Embrace creativity and diversity
One of the most beautiful things about creative expression and art is its innate accessibility and relatability. It embodies the feelings we may find difficult to express and communicates profound messages and themes that represent what makes us human.
This engaging and empathetic experience is precisely what the Vancouver Art Gallery encourages through its captivating collections and exhibits. Western Canada’s largest public art museum, the Gallery, strives to create shared paths to unique perspectives through art while building and connecting communities to shape a collective future.
Featuring historical exhibits and contemporary art from B.C. and around the world, guests are invited to admire the works of a diverse group of artists in hopes of promoting productive dialogue. Education programs and publications surrounding various artistic subjects are also available for those looking to broaden their horizons and learn more.
With membership options starting at just $5 a month, everyone and anyone can enjoy access to the Gallery year-round. Support more access to more art more often this Pride. Visit tickets.vanartgallery.bc.ca to visit today.
