9 Special Mother’s Day Events Worth Checking Out

Here’s our list of great Mother’s Day events across the West.

Whether your thing is tea, brunch, wine or flowers, the following places have taken the time to plan a very special day for mothers (just in case you were coming up short on mom-worthy ideas). 

Mother’s Day Brunch

Pay special tribute to mom with a three-course brunch (or dinner) at Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar in Vancouver. Executive chef Alex Chen will make sure the day is perfect, so you don’t have to stress.

The Details:

When: Sunday, May 8 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for brunch; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. for dinner)Where: Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, 845 Burrard St., VancouverTickets: $59 for brunch; $65 for dinner (plus beverages, tax, etc.); make a reservation here.

Mother’s Day Brunch (and Wine Pairing!)

Here’s an easy and classic way to please your mom: Calgary’s Willow Park Wines and Spirits is offering a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet with wine pairings for each course. The team has also prepared a few extra surprises for all the mothers attending.

The Details:

When: Sunday, May 8 (12 p.m. to 2 p.m.)Where: Willow Park Wines and Spirits, 10801 SE Bonaventure Dr., CalgaryTickets: Suggested $10 donation

VanDusen Botanical Garden

Bring your mom to Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden. Featuring live jazz music, a photo booth and plenty of spots for a good picnic, Mom might just think these flowers have a bit more flavour than last year’s bouquet!

The Details:

When: Sunday, May 8 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak St., Vancouver  Tickets: $11.25 (regular garden admission fees)

Moms are Fab: Mother’s Day FabFive Wine Trail

If you happen to be in or near Kelowna’s wine country on Mother’s Day weekend, maybe bring your mom on a tour of the FabFive Wine Trail. Free of charge for all mothers, the tour features quality vino from The View, SpierHead, The Vibrant Vine, Camelot, and House of Rose.

The Details:

When: Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 (12 p.m. to 4 p.m.)Where: Kelowna FabFive Wine Trail, KelownaTickets: No cost(Photo: Shanticollective.com.)

YoUnlimited Mother’s Day Market

Find something local and handmade for mom or take her shopping as a special treat. Hosted by the quaint Nourish Kitchen in Victoria, a few vendors so far include Shanti Collective, Cold Gold, The Didi Society and Perido Tulips.

The Details:

When: Sunday, May 1 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)Where: Nourish Kitchen, 225 Quebec St., VictoriaTickets: No cost

Afternoon Tea

Of course, we’re not going to let high tea go unmentioned—it’s the ultimate Mother’s Day activity. Here are a few of our top tea picks that do it right:

Pâtisserie Für Elise, Vancouver

Located in downtown Vancouver, this tea salon and shop is inside a Queen Anne-style Victorian heritage house that has been in Vancouver since 1893.

The Details:

When: Sunday, May 8Where: Pâtisserie Für Elise, 847 Hamilton St., VancouverTickets: $30 for a two-hour seating

Faubourg Kerrisdale, Vancouver

Located in Kerrisdale, this luxe, sophisticated tea features fresh-baked traditional French delights that you can enjoy on handmade French chairs.

The Details:

When: Saturday, May 7 & Sunday, May 8 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m.)Where: Faubourg Kerrisdale, 2156 W 41st Ave., VancouverTickets: $28.50 per person

Abkhazi Garden, Victoria

This beautiful tea experience offers a stunning view of the garden—we recommend taking a walk around when you’re finished indulging on crab and dill quiche.

The Details:

When: Sunday, May 8 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)Where: The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden, 1964 Fairfield Rd., VictoriaTickets: $30 per person

The Dove’s Nest, Calgary

This sweet family-owned and operated shop is a local favourite and has more than 100 teas to choose from to go with its sweet and savoury scones.

The Details:

When: Sunday, May 8 (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.)Where: The Dove’s Nest, 106A-1600 90th Ave. SW, CalgaryTickets: $31.95 per person