Visitor Centre

This architecturally stunning Living Building with its views of Livingstone Lake and the Woodland Garden presents a unique location for business meetings, conferences, seminars, memorials, wedding receptions, banquets, Christmas parties, and for special office functions.

Download our limited capacity outdoor brochure.

For more detailed information download our brochure.

Contact

Facility Rentals
Phone: 604-257-6915
Email: VanDusenRentals@vancouver.ca
Fax: 604-257-8679

Also on site:

Truffles Fine Foods Catering & Café, Shaughnessy Restaurant, the VanDusen Garden Shop, and the Library, are available for your convenience. Ample free parking, wheelchair accessibility and direct access to this unique garden setting make the venues within the Visitor Centre and Floral Hall Pavilion an ideal location for your event.

Garden Visits

Special rates for garden admissions are available for purchase when renting any of the above venues. All prices subject to change.

The Floral Hall Pavilion

Our Floral Hall is located in an early 1970’s building that features cedar details and designed in an iconic West Coast style. This is a great location for business meetings, conferences, seminars, memorials, wedding receptions, banquets, Christmas parties, or for special office functions.

The Cedar Room

A conveniently located, moderate sized room for your meeting, workshops, or classes.

For more detailed information, download our brochure.

Contact

Facility Rentals
Phone: 604-257-6915
Email: VanDusenRentals@vancouver.ca
Fax: 604-257-8679

Garden Visits

Special rates for garden admissions are available for purchase when renting any of the above venues. All prices subject to change.

Picture yourself at the top of the Great Lawn with stunning azalea beds, flowering trees and peonies as the backdrop. This picturesque lawn area offers views across the treetops to the majestic North Shore Mountains. The Great Lawn can accommodate any size wedding up to 800 guests.

The gently sloping lawns adjacent to Heron Lake have been featured as a romantic location in many Hollywood movies. This idyllic setting, with the lake and willow tree, is available for wedding ceremonies of up to a maximum of 120 guests.

Meadow Pond, secluded at the south west corner of the Garden, is available for wedding ceremonies of up to 30 guests.

Whether you choose vibrant floral, serene water, or a secluded garden, all backdrops will provide a memorable setting for your special day.

Additional staffing fees will apply, please see our brochure for more details.

Download our brochure.

Download our limited capacity outdoor brochure.

Contact

Facility Rentals
Phone: 604-257-6915
Email: VanDusenRentals@vancouver.ca
Fax: 604-257-8679

Reservations are required for wedding ceremonies and photography sessions.

A rental fee is charged per booked session. Two time slots are available for wedding parties of up to 30 people (mornings – before public opening; and evenings – after public closing time). To book a special event or for more information, please contact us.

Download our brochure.

Contact

Maria Di Antonio
Phone: 604-654-0780
Email: bloedelrentals@vancouver.ca

The group photography rate applies for photo shoots for a wedding, engagement, family group, graduation, etc. The rates also apply for a small wedding ceremony of 15 or fewer people.

All prices subject to GST.

–    Up to 4 people              $ 92.00
–    5 to 8 people                 $177.00
–    9 to 15 people               $251.00
–    If there are more than 15 people, each additional person receives 10% off his/her regular admission price.
–    Photographer/videographer receives free admission.

*Please note, the use of drones is not permitted in the Garden.

Reservations are not required
One person pays the cashier for the whole group
No ‘props’ (chairs, arbours, tables, sound system)
Choose areas off the main walkways
Avoid main attraction areas (Rose Garden, Gazebos, Perennial Garden, etc.)

For Commercial photography (for magazines, movies, etc.), please check the commercial photography section (below) or contact Jennifer Cooper, 604-257-8661, jennifer.cooper@vancouver.ca.

For all other rental/wedding inquiries, please contact Facility Rentals, 604-257-6915, VanDusenRentals@vancouver.ca

Open 12 months a year

1. VanDusen is jointly run by two partners, The Vancouver Park Board and the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association. All commercial photo shoot permitting is done through VanDusen Garden administration (Jennifer Cooper, 604-257-8661, jennifer.cooper@vancouver.ca). Please contact Facility Rentals to receive an Application for Commercial Photography form.
2. Fees (All rates subject to GST):
   1. $1,000.00 deposit cheque (payable to City of Vancouver – VanDusen Botanical Garden, GST # R121 361 042) must be attached to your Application Form and delivered with the Application Form and copy of Insurance (see below) to Facilities Rental at VanDusen’s administration office. The deposit cheque will not be cashed, it will be returned to you upon payment of your invoice following completion of your shoot.
   2. The rental fee for shooting in the Garden is $615 per 3-hour shoot for Level 1 commercial photo shoots and $1,025 per calendar day or portion thereof for Level 2 commercial photo shoots.
      1. Level 1
         No on-site vehicles, no props, no light stands or tripods, hand-held equipment only. Maximum three people including photographer. Maximum shoot time: 3 hours.
      2. Level 2
         Allows props, lighting stands and equipment, tripods, more than 3 people including photographer. No maximum or minimum shoot times.
   3. $150 hour for supervision if filming takes place before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday, or anytime on Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory holidays.
   4. $1,000 cancellation fee plus any scheduled supervisory charges if filming is cancelled for any reason without 24 hours advance notice (weather conditions excepted).
3. The City of Vancouver requirement for insurance must be met and a copy of the insurance policy must be attached to the Application for Photography when it is submitted.
4. Application & Contract Process:
   1. Tentative bookings are not accepted.
   2. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATION UNTIL YOU HAVE FINALIZED ALL YOUR LOCATIONS, DATES AND TIMES. The Application for Photography form must be submitted with a map of the Garden indicating the requested locations and detailing all days required, a copy of your insurance and the damage deposit cheque for $5,000 made out to Vancouver Park Board. Please deliver the complete package to Facilities Rental.
   3. If your application is approved, VanDusen Garden will draw up a Contract based on the information provided in the Application Form. Two copies of this Contract will be sent to you for signature.  We must receive back a signed copy no later than 48 hours prior to commencement of the photo shoot.  No photography can take place until we have received the signed contract. Delays can occur when contracts must be sent to legal departments for review, please allow enough time for this process.
   4. Following the shoot, you will be invoiced for your rental fee plus any damage and supervision charges (as outlined above). When you drop off the cheque in payment of this invoice, your damage deposit cheque will be returned to you.
5. There are three areas in which photography is not allowed at all:
   1. Meditation Garden in the Sino-Himalayan Area
   2. The stand of old-growth Douglas Firs on the south west side of Heron Lake
   3. Inside planted beds

Conditions of use:

1. Vehicles of any kind are not permitted in the Garden.
2. No one (photographer or models) is allowed to enter plant beds. No exceptions. Even if a bed looks ‘empty’ you do not know what is lying dormant beneath the surface. Standing on a bed compacts the soil and could kill or seriously damage dormant plant life.
3. Equipment of any kind (stands, tripods etc) are not allowed in plant beds and must remain on pathways or lawn areas. No exceptions. Even if a bed looks ‘empty’ you do not know what is lying dormant beneath the surface. Standing on a bed compacts the soil and could kill or seriously damage dormant plant life.
4. Do not remove any silver plant tags which are wired on.  Black plant labels may only be removed with the permission and under the supervision of the Garden Foreman or Garden Liaison.
5. There is to be NO digging in the Garden and equipment on stakes are also not allowed. They may  damage our extensive underground irrigation system.
6. No plants will be pruned, trimmed or removed without permission and under the supervision of the Garden Foreman.
7. The Garden Foreman or Garden Liaison must be present during all photo shoots.
8. Please note that the Vancouver Park Board does not allow the use of drones anywhere in the Garden due to wildlife and general public concerns. We cannot risk disturbance or damage to migratory birds and other wildlife in their natural breeding habitat and feeding grounds within the Garden, as well as patron privacy.

Open 12 months a year

1. Location scouts may enter the Garden any time during opening hours free of charge upon presentation of your business card to the cashier.
2. VanDusen is jointly run by two partners, The Vancouver Park Board and the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association. All film permitting is done through VanDusen Garden administration (Jennifer Cooper, 604-257-8661, jennifer.cooper@vancouver.ca). Please contact Jennifer to receive an Application for Filming form.
3. Fees: (All rates subject to GST)
   1. $5,000 deposit cheque (payable to “City of Vancouver – VanDusen Botanical Garden”, GST # R121 361 042) must be attached to your Application Form and delivered with the Application Form and copy of Insurance (see below) to Jennifer Cooper at VanDusen’s administration office. The deposit cheque will not be cashed, it will be returned to you upon payment of your invoice following completion of filming.
   2. The rental fee is $4,165.00 per calendar day or portion thereof applicable to all prep, filming and wrap days. This applies to one unit filming in one area of the Garden at a time. If multiple units wish to film in the Garden simultaneously in different areas, double rental fees apply. Fees are payable to “City of Vancouver” (GST # R121 361 042) c/o VanDusen Botanical Garden.
   3. Hold days are billed at 50% of rental – $2,082.50.
   4. $150/hour for supervision if filming takes place before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m. Monday thru Friday, or anytime on Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory holidays.
   5. The equivalent of one day filming ($4,165.00) cancellation fee plus any scheduled supervisory charges if filming is cancelled for any reason without 24 hours advance notice.
4. The City of Vancouver requirement for insurance must be met and a copy of the insurance policy must be attached to the Application for Filming when it is submitted.
5. Application & Contract Process:
   1. Tentative bookings are not accepted.
   2. Please allow 3-5  business days to process an Application for Filming and allow sufficient time for possible delays caused by your legal department etc.
   3. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATION UNTIL YOU HAVE FINALIZED ALL YOUR LOCATIONS, DATES AND TIMES. The Application for Filming form must be submitted with a map of the Garden indicating the requested locations and detailing all days required (set-up, filming and wrap), a copy of your insurance and the damage deposit cheque for $5,000 made out to “City of Vancouver”. Please deliver the complete package to Jennifer Cooper.
   4. If your application is approved, VanDusen Garden will draw up a Contract based on the information provided in the Application Form.  Two copies of this Contract will be sent to you for signature.  We must receive back a signed copy no later than 48 hours prior to commencement of filming.  No filming can take place until we have received the signed contract.Delays can occur when contracts must be sent to legal departments for review, please allow enough time for this process. VanDusen does change, amend or add to, its filming contract. If you wish to film here, please alert your legal department, that there will be no changes to our contract.
   5. Following wrap, you will be invoiced for your rental fee plus any damage and supervision charges (as outlined above). When you drop off the cheque in payment of this invoice, your damage deposit cheque will be returned to you.
6. There are three areas in which filming is not allowed at all:
   1. Meditation Garden in the Sino-Himalayan Area
   2. Former reservoir under the Stone Garden in the Sino-Himalayan Area
   3. Stand of Douglas Firs on the south side of Heron Lake west of the Heather Garden
   4. Living Building Visitor Centre

Conditions of use:

1. Film credit noting ‘VanDusen Botanical Garden’
2. The User will inform all residents of the adjacent street in advance of the days of shooting.
3. Some limited parking may be available in our parking lot for an additional fee  in the south west quadrant and/or the west end curve. This must be negotiated with Jennifer Cooper. All other parking must be on West 37th Ave. (City permit required). Some limited parking may be available in the Service Yard at the discretion of the Garden Foreman or his designate.
4. During prep and filming a sign must be placed on the pathways informing Garden visitors that filming is in progress.
5. A small truck or golf cart will be allowed for transport of equipment. Vehicles may not leave the roadways without being on plywood sheeting.
6. The main roadways must be kept clear of vehicles to allow our regular work vehicles to move about.
7. All delivery trucks, making deliveries for the User and not part of the regular crew, or contracted to outside suppliers, must know exactly where they are going before entering the Garden and must be escorted in and out of the Garden by a crew member.  There are no exceptions to this regulation.
8. Refreshment area location will be chosen by mutual consent with the Garden Foreman or his designate. Catering vehicles must remain on paved areas or on plywood sheeting.
9. All stipulations under Sensitive Area Protection must be adhered to.
10. Crews are NOT ALLOWED to enter planted beds.  Do not remove any silver plant tags which are wired on.  Black plant labels may only be removed with permission of the Garden Foreman or his designate.
11. There is to be no digging in the Garden because of possible damage to the Garden’s extensive irrigation system.  Spikes or sunken poles are NOT ALLOWED.  All structures must be secured above ground (with blocks).
12. No plants will be pruned without permission and under the supervision of the Garden Foreman or his designate.
13. User must ensure that there is no damage done to the Garden nor droppings left behind as a result of the presence of live animals on the shoot.
14. The damage deposit will cover restoration of any disturbed areas to the condition in which they were prior to filming.  In the event of a disagreement, the Park Board will decide in its reasonable judgment.
15. Filming can only take place in one area of the Garden at a time. If multiple units wish to film in the Garden simultaneously in different areas, then double rental fees apply.
16. Garden Foreman or designate must be present in the Garden during all filming.
17. Please note that the Vancouver Park Board does not allow the use of drones anywhere in the Garden due to wildlife and general public concerns. We cannot risk disturbance or damage to migratory birds and other wildlife in their natural breeding habitat and feeding grounds within the Garden, as well as patron privacy.