Christmas time is warm and comforting, and many people are surrounded by family and friends, but what if you’re alone for the holidays in Vancouver?
Santa’s big day is just a week away, and you might be alone physically, but you’re not alone regarding the larger issue of being alone over the holidays.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many publicly available stats on how many Canadians spend the holidays alone. Still, we can look to our allies in the USA and the UK for stats on how many people spend this time alone and some ideas for not being so lonely if you’re part of that group.
Among the various groups that are spending Christmas time and the holidays alone, seniors make up most of the lonely people, which could actually inspire one thing you could do over the holidays, like spending time at a care facility and keeping some lonely seniors company.
Little Brothers, a Canadian organization, is deploying thousands of volunteers to combat loneliness over the holidays in Quebec.
According to the UK publication Health Times, around 7% of people spent Christmas alone in 2019. That number increased drastically during COVID-19, which left many people alone over the holidays. Meanwhile, last year, a poll revealed that millions of Americans were spending Christmas alone.
What to do if you’re alone in Vancouver this Christmas
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Volunteer opportunities
As mentioned, volunteering at a senior care facility is one way to avoid spending the holidays alone while contributing to a good cause. Care BC has a list of different volunteer opportunities available around Metro Vancouver. A quick Google will lead you to many other opportunities in the region.
If that isn’t your vibe, there are plenty of other ways to volunteer around Metro Vancouver.
Order a cheese pizza
Another way to spend Christmas alone is to follow in the spirit of our friend Kevin McCallister. In case you’re unfamiliar, McCallister was a young boy from Chicago whose family completely forgot about him when they went on a trip to Paris, leaving him all alone.
After some initial panic, McCallister went shopping, fought off burglars by placing traps all over his house, and ordered a cheese pizza without sharing it with anyone.
Christmas-themed events in Vancouver
IMP Awards
If you’re a fan of the warm and wintery vibes of the Christmas holidays, a lot is happening around Vancouver, even on Christmas Eve. Eventbrite has a list of various events taking place during that week.
And if you’re not a fan of Christmas vibes, we have the perfect solution. Nosferatu, the next highly acclaimed film from director Robert Eggers, will be released on Christmas Day and looks spectacularly terrifying.
You can also check out this list of movies to watch by yourself.
Return to nature
Daniel Avram/Shutterstock
Vancouver is home to so many natural attractions, some of which are even open on Christmas Eve, like the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Dates at other attractions may vary, but plenty of places will be decked out in Christmas decor and oozing holiday vibes. Otherwise, weather permitting, you can visit one of the many parks around the region. Nothing soothes the soul like the great outdoors.
A special shoutout
There’s one cafe chain in Vancouver that always seems to be busy on Christmas Day when nowhere else is accessible. It’s Breka Bakery.
Breka is truly open 24/7, and that includes every holiday. If you want to be around other people because you don’t have anyone else on Christmas Day, this would be the perfect place to visit.
If none of these ideas work for you, click here. However, be advised that if you follow that link, some of those places won’t be accessible on Christmas Day.