For those celebrating Easter or Easter, the weekend will also be the first time they can gather for in-person services without worrying about any restrictions.
Despite the country being in the sixth wave of the pandemic, many in Vancouver say they have waited a long time and are ready to embrace their loved ones again, including Yosani Clay, who traveled from Houston to visit his Canadian friends. .
“I was locked in the house. Now I have to go to large gatherings,” he said, adding that he was looking forward to taking advantage of the weekend, which he hopes will look like one before the pandemic.
“It simply came to our notice then.  “(Having a) beautiful long weekend,” he said.
He’s not the only one looking forward to spending time with loved ones – 16-year-old Esma Devlin also has some big plans.
“I’m excited because we will probably be more connected to our grandparents,” he said.
“Yes. I’m going to see some grandparents we have not seen in a long time,” said her mother, Susan Devlin.
This weekend is especially important for those who celebrate Easter, as the faithful can finally attend the service in person without worrying about restrictions.
“I heard a person… with tears running down their faces, saying that they felt at home,” said Cheryl Koop, co-founder pastor of the Coastal Church.
Her church members attended Easter services almost years ago because of COVID-19, but now she says “the church family is coming back.”  For some, this weekend will be their first time since 2020.
According to Koop, Sunday operation is expected to attract more than 3,000 people – both in person and online.
“It’s so encouraging. You see what it does for people. I saw it this morning. How encouraged they were,” he said.
Easter is not the only celebration that takes place this weekend, as many of the Jewish faith are looking forward to celebrating Easter with their family.
“This is the first time in three years that many of us (in the Jewish community) have the opportunity to travel to be with our family,” said Rabbi Dan Moskovitz of Temple Sholom.
He traveled to California this weekend to spend the holidays with his family, whom he has not seen since the pandemic began.
“I imagine a lot of Jews, I know a lot of my rabbi colleagues in Vancouver are traveling right now as well,” he said.
Religious leaders say that people can choose to gather with or without a mask, as the main focus is on the religious celebration itself.