Whispers of Wonder: Seeing Capilano Suspension Bridge Park's Holiday Canyon Lights

The Capilano Suspension Bridge had been a quiet dream tucked away in the corner of my imagination—one of those experiences you hold onto, waiting for just the right moment. Since our first west coast Christmas swept by in a whirlwind of new beginnings, we’d barely scratched the surface of holiday experiences. But this year, though equally chaotic, we were slightly more prepared to weave these moments of wonder into the fabric of our family’s evolving story.

Sure, Capilano is a beautiful place to see no matter the time of year but this Holiday Season’s Canyon of Lights are the exact reason to carve out time to experience something extraordinary

And now that our daughter now 2.5 years old, her eyes sparkling with genuine wonder, these moments transform from a mere tourist attraction to an incredible memory etched in family lore. And the Christmas lights? They’ve always been more than just decorations—they can turn an ordinary evening into something magical. And with Capilano Suspension Bridge they did exactly that. This wasn’t just some holiday light display. It was a chance to explore the forest in a completely different way, with lights threading through the trees like a secret pathway of wonder.

After a wet and rainy evening exploring the Vancouver Christmas markets, followed by a drizzly morning with more rain on the horizon, our hopes for nice weather were low. And the prospect of visiting an usually overcrowded tourist attraction didn’t do much to boost our excitement either.

But Nature, in her unpredictable grace, granted us a reprieve from the typical Pacific Northwest rain as he sky cleared, offering us a canvas of soft, diffused light—perfect for experiencing the bright of the lights

Standing in the “Story Centre,” I was reminded our relationship with nature isn’t just about a single moment, but a story that’s been unfolding for generations. “Kiapalano”—a name that whispers of the earliest human dialogues with wilderness, reminding us that our relationship with nature is ancient and profound.

But before I got too lost in the history, Joanna noticed a lull in the foot traffic which was a golden window of opportunity to see the bridge we came for.

But to our surprise, as we reached the suspension bridge—usually packed with tourists—was almost empty. Maybe it was the uncertain weather, the time of day or shear luck, but we found ourselves with an unexpected gift: moments of complete solitude high above the canyon floor.

For me, as a photographer, it was a dream. A place so beautiful but typically so crowded you rarely get to capture in this way. Here, in the Canyon of Lights, every step felt like a potential masterpiece waiting to be framed.

And once we arrived into the forest… all those inviting pathways, the lights weaving between trees, the subtle ways illumination can transform a landscape—evoking emotion and shaping a story to share.

What I loved most was how the lights celebrated the forest rather than overwhelming it. This wasn’t about creating a fabricated experience, but about revealing the natural beauty that was already there. The lights traced the lines of branches, highlighted the texture of tree bark, created depth and wonder in a landscape that was already breathtaking.

And watching my daughter’s eyes—wide with wonder, little hand clasped in Joanna’s until she was ready to show off her independence by walking across the treetop bridges by herself. These are the moments parents live for. The subtle progressions that happen in the blink of an eye.

There’s a fine art to these moments. Part of me wants to simply exist and to breathe in the pure joy of our experience. Another part is acutely aware of the need to capture something that will never happen again.

It’s a delicate dance between experiencing the moment and preserving its essence.

As a filmmaker, I’m always chasing those fleeting moments where light, emotion, and experiences collide—instants so perfect they seem almost impossible to capture.

And these are the memories that become the foundations of our family story. They may not be perfectly executed, but they are beautifully experienced—a spontaneous dance of life, love, and joy, lived in the moment and cherished for eternity.