ancouver really loves its patios and who wouldn’t? They’ve got a better view.

By next summer, the patio-perimeter is expanding another half-metre into the sidewalk after some review to increase the patio space in all sectors across the city. Of course, this is just baby-steps to having it apply all over the city, but nonetheless, it is going to happen.

The Waldorf Hotel on East Hastings Street has already built a patio against the regulations and even though it was granted a temporary pass, councilors quickly overturned that decision after some concerns of favouritism.

Currently, regulations allow for patios that are connected to restaurants and not for just businesses that primarily serve liquor a la bars. The compensation for the new patio regulations is that all patios must leave enough space for pedestrians to stumble around.

With about 250 establishments that primarily serve liquor, they’ll be allowed to build patios once the regulations are more relaxed.

So drink up, wait for summer and let the cheers begin.