(This article is sponsored by West 4th Avenue Business Improvement Association.)

After the longest January in the history of the world, we can finally see the first glimmer of hope. The evenings are lighter, the store shelves are stacked with rows of red envelopes, rom coms fill our suggested viewing lists on Netflix, and the scent of heart-shaped confections and floral arrangements surrounds us. Yes folks, it can only mean one thing: Valentine’s Day is upon us.

Love is in the air.

And nowhere more so than on West 4^th Avenue in Kitsilano. Our favourite shopping street is embracing the spirit of romance by dedicating the month of February to L.O.V.E.

Whether your Valentine is an outdoor enthusiast, a health buff, a chocolate connoisseur or simply someone who loves to be pampered, you’ll be sure to find a perfect gift that goes straight to their hearts.

If you need a little more encouragement to get you in the mood—so to speak—be sure to stop by West 4th and Yew Street between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on the 14^th to score some swag. The LOVE squad will be firing their Cupid’s bows and giving away sweatshirts, big love buttons, Hershey’s kisses, and hugs.

Talk about a fun date idea. Or the perfect opportunity to take out your little loves, a.k.a. the kids. Look out for big love balls in shop windows from Burrard to Balsam.

But if Valentine’s Day is leaving you feeling less than enamoured, how about you participate in Random Acts of Kindness Day (February 17) instead? Yes, for the entire month of February, West 4^th is giving us the opportunity to spread the love and raise money for a fabulous cause while we’re at it.

All you have to do is take a photo and share it using #loveonwest4th. With every tag, the merchants of West 4^th will donate one dollar to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Now that’s a perfect match. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!