I am not sure of the correct local terminology for this area. I am generally referring to the land west of Queen Elizabeth Park, including the University Endowment Lands. I am sure there is a correct local name, so if anyone would like to help me out on this, please contact me.
There are several filming locations in this area.
Van Dusen Botanical Gardens address: 5251 Oak St, Vancouver, BC V6M 4H1. This was the location for Abigail’s funeral in episode 1.09. I believe it was also used in episode 1.03, but I cannot confirm that.
These are commercial gardens and it is necessary to pay an entrance fee. There is also a café and gift shop as well as public restrooms. Head for the Great Lawn area of the Gardens.
When you are there, find the red chair statue.
This was not visible in the on screen funeral, but can be seen in some of the Behind The Scenes photos.
The tombstones are not there in real life, but were added in by computer later. Interestingly, when the show had finished filming and many of the props were sold off, among the things being sold were a lot of tombstones.
These were polystyrene. You can see more photos of more of the props that were sold by following the link
On the way to or from Van Dusen Gardens, you could stop at Alder Street V6H 4E3 and take a photo of the street name. I wonder if this gave Eliot Laurence the idea for Sarah’s surname? I have no idea who the Alder was that the street was named after.
At the University of British Columbia (UBC), parts of episode 1.01 were filmed at The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, address: 6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1. This is part of the University. This is a performing Arts space. There are public performances there, when the public can buy a ticket. There are other times when it may be open to the public. If you want to visit, it is better to talk to them and see if something can be arranged.
The first time that we meet General Alder was in the auditorium at the Chan Centre, the Chan Shun Concert Hall. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to stand on that auditorium stage and take a photo, Alder’s point of view. Motherland returned to the Chan Centre at the end of season 1 for the cadets’ graduation event. In real life, UBC graduation events are held in this auditorium.
There is a smaller performance space, the Telus Studio Theatre. We see this in episode 1.01 where the units are doing vocal work, led by Anacostia.
This is what the performance space really looks like.
The next location to visit at UBC is Cecil Green Park House, just a short walk from Chan Centre. As you walk there, you pass through the Rose Garden, which was also used for filming.
The Rose Garden was used for the outside ceremony after graduation, when the bells toll and the cadets know their assignment.
Just a few minutes walk away is Cecil Green Park House. Address: 6251 Cecil Green Park Road, Vancouver, BC V6T 1X8. This is part of the UBC campus. It is one of their historic buildings and is a popular wedding venue as well as being available to rent for meetings etc.
There are four locations that were filmed here. The first time we meet Anacostia in episode 1.01, it is in Circe Barracks Common Room, that is the Langara Room at Cecil Green Park House.
The next room, the Kanalka Room, is the Circe Dining Room. We see these rooms many times.
The conservatory is also there. In Motherland, we see this room filled with plants, as the Greenhouse. The scene where General Alder meets President Wade happens here and so is the scene where Alder asks Khalida to teach her the Tarim songs. That didn’t go well.
The back porch and terrace were used too, particularly in season 2. When Tally asked General Alder if she could tutor Penelope, the conversation took place here.
So did the scene when Khalida returns the combat charm to Raelle.
The outside scene before the Paragons Reception took place here too. The Paragon Reception itself was held in the Langara Room inside.
I don’t have good photos at the correct angle for these.
Another building associated with the University that was used for filming is Hycroft Manor. Address: 1489 McRae Ave V6H 1T7 This is the headquarters of the University Womens’ Club. It is private, but again is widely used as a wedding venue and hired out for meetings. It might be possible to arrange to visit the venue.
This was used several times as the location of General Alder’s Office.
The music room was used in episode 1.01 as the Bellweather apartment, where we meet Petra for the first time as she is having a talk with Abigail before ‘saying the words’.
Not far from UBC was another filming location. The Bellweather wedding in episode 1.05 was filmed at Casa Mia. Address: 1920 SW Marine Drive V6P 6B2. Some of the scenes were filmed inside the building, but the majority were filmed outside. The dance floor, the wedding spiral and the wedding buffet were filmed at the back of the property, the Unit meeting with Scylla was at the side of the building and the front was where the cars arrived and the guests entered.
There have been a lot of changes since then. Casa Mia is now a private nursing home, so it is not possible to go inside. The back of the property was sold off and has now been redeveloped, the grounds are not there anymore. Even the side of the building has been affected by the redevelopment.
However the front of the building is untouched. When we visited, we had permission from the manager to take photos of the front of the building, but were not able to go inside. The privacy of the residents was paramount.
The Bellweather mansion from episode 2.06 was filmed at Shannon Mews, address 1520 Atlas Lane V6P 0E1. This is a location that I have not visited (yet?). In the episode, there are many scenes that were supposed to be inside the Bellweather Mansion. I don’t know how many of those interior scenes were filmed at Shannon Mews and how many were filmed back at the studio. Certainly some of the scenes were filmed at Shannon Mews itself.
I have not been able to find many photos of the interior of the building online, but what I have found shows that at least some of the interior scenes were filmed there.
If this looks familiar, it was the location for the scene where Gregorio catches up with Abigail and Adil after Abigail has been talking to her 3 dads about the ‘surprise’.
This is a private building, so it is not possible to go and visit it. However, it has historical significance, so there are occasional historical tours / open days. It might be possible to go along to one of those public events and tour the building. If anyone manages to visit and get photos, please share the photos with me.
One more location in the area is Norma Rose Point School. Address: 2896 Acadia Road University Endowment Lands, British Columbia, V6T 1S2. The school gymnasium was the location for the Rough Room in season 1. It is a school, so it is not possible to visit inside the building.
Links to blogs of my visits are below
Chan Centre https://returntofortsalem.com/2025/06/08/hunting-for-general-alder-part-1/
Cecil Green Park House and Hycroft Manorhttps://returntofortsalem.com/2025/06/09/hunting-for-general-alder-part-2/
Libba’s funeral in Van Dusen Gardens https://returntofortsalem.com/2023/10/18/vancouver-pilgrimage-libbas-funeral/
Meeting Alder (Chan Centre first visit) https://returntofortsalem.com/2023/10/14/vancouver-pilgrimage-meeting-alder/
ReturntoFortSalem 