Fans of Ryan Reynolds can now explore Vancouver by following the actor’s steps from his childhood to his rise in Hollywood. The city is filled with places connected to his life, from early jobs to famous movie sets. These spots give visitors a fun and personal way to learn more about him while seeing Vancouver through his eyes.
Reynolds has filmed several big movies in Vancouver. One of them is The Adam Project, which includes scenes shot at Jack Poole Plaza, the Vancouver Convention Centre, The Blarney Stone, and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. These places are open to the public and have become popular for fans wanting to visit locations from the film. He also filmed parts of the Deadpool movies in the city. While filming one of them, he was injured in a hit-and-run accident involving a photographer. Even so, Vancouver remains a favorite filming spot for him.
When he’s not on set, Reynolds enjoys visiting his favorite local restaurant, Minerva’s. He and his wife, Blake Lively, once dined there three times in one week. The restaurant has since become a must-see place for fans who hope to eat where the actor often does. In another show of his love for the city, Reynolds signed 100 bottles of his Aviation Gin, which were placed in five liquor stores across British Columbia. Three of those stores were in Vancouver: Alberni and Bute, Park Royal, and 39th and Cambie. Although the bottles have all been sold, the stores remain points of interest for fans.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Reynolds attended Kitsilano Secondary School and briefly studied at Prince of Wales Secondary. As a teen, he often went to Benny’s Bagels, which used to be near his school. While that location no longer exists, the memory remains part of his story. In 2020, he surprised Kitsilano graduates with a virtual speech and gave them all free large pizzas from Nat’s New York Pizzeria, showing his ongoing connection to the school and its students.
Reynolds also once shared that, during high school, he would purposely take the wrong bus just to catch a glimpse of a girl he had a crush on. He never talked to her, but it became a funny memory from his youth. Although he did not mention the exact route, it could have been the 14, 2, 4, 9, or 99-B line buses, all of which passed through his area.
After high school, he went on to study at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. While there, he formed a comedy improv group called “Yellow Snow.” However, he dropped out soon after and moved to Los Angeles to follow his dream of becoming an actor. Before his acting career took off, Reynolds worked as a forklift driver at a Safeway grocery store located at West King Edward and Oak streets. He once shared that he bagged groceries there for Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan. Long before that, he delivered newspapers for the Vancouver Sun. As a paperboy, he covered his local neighborhood. That job was one of his first experiences with responsibility and routine.
A newspaper clipping from when he was just three years old shows him playing in the wading pool at Kits Community Centre. The caption mentions his home address and describes the supervised summer programs for young kids. This early photo marked his very first appearance in the news and remains a sweet reminder of his early life.
Reynolds’ story shows how deep his roots are in Vancouver. From delivering papers to starring in blockbuster films, his journey has come full circle. Fans walking around the city can explore these places, enjoy some good food, and connect with the many locations that shaped his life. The Ryan Reynolds Vancouver tour is not just about seeing sights. It’s about experiencing the real-life story of a local boy who became a global star.
