The community on the south side of Richmond was
once the biggest fishing port in the West Coast, with over 50 canneries and
10,000 people crowding the boardwalks in the boom times.
Just a 20-minute drive south of Vancouver,
Steveston sits at the mouth of the Fraser River and was once the largest
fishing port and cannery centre on the West Coast. Today, the canneries are no
longer in operation, but it is still home to the largest salmon run in North
America and to the largest fleet of commercial fishing vessels on the BC coast.
The
heritage of fishing and the Japanese-Canadians who helped build the industry in
Steveston are evident everywhere - the nearby martial Arts Centre is the first
"dojo" house ever built outside Japan. Any day of the week there are throngs of
Vancouverites buying prawns, crab, halibut, cod, and salmon fresh from the
boats.
Parks Canada recently opened the former
Gulf of Georgia Cannery (also known as the Monster Cannery) as a National
Historic Site. You may catch old-timers repairing an old wooden seiner in the
massive Britannia Heritage Shipyard.
Ask
about guided walking tours at the
Steveston Museum (3811 Moncton Street). Some old timers may grumble about
"new" developments like the Steveston Landing retail complex and the cycling
trails, but these developments helped preserve the area's wetlands as Canada's
largest wintering spot for ducks.
Vancouver Whale Watch, located on 2nd Avenue,
is Vancouver's only whale watching company. Sign on for fully narrated tours by
professional naturalists. Catch a glimpse of blue herons, pacific sea lions,
seals, eagles and killer whales.
For those of you without "sea legs", take a
fantastic stroll on land around the Steveston dikes. Or browse Bayview, Moncton
and Chatham streets in the historic fishing village. For a real treat, get
take-out at Dave's Fish and Chips or spoon up chowder (summer only) at Pajo's, a
boat restaurant anchored at the dock. For a fuller meal try the patio at
Sleigh's Restaurant or Steveston Seafood House.
Getting there: Steveston is located in the
Southwest corner of Richmond off No. 1 Road. Turn South on No. 1 Road and
proceed to the end. You've arrived!
