Gulf of Georgia Cannery facts for kids
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is a special place in Canada called a National Historic Site of Canada. You can find it in the small fishing village of Steveston, which is part of Richmond, in British Columbia.
This building was first built in 1894. It reminds us of a time when it was the biggest factory for canning salmon in British Columbia. Today, it's a museum! You can explore fun exhibits, watch films, and take tours. These activities show how important the Cannery was to Canada's fishing history on the West Coast. A group called the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society helps run the museum for Parks Canada.
Contents
History of the Cannery
Starting Out: The "Monster Cannery"
The Cannery opened in 1894. Steveston was a busy, fast-growing town back then. This cannery was the biggest in British Columbia until 1902. People even called it the "Monster Cannery"! In 1897, it packed over 2.5 million cans of salmon. That's a lot of fish!
Every year, hundreds of people came to work here. Many were First Nations, Chinese, Japanese, and European people. Fishing and canning fish was one of the biggest jobs in British Columbia. It also produced one of the main things Canada sold to other countries.
New Machines and Changes
Over time, machines started doing more of the work. Fewer people were needed to can salmon by hand. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery stopped canning salmon in 1930. After that, several canneries in the area joined together to form one big company called British Columbia Packers Limited.
Working During World War 2
The Cannery was quiet for a few years. But when World War 2 started in Europe, things changed. The Cannery got new money and new machines. It started canning a different fish: herring.
Many workers helped produce lots of canned herring in tomato sauce. This food was a main source of protein for Allied soldiers and people living overseas during the war. Making herring oil and meal for animal feed also became a big business.
After the War
When the war ended, the demand for canned herring stopped. So, the Cannery focused on turning herring into oil and meal. The Cannery grew bigger three times during this period. However, too much fishing led to the herring industry slowing down in the late 1960s.
In the 1970s, a new market appeared in Japan for herring roe (fish eggs). This meant the Cannery's reduction plant started working again. But there wasn't as much herring as before.
Closing Down
By 1979, it cost too much to run the old machines. So, the plant closed. The buildings were then used to store fishing nets and boats. This was the start of turning the Cannery into a museum.
Becoming a National Historic Site
In the 1970s and early 1980s, local people worked hard to save the Cannery. In 1979, the Canadian government bought the property. In 1984, it was given to Parks Canada. The building first opened to the public in 1994, celebrating its 100th birthday.
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society was formed in 1986. This local group works with Parks Canada to run the site. Today, the Cannery is one of the few National Historic Sites owned by the government but run by a community group.
Timeline of the Cannery
- 1894 - The first L-shaped building was built. It had one line for canning fish by hand.
- 1897 - The East Wing was added for more packing space and living areas. Two more canning lines were put in.
- 1906 - A machine for butchering fish arrived. The West Wing was changed to store nets. The East Wing was made shorter because of a new wall and railway tracks.
- 1932 - A strong windstorm destroyed what was left of the West Wing.
- 1940 - The roof was raised to fit a new boiler.
- 1943 - An ice house was built to keep fish fresh longer.
- 1940-1948 - Many changes were made for processing herring. A shed for vitamin oil and a dryer shed were added.
- 1956 - The East Wing was raised to fit a new machine called an evaporator. A separator room was built next to it.
- 1964 - A grinding and bagging room was added near the drying shed.
- 1979 - The Gulf of Georgia reduction plant closed. The building was used to store fishing nets.
- 1994 - The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site of Canada opened to visitors.
Visiting the Cannery
You can take tours of the Cannery led by guides who know a lot about its history. You can also ask to watch a 25-minute film. Special programs are available for school groups. The building is easy to get around for wheelchairs. Programs are offered in English and French.
Tours were stopped for a while because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
