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Our City Richmond

By Michael Cooper and Florence Gordon

Published 12:48 PDT, Fri August 2, 2024

Last Updated: 2:14 PDT, Fri August 2, 2024

Summer things to do

21st Annual Richmond Maritime Festival Aug. 24-25

The Richmond Maritime Festival celebrates its 21st annual celebration, with food trucks, live music, and restored ships. The festival takes place on an eight-acre historic site, that holds the recognition of being the oldest shipyard in BC. The free entry festival runs on Aug. 24 and 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. The marina began as a cannery in the 1800s and was converted a century later. Attendees have the opportunity to explore the original 12 historic buildings in the area and read about the history in the article below.

The Maritime Festival will include food trucks, artists, live music, family events, and historic ships on display. For event calendar richmondmaritimefestival.ca

• Live music will include performances from the Seabillies, Undercurrents, Blackthorn Blossoms, Clanna Morna, GO Taiko and many more.

• Family events include face painting, juggling, circus performers, and art workshops.

• Vendors include Angel’s Gelato, Baba’s House Kitchen, Dos Amigos, Japadog, The Mad Greek, Namaste, Tornado Truck, and others.

For the first time in the Maritime Festival history, attendees can cruise the Fraser River on the Voyage of the Gikumi. Participants can embark on a two-hour exploration aboard the MV Gikumi, a historic West Coast work boat restored in 1954. Tours will run throughout the festival and offer an authentic experience of the Cannery Channel, complete with stories of its rich history. Limited seats are available. Purchase tickets in advance at richmondmaritimefestival.ca

The Maritime Festival is presented by the City of Richmond in partnership with Richmond Arts Coalition and Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Society, with funding support from the Department of Canadian Heritage, BC Arts Council, and the Province of British Columbia.

Historical information

The cannery was created in an L-shaped plan, characteristic of the canneries of the time. The 3km Cannery Channel was home to 15 canneries and was a mecca for maritime trade. The Britannia and Phoenix canneries were owned by the Anglo-British Colombia Packing Company founded by Henry Bell-Irving. Early salmon canning was a multicultural industry, that employed a workforce composed of European, Japanese, Chinese, and First Nations peoples. The European workers took on administrative jobs while immigrants from other countries and indigenous worked in labor positions. This new wave of immigrants led way to the creation of a complex boardwalk community based on maritime business.

Entering the 1900s, the Fraser river saw a decline in salmon rates primarily due to overfishing. This led to the discontinuation of the Britannia and many other canneries along the channel. In 1917 the canneries were converted into boat repair and construction sites, but were abandoned after WW2. Later in 1969, the cannery was bought by the Canadian Fishing Company. The business was once again, unsuccessful and was later handed over to the City of Richmond to become a historic site in 1992.

Steveston Vintage Fair

The Steveston Historical Society is delighted to once again host the Steveston Vintage Fair. Join us in Town Square Park beside the Steveston Museum and Post Office and discover the gizmos, gadgets, and treasures of your dreams. On selected Sundays, take a stroll through the village and explore the unique world of vintage. Upcoming dates: Aug. 4 and 18 and Sept. 1 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.