Gulf of Georgia Cannery
Since its construction in 1894, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery has been a landmark for fishermen; used over the years as a cannery, reduction plant, and net loft. This Parks Canada historic site commemorates Canada's West Coast fishing industry. As you step inside the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, the flavour of the West Coast fishing industry surrounds you.
The massive machinery that churned and pumped-out canned salmon by the caseload, now stand as reminders of the past. Descriptive displays lead visitors on a trail through history, reliving the triumphs and tragedies surrounding the fishing industry. Short informative videos capture the essence of this industry, and give insight into the past and present techniques of fishing. Interpretive activities like net making get you involved. Guided tours allow visitors to gain a more in-depth view of the cannery.
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is currently open to the public (hours vary with the season) with plenty of free parking. An admisssion is charged.
Located in the historic fishing village of Steveston in the City of Richmond, BC, there are plenty of places to eat and shop within a five-minute walk. Take Highway 99 to the Steveston Exit and go west to No.1 Road, then south to Steveston.
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Photo: The Gulf of Georgia Cannery as viewed from
the Fraser River circa 1900. The cannery was also called the
Point Garry Cannery given its location.
(Canfisco Photo Collection)
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1894 - Built by the Gulf of Georgia Cannery and dubbed the "monster
cannery".
Photo: "Square-rigger" sailing ships at Steveston in 1898, load
canned salmon for delivery around Cape Horn to Great Britain and Europe. |
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Photo: Salmon being manually unloaded at the Gulf of Georgia
Cannery in the late 1890s. Prior to 1900, small oar-powered
gillnet skiffs were used on the Fraser River for fishing salmon. (Canfisco Photo Collection) |
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1895 - Purchased by Malcolm & Windsor Ltd. who added a second
canning line making it the largest cannery in BC.
Photo: The 6th Regiment, Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles, in camp beside what is now known as the Gulf of Georgia Cannery in Steveston, |
| July 24th to 30th, 1900. The "Sockeye Fusiliers" were mustered
as an "aid to civil power" during the fishermen's strike over the price
paid by the canneries for salmon. The strike, commonly known as the "Steveston
Riots", pitted whites and native Indians against Japanese Canadians. At
the time the Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles were the only military
unit on the lower mainland of BC. (City of Vancouver Archives) |
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1900 - Fishermen's
strike known as the "Steveston Riots".
Photo: Striking fishermen march through the town of Steveston, July 1900. (City of Vancouver Archives) |
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1923 - The Gulf
of Georgia Cannery site plan prepared by the British Columbia
Fire Underwriters Association. 1926
- The Gulf of Georgia Cannery was purchased by the Canadian
Fishing Company, also known as Canfisco.
Photo: Tug
boat tows salmon gill netters to the fishing grounds. These "day boats"
were only powered by oars and a small sail, c.1940s. Note the small
tent shelters on the boats in the photo shown below. |
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| (Canfisco Photo Collection) |
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1940 - Canfisco
commenced production of herring meal and oil.
Photo: Bagging
fish meal at the Gulf of Georgia plant, October 1945. |
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1940 - Herring was
canned by Canfisco for the war effort during World War II.
Photo: Packing
headed and gutted raw herring into half-pound oval cans at the Gulf
of Georgia Cannery, October 1945. |
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1940 - Canfisco
launched its Gold Seal® brand canned
salmon label with production from the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.
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1946 - Salmon canning
ceased.
Photo: A stack
of "cooler trays" of one-pound canned salmon is loaded into a steam
retort for processing, c.1940s. |
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1947 - Herring canning ceased at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.
Photo: Cannery workers "patch" (or adjust) the weight of half-pound
oval cans of herring prior to seaming the lids on the cans, October 1945. |
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1940 to 1979 - The
Gulf of Georgia plant was used by Canfisco for herring reduction
and production of fish meal and oil.
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This pictoral history continues on Page Two
