New Management Plan for the Gulf of Georgia National Historic Site approved
Plan contributes to preserving our nation’s cultural heritage and connecting Canadians to history in Coastal British Columbia.
December 9, 2024 Steveston, British Columbia Parks Canada
The network of national heritage places administered by Parks Canada represents the very best that Canada has to offer and tells the stories of who we are, including the histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples. National historic sites reflect the rich and varied heritage of Canada and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history.
The new management plan for the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site was recently approved by the President & Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada, Ron Hallman. Reviewed every ten years, management plans are a requirement of the Parks Canada Agency Act and guide the management of national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas.
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society and Parks Canada work together to conserve the national historic site in Steveston and share stories of Canada’s West Coast fishing industry with visitors. The new management plan for the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site outlines the following key strategies:
· Working with the community – focuses on the importance of collaboration and relationships that support the success of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery NHS.
· Conserving cultural heritage – addresses the conservation of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery NHS’s cultural resources—built heritage (buildings), equipment, collections, and artifacts—for the benefit of current and future generations, as part of the network of protected heritage places in Canada.
· A place that reflects Canada and the World – focuses on reaching the local community, Canadians, and international visitors through new and meaningful visitor experiences, outreach activities, and community events.
Located in Steveston village in Richmond, BC, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site sits on the traditional ancestral lands of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam, Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking people) in Metro Vancouver on the South Arm of the Fraser River along the Strait of Georgia.
In 1976, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada recognised the West Coast fishing industry from the 1870s to the modern era as a national historic event due to its cultural traditions, economic significance, international reach, and the involvement of people from many origins. Along with the national historic event designation, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery was recognised as an appropriate place to commemorate the West Coast fishing industry.
This management plan outlines the objectives and direction set for Parks Canada, which are informed by xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society and are advanced within respective roles and responsibilities agreed upon together. While Parks Canada owns the physical structure of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery NHS and provides a level of annual operating funds to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society, it is the Society that operates the Gulf of Georgia Cannery NHS on a day-to-day basis according to their own internal strategic plan, including events, programming, retail activities, fundraising, and collections.
The 2024 Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site Management Plan is available on the Parks Canada website at: (Link to Management Plan). To learn more about the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, please visit the Parks Canada website and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society website.
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