1 of 11
Tourism BC:Dannielle Hayes
Steveston Market
2 of 11
3 of 11
4 of 11
5 of 11
6 of 11
Dannielle Hayes
7 of 11
Dannielle Hayes
8 of 11
Dannielle Hayes
9 of 11
Dannielle Hayes
10 of 11
Dannielle Hayes
11 of 11
Dannielle Hayes
By Joanne Sasvari
It’s one of British Columbia’s most charming getaways: a quaint, historic fishing village with a thoroughly modern spirit. Steveston Village, in the southwest corner of the City of Richmond, next door to Vancouver, is a great place to browse for unique gifts, savour fish ‘n’ chips by the seaside, listen to lively entertainment, or slip back into the past at one of Canada’s most unusual historic sites. Best of all, it’s just a short drive from downtown Vancouver, so it’s an easy escape for an afternoon of dockside fun.
Steveston started out as a farming community back in 1878 when Manoah and Martha Steves and their six children settled in this corner of Lulu Island. Shortly after the first cannery opened on the waterfront in 1882, though, fishing became the community’s main focus. By 1890, the town was booming: by then, there were 15 canneries along its shores, and by 1901 it boasted a number of hotels, an opera house and several saloons. It quickly became one of the most multicultural communities on the west coast, too, with Japanese, Chinese, First Nations and Europeans working side by side.
Today, although the canneries are long gone, Steveston still retains many of its original historic buildings — and it’s still home to Canada’s largest fishing fleet. In fact, one of the best ways to enjoy this community’s attractions is by sitting on a dockside pub patio on a sunny afternoon, watching the fishing boats bobbing gently in the water, and wandering down later to buy just-caught fish from the Public Fish Sales Float at Fisherman’s Wharf.
The quintessential Steveston dining experience involves basking in the sun on a wharfside patio, enjoying the view, a pint and some local seafood (Sockeye City Grill is a good place to start). But even if the weather’s drizzly, you can still enjoy the town’s signature dish, fish ‘n’ chips, at places like Pajo's at The Wharf and Dave’s Fish ‘n’ Chips on Moncton Street. www.sockeycity.com www.pajos.com
Beyond fried fish, there are some three dozen other eateries in a myriad of culinary styles, including some finer dining at restaurants such as Blue Canoe Waterfront Restaurant, Tapenade Bistro, the Steveston Seafood House and Papi's Ristaurante Italiano. www.bluecanoerestaurant.com www.tapenade.ca www.stevestonseafoodhouse.com www.papisrestaurant.com
Although many visitors to Steveston do little beyond strolling along the wharves and through the boutiques, there is plenty to do in this area, from trail walking to fishing to exploring not one but two national historic sites celebrating BC’s fishing past.
The first of these is the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site. This was once the largest of the canneries here, where as many as 2.5 million tins of salmon were packed each year until the 1930s, when it became a herring reduction plant, finally closing in 1979. These days it’s a draw commemorating the fishing industry through a variety of fascinating interactive displays.
The Britannia Heritage Shipyard is another National Historic Site that was once part of Steveston’s Cannery Row. It features 11 buildings — of which four have been restored — that tell the story of the multicultural lives of workers and their families at the Britannia Cannery and Britannia Shipyard. In fact, it is one of the few surviving reminders of the once-thriving mix of the era’s canneries, shipyards, homes and the sometimes-seedy businesses that supported them. www.britannia-hss.ca
For a slightly different take on history, there is also London Heritage Farm, a 1.6-hectare (four-acre) historical site that aims to recreate life in Steveston from 1880 to 1930 with furniture, clothing, quilts, farm implements and other artifacts, not to mention its lovely heritage garden. It’s a great place to enjoy afternoon tea, stroll through the herb gardens and be entertained by a plethora of special events. www.londonheritagefarm.ca
Anyone who wants an escape from the everyday will enjoy the many attractions of Garry Point Park, as well as Steveston’s extensive trail system and the great little boutiques that dot Steveston’s streets. A few notables? The Spotted Frog offers custom furniture and beautiful accessories for the home; handmade jewelry and keepsakes abound at Pieces; and kiddies will love the bounty of games and must-have prizes from Splash Toy Shop. www.thespottedfrog.ca
But ultimately, this community is all about the fish, and aside from dining on seafood in the local restaurants, there are two great ways to enjoy the bounty of the seas.
You could, for instance, go on a fishing charter with an outfitter like Steveston Seabreeze Adventures, which also conducts whale watching and ecological tours, or step on board with naturalists from Vancouver Whale Watch for exploration along the spectacular Gulf and San Juan islands. www.seabreezeadventures.ca; www.vancouverwhalewatch.com
Or you could just buy your finny dinner fresh from the Steveston Fish Market, which is actually from the fishing boats that dock at the Public Fish Sales Float in the marina. The Steveston Harbour Authority even posts the catch of the day, which can range from sea urchin to tuna, aboard each vessel, so you can plan ahead.
Just go to www.stevestonharbour.com/SHA_Site/Sales_Float.html for today’s list. For more info, visit www.stevestonivillage.com.
Steveston is located in the southwest corner of Richmond. Any main artery traveling west through Richmond will take you to No. 1 Road. Simply turn south on No. 1 Road and proceed to the end. Or, if you are traveling either north or south on Highway 99, take the Steveston Highway exit going west to No. 1 Road, then turn south and follow it to the end.
Your two best bets for nearby RV parks are:
Burnaby Cariboo RV Park
www.bcrvpark.com
(604) 420-1722
Hazelmere RV Park
www.hazelmere.ca
(877) 501-5007
For more information, visit www.steveston.bc.ca