Management plan implementation

The Gulf of Georgia Cannery management plan identifies the long-term strategic direction and vision for the site. It provides a framework for how the site is managed..

The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site is operated by the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society on behalf of Parks Canada. The following updates serve as a progress report from Parks Canada to partners, interest-holders, and the public.

2025

• Facilitated a celebration of National Indigenous People’s Day by honouring the two-year anniversary of “The Water We Call Home” exhibit and welcoming Japanese Canadian artists to share stories of intersectional history between these communities.
• Made significant structural improvements, including the repair of three doors, the repair and reinstallation of windows in the Herring Reduction plant, and the cleaning and repair of a large stretch of roof over the canning line. All architectural, structural, and mechanical drawings were also catalogued.
• Launched a fully bilingual audio tour and new website.
• Implemented the Canada Strong Pass (June 20-September 2, 2025), which granted free admission to all Parks Canada places, and resulted in the Gulf of Georgia seeing an overall visitation increase of nearly 300% over 2024 for that period. The site also saw an increase of 32% in school bookings over 2024.
• Launched the ReCollections Exhibit, showcasing artifacts from the collection that had not been on display in over a decade. The exhibit focuses on making history hands-on and inclusive, featuring a rich mix of historical objects, a community curated display, and interactive elements that contribute to our collective heritage.
• Hosted a variety of inclusive and diverse community-focused events, including: Lunar New Year Celebration; Family Day at the Cannery; Easter at the Cannery; the What We Hold pop-up installation celebrating stories through objects (during Asian Heritage Month, National Indigenous History Month, and Pride Month, among others); Music at the Cannery featuring Shawnee Kish; the BC Heritage Fair; Steveston Pride Celebrations; the Haunted Sea installation; Festival of Trees; and Filipino Christmas Celebrations, plus many more.

2024

• Completed development of the 2024 Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site Management Plan, signed by the President & CEO of Parks Canada in December 2024.
• Completed the inventory of the artefact collection.
• Collaborated with the City of Richmond, Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site and Tourism Richmond to share visitor feedback, resulting in new, inclusive programming that focuses on representing diverse cultural perspectives.
• Updated and revitalized events and programs with a focus on climate change, cultural diversity, and accessibility, including the Spring Break Salmon Run Scavenger hunt, the Indigenous-focused school program Salmon People, Welcoming the Sun, and increased Parks Canada outreach, focussing on Southern Resident Killer Whales.
• Increased visitation, rentals, and gift shop revenues, as improvements to programs and services continues. 
• Replaced the roof of  Boiler House. Restored windows in the Canning Line, and Herring Reduction.
• Renewed funding support from Parks Canada Agency, commenced in March 2024.

2023

• Renewed financial and collaborative agreements to support the continued collaboration between Parks Canada and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society.
• Completed Management planning Phase I consultation with key interest-holders and prepared the approved draft management plan for a 2024 public consultation launch.
• Launched two new exhibits: Fish Tales, a celebration of the ways seafood connects diverse communities to Canada’s West Coast fishing industry and The Water We Call Home: Re-presencing Indigenous women’s connections to fish, water and family around the Salish Sea.
• Delivered education focused on ocean pollution (Parks Canada) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ Salmonids in the Classroom program (Cannery Society).
• Started collections and artifact review, and permanent exhibit renewal planning.

2022

• Continued management planning Phase I consultation with partners, stakeholders, and Indigenous communities.
• Resumed on-site school programming and events such as Easter at the Cannery, and Welcoming the Sun, celebrating Indigenous culture and fishing history.
• Developed and launched Cannery People, a new summer tour focused on the stories of the diverse people and communities who shaped the fishing industry.
• Continued collaborating on the Fish Tales exhibit with the University of British Columbia’s Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies. This involved collecting stories that celebrate the ways seafood connects diverse communities to west coast fishing history.
• Delivered Parks Canada education programming focused on what actions people can take to help protect Southern Resident Killer Whales.

2021

• Returned to full visitor access and services, with COVID-19 pandemic precautions in place during the operational season.
• Resumed the management planning process and initiated Phase I consultation with Indigenous communities, partners and interest-holders.
• Completed the multi-year fire suppression system upgrades, under the Federal Infrastructure Investment Program.