Alan Morris

Review of Gulf of Georgia Cannery Societ...

We just happened to be walking around Steveston, a...

We just happened to be walking around Steveston, and a sandwich board on the pathway outside the Gulf of Georgia Cannery reminded us that admission was free for Canada 150. The building has always looked like a jewel on the Steveston waterfront, so we thought we would have a peek and get out of the sun for a bit.

We ended up at the very beginning of a tour of the Cannery's processing area. Very informative and fun. We were alongside machinery that wasn't behind Plexiglas or velvet ropes while on the tour. We were encouraged not to touch the machinery, and we could get close up and see from all angles.

Note: Respect the rules. It would be a shame if the museum needed to make changes and force people to be further away from the machinery.

One of the more impressive parts of the tour was how it was explained to us the involvement of First Nations and Asians. The cannery once held low regard, and was insensitive to these people. The tour guide didn't shy away from the dark history, or explaining how different society was at the time. It really made me think about how in the last hundred years, Canada has gained a reputation of being inclusive to all.

Bravo on the Canada 150 celebration. It has opened the door for many of us that struggle with knowing the true Canadian identity.