The Steveston Heritage Sites currently offers in-person field trips at the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site — once home to an active fishing, canning and boat-building community, and at London Farm, which was home to the London family and their farm workers in the early 1900s. Both heritage sites are situated on the Fraser River waterfront, offering a unique and memorable setting for school programs.
Why book a field trip to the Steveston Heritage Sites?
- Experience the fascinating stories of people living and working in Steveston, using programming space inside heritage buildings on the historic waterfront.
- Participate in programs that are fun, interactive and based on the BC curriculum
- We offer facilities that are easily accessible, with free parking, washrooms, and picnic tables.
What do I need to know?
- All programs are 90 minutes (except “How We Lived” 120 minutes with break), and offered from 9 am to 2 pm.
- Payment may be made on the day of the program with cash, Visa, MasterCard, or cheque.
- Minimum ratio of 1 adult chaperone requested for every 5 students. Chaperones are encouraged to help supervise the group and participate in the program as needed. Adult chaperones may join the program at no extra charge.
- Programs are offered in English (partial French may be available upon request).
- Want to make a day of your visit to both of Steveston’s national historic sites? Let us do the planning – the Gulf of Georgia Cannery and Britannia Shipyards National Historic Sites now offer a combined booking program for up to four classes (Grades 1-6). For more details and to book, visit the Cannery’s website here.
Program cost structure will change for the 2024-25 School Year:
- $160 per class (maximum of 30 students)
- $210 per class (maximum of 30 students) for Britannia Boatbuilders
How do I book a visit?
- Choose the program relevant to the students’ age group from the options listed below.
- Choose two to three date options.
- Choose the time you would like to arrive. The start time may be between 9 am to 2 pm.
- Send us your booking with the above choices by filling in this Booking Request Form.
For more information, please contact us by email or by phone: 604.238.8050
FAQs
View or download a copy of Frequently Asked Questions about the Britannia Shipyards NHS school programs.
The historic village of Steveston was once a thriving centre of salmon fishing and canning, earning it the nickname “Salmonopolis”. First Nations peoples have harvested the land and waters of this region for thousands of years prior to this settlement. Fisheries and canneries employed immigrants from around the world, including Europe, China, and Japan. Learn about the unique heritage of this intersection of cultures by visiting these Steveston historic sites of interest.
Steveston Tram
Tram Car 1220 is the largest artefact in the City of Richmond’s collection. It is now on display across from the location of the Steveston Station, which closed in 1958.
London Farm
London Farm is one of the earliest farm sites in Richmond, and features a farm house built by Charles and Henrietta London in 1898.
Britannia Shipyards
Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site is a rare surviving example of Steveston’s once thriving mixture of canneries, boatyards, and residences, when fishing and boat building were flourishing industries on the Fraser River.
Steveston Museum
Built in 1905 as Steveston village’s first bank, this heritage building in the heart of the community serves as a working post office, and as a museum to preserve, promote, and tell the history of Steveston.
Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site
Built in 1894 and once the largest of its kind, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery is a Parks Canada National Historic Site, featuring exhibits and programs about Canada’s west coast fishing industry.
Garry Point Park & Scotch Pond
Garry Point Park is large waterfront park, located at the southwest tip of Richmond, close to historic Steveston Village. It is home to the historic Scotch Pond, where the Scottish Canadian Cannery and Atagi Boatworks were once located.
Imperial Landing Dock
Located at the south end of English Avenue, Imperial Landing offers public moorage and an excellent vantage point of Steveston’s inner harbour.