Gulf of Georgia Cannery recalls historical racism in B.C.

Once the leading producer of canned salmon in B.C. and now a national historic site in the touristy village of Steveston in Richmond, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery bears a memento reflecting Canada’s attitudes in the past towards non-European settlers.

Artist Ruth Beer pointed to this former fish processing machine during the course of an interview with the Straight about the exhibit Trading Routes: Rivers, Fish and Oil at the former cannery, which once employed Chinese, Japanese, First Nations, and Caucasian workers.

The machine is not part of the exhibit, and is one of the relics on display at the fishing museum.