Sunday, May 20th from 10 am to 4 pm

The Goods: Organic beef and chicken, eggs, salmon, turkey, gluten-free products, baked goods, pottery, body care products, wood crafts, . . . → Read More: Steveston Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market]]>

Join us for the first

Steveston Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market of the summer!

 Sunday, May 20^th from 10 am to 4 pm

Here is a sneak peek at what to expect this year:

The Goods: Organic beef and chicken, eggs, salmon, turkey, gluten-free products, baked goods, pottery, body care products, wood crafts, cards, photographs & paintings, original jewellery and hair products, leather crafts, children and adult clothing, fancy household items, plants, fresh produce, cereals, jams, honey, balsamic vinegar, special blended teas and coffee, cereals and dried fruit, homemade dog food, salts, herbs, cheese, juice, plants and much, much more…

Prepared Eats: Hamburgers, smokies, skewered chicken and scallops, wood-oven pizza, tasty baked goods, popcorn and lemonade.

Fun and Exciting Attractions:  Kids booth with a balloon artist, face-painter and hair bling. There will be a pirate show and a live band.

Rick Hansen’s tour will be coming through the May 20th Market….
 

Market Dates: May 20 | June 3, 17 | July 15, 29 | August 5, 19 | September 2, 16, 30

For more information about the vendors, please refer to the SFAM website

Find them on Facebook: SFAM page

Vendors will set up in front of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, along Moncton Street and Third Avenue, and in the Cannery parking lot.

Visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery’s Seafood for Thought exhibit to find the answer to this and many more questions about ocean-friendly seafood. This special temporary exhibit will be open to the public on Saturday, May 19th and run until April 2013. Learn . . . → Read More: Seafood for Thought opens May 19th]]>

Which animal is the greatest predator of ocean life?

• shark
• human
• orca whale

Visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery’s Seafood for Thought exhibit to find the answer to this and many more questions about ocean-friendly seafood. This special temporary exhibit will be open to the public on Saturday, May 19th and run until April 2013. Learn more about what is happening to our oceans and marine life, and learn more about how your choices can contribute to positive change for the world’s oceans.

The exhibit will also showcase the works by local artists including: Robi Smith, Ocean Roots, and students of the Emily Carr University of Art & Design.

Members of the Cannery are invited to join us in celebrating the opening on Friday, May 18th at 7pm.

Over the past few years, the taco has undergone some major changes, from the traditional Mexican style to a whole variety of  fusions. One I tried recently was made with Korean bulgogi beef and kimchi topped with fresh salsa, lime and cilantro. It was delicious!

Photo: BC Salmon Farmers Association

Canadian farmed fish can now be certified as organic. The Canadian Organic Aquaculture Standard was released yesterday.

It prohibits the use of antibiotics, herbicides and genetically modified organisms, and severely restricts  the use of parasiticides. The standard also sets measurable requirements for practices that minimize the effect of waste, . . . → Read More: Certified organic farmed fish in Canada]]>

Photo: BC Salmon Farmers Association

Canadian farmed fish can now be certified as organic. The Canadian Organic Aquaculture Standard was released yesterday.

It prohibits the use of antibiotics, herbicides and genetically modified organisms, and severely restricts  the use of parasiticides. The standard also sets measurable requirements for practices that minimize the effect of waste, including defining stocking rates, cleaning procedures and cleaning and feed materials that must be used.

Some feel that the concept of net pen and organic aquaculture are incompatible. BC-based Living Oceans Society and the Conservation Council of New Brunswick are opposed to it, despite a ban on the use of antibiotics and herbicides. Living Oceans Society’s Kelly Roebuck, raises concerns with the certification. For example, all other organic livestock requires 100% organic feed, but this is not the case with the Canadian Organic Aquaculture Standard.

Others, like Stephanie Wells, of Canada Organic Trade Association, believes that this certification is a step in the right direction which allows for positive change.

The certification standard is based on a 2010 draft for organic certification and developed out of information and feedback gathered from various fish farmers across the country.

Read the full article.

The Gulf of Georgia Cannery Store carries many books on a variety of different nautical and fishing themes. Other subjects highlighted at the Cannery Store include the rich social histories of the people who worked in the West Coast fishing industry. Japanese and Japanese-Canadians have a lengthy fishing history in Steveston. Many Japanese . . . → Read More: Cannery Store Feature: The Sakura Tree by Carolyn McTighe]]> The Gulf of Georgia Cannery Store carries many books on a variety of different nautical and fishing themes. Other subjects highlighted at the Cannery Store include the rich social histories of the people who worked in the West Coast fishing industry. Japanese and Japanese-Canadians have a lengthy fishing history in Steveston. Many Japanese women first came to Canada as “picture brides” in the early 20th century. These women were chosen by Japanese men in Canada who intended to marry them. The women were selected mainly on the basis of pictures shown to the men by friends and relatives.

New to the gift shop is a book called The Sakura Tree, a story about three reluctant Japanese  “picture brides” who come to BC to meet their prospective husbands.

Check out the Cannery gift shop book selection, and learn more about the heritage of Japanese women in BC.

Seafood for Thought exhibition flyer

In a city where rain falls every other day, thoughts turn to summertime activities when the weather finally brings clear and beautiful sunshine. Here are a few activities taking place at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery over the next few months:

Photo: The Cookbook Chronicles

With the rate at which we are consuming seafood and polluting the world oceans, we are fundamentally changing the food chains in our oceans. Some fish are overfished to the point of near extinction, and others are barely fished at all. When food chains are altered, some populations flourish as . . . → Read More: Scrumptious Seafood: Sesame Jellyfish]]>

Photo: The Cookbook Chronicles

With the rate at which we are consuming seafood and polluting the world oceans, we are fundamentally changing the food chains in our oceans. Some fish are overfished to the point of near extinction, and others are barely fished at all. When food chains are altered, some populations flourish as their overfished predators are no longer playing a role in population control. Jellyfish is just one example of this.  A scientific study published a few weeks ago highlights the growing population of jellyfish around the world. As such, they are a sustainable seafood option. Jellyfish are less commonly seen in the seafood section of supermarkets, but I would recommend finding jellyfish in an Asian grocery store, as it is more commonly prepared in Asian cuisine.

Sesame Jellyfish:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb jellyfish
• 2 teaspoons light soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons Chinese white rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons sesame seeds

Directions:

 The federal government is proposing two new approaches to how industry should protect fish habitat.

Once this bill is passed, the first provision . . . → Read More: Harper’s budget bill may eliminate fish habitat protection]]>

Sockeye salmon sit on a commercial fishing boat as they’re unloaded at Steveston Harbour during a 32-hour fishery window in Richmond, BC, on Thurs. Aug. 26, 2010 (THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Darryl Dyck)

 The federal government is proposing two new approaches to how industry should protect fish habitat.

Once this bill is passed, the first provision will come into effect immediately. This permits the federal government more “leeway to allow exceptions.”

The second phase, which has been most criticized by the media, will come later (it is not clear when). It permits industrial development near and around fish habitat, so long as the development does not harm any fish important to commercial or First Nations fisheries. In other words, regulations on industry will be based on the fatalities of fish and not the sustainability of their populations or habitat.

Under the new provisions, habitat is not the main concern. They look at the fish themselves.

According to the wording in the budget bill, the government will only stop development if “serious harm” to fish is at stake, and only if those fish are part of a commercial, recreational or aboriginal fishery.

“Serious harm” is defined as death, or permanent damage to habitat.

Green Party’s, Elizabeth May, believes that “[...]the legislation will eventually eliminate protection of fish habitat, hand more oversight to provincial regulators and remove all federal impediments to natural resource extraction.”

Current regulations require companies to ensure that they do not disrupt fish habitats by their actions, if they do, they are responsible for providing a new habitat for the fish.

Read full article.

This year’s Delta Richmond Heritage Fair takes place on May 5th at the Richmond Cultural Centre. Over 200 local students will showcase their Canadian-based historical and heritage oriented projects. Student work is judged by a panel of 22 judges (one of which is the Cannery’s own Britney Quail). Based on their results, the best projects will . . . → Read More: 10th Annual Delta Richmond Heritage Fair]]> This year’s Delta Richmond Heritage Fair takes place on May 5th at the Richmond Cultural Centre. Over 200 local students will showcase their Canadian-based historical and heritage oriented projects. Student work is judged by a panel of 22 judges (one of which is the Cannery’s own Britney Quail). Based on their results, the best projects will advance further to heritage fairs at the national level.

Through the medium of their choice, students display stories that portray Canadian heroes, legends, milestones and achievements. Projects are to be presented not only to the general public, but also to a panel of judges.

The Heritage Fairs program is a bilingual educational initiative, encouraging students to explore Canadian history and heritage in a dynamic, hands-on learning environment.

The fair, which is free to enter, invites students, schools, heritage organizations, businesses and community groups to actively get involved in a “contemporary celebration of traditions and events.”

The general public can view the projects this Saturday.

British Columbians love their spot prawns. They are local, large, and lavishly delicious, not to mention sustainable. Spot prawns are so good, an annual festival celebrates their arrival - not many local foods receive such an honour!

Join in on the festivities at False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf on Saturday, May 5th from 11 am to 3 pm. A fee of . . . → Read More: B.C. Spot Prawn Festival]]>  

British Columbians love their spot prawns. They are local, large, and lavishly delicious, not to mention sustainable. Spot prawns are so good, an annual festival celebrates their arrival - not many local foods receive such an honour!

Join in on the festivities at False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf on Saturday, May 5th from 11 am to 3 pm. A fee of $12 gets you food (spot prawns, off course!) and samples of coffee, beer, and wine. Spot prawns will be available for purchase right off the boat for $12 a pound. Click here for more info about the 6th annual BC Spot Prawn Festival.