To book a program for your group or class, please email us or call 604.664.9009.
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site offers a number of educational programs, all available in English or French. Admission is $3.90 per student, taxes included. Click here to view the latest education brochure.
| Guided Tour and Machine Demonstration (Suitable for all ages , including ESL) Social Studies I.R.P. Try your hand at peughing a salmon at the receiving dock and follow its journey from fishing net to airtight can. See the fish scales that still cover the walls and learn about the lives of the people who worked on the line 12 hours a day. One the herring reduction plan tour, students will find machinery that was adapted from other industries including diary, wine, and pulp and paper. The 20 minute film Journey Through Time is a perfect introduction to the history of the Cannery and BC’s fishing history for all ages. Salmon’s Journey (K-2) Social Studies and Science I.R.P. Engage your students in a lively conversation about the salmon life cycle through interactive hands-on activities that explore the journey of an Adams River sockeye. Students will make shadow puppets and perform skits on related themes. Cannery Quest (Grade 3-5) Social Studies and Science I.R.P. Peugh, slime patch and clinch. Students will explore the salmon-canning process over the decades through an exploration of our dynamic, 4000 sq. foot Canning Line Exhibit. Cannery Quest encourages students to work cooperatively and builds on reading comprehension and research skills. Fishy Business: A Century of Change (Grade 3-5) Social Studies I.R.P. Fish and fishing are a part of the historic fabric of Steveston and other B.C. coastal communities. After an introduction highlighting the importance of water & fish in B.C., students will be led on an interactive tour of our Fishing the West Coast Exhibit, contrasting fishing 100 years ago with fishing methods today. Students will explore the 3-dimensional fish wall, share information about some commercial fish species, and finish up with a fishing artefact discovery game! Cannery Stories (Grade 4-6) Social Studies I.R.P. What was life like for the people who lived and worked in one of BC’s cannery towns? The Cannery’s general store serves as the backdrop for a detective game. Students will work in teams to discover the identity of six cannery workers. Conversations with the store clerks, access to primary sources and artifact replicas provide the clues that will reveal the personal stories of these workers and bring the multicultural history of BC’s fishing industry to life. |
Salmon People: Coast Salish Fishing (Grades 4-6) Social Studies I.R.P. Long before the development of canneries, Aboriginal people fished along the banks of the Fraser River, including at the site of present-day Steveston. Using object-based inquiry, students explore the significance of fish and compare fishing and preservation methods. Machines at Work (Grade 5) Science I.R.P. (Forces and Simple Machines) Through the design of their own compound machine and a close up look at a real canning line in action, students will gain a greater understanding of the science of forces and simple machines. Students will engage in hands-on activities and analyze art work and film. Des Poissons et des Conserves French Tours for Non-French Immersion Classes (Grade 4-7) French & Social Studies I.R.P. A unique museum program designed to assist French as a second language teachers bring the French life outside the classroom. Using simple sentences and lots of visual props, students will be ledon a guided tour of the Cannery in French. Get prepared to roll your ‘r’s! Strolling Through Steveston Walking Tour (Grade 8-12, ESL) Social Studies I.R.P. Looking for a unique way to bring Canada’s social history to life? This 1.5 hour walking tour begins at the Cannery and weaves its way through a century of laughter and hardship in Steveston. Return to the raucous heyday of the fishing village, hear tales of shady characters, and uncover the hidden lives of cannery workers and fishermen Pre-Visit Packages Help your students prepare for their visit with our pre-visit packages. |
Education Kits
Bring the Gulf of Georgia Cannery into your classroom! Education kits contain artifacts, historical photographs, and activities that are adaptable for different grade levels.
Education kits are available for 3-week rentals at a cost of $45.00.
| My Monster Cannery (Grade K-6) Social Studies, Language Arts, and Music I.R.P. Based on the children’s book My Monster Cannery, this interdisciplinary resource kit uses music, rhythmic movement, and song to develop language skills and to enhance historical understanding. Students will respond to texts, perform tableaux, and take on the mantle of the expert. |
BC’s Fishing History (Grade 10) Social Studies I.R.P. How is the history of fishing linked to today’s fishing industry? Drama techniques are used to immerse students in BC’s fishing industry both past and present. Students will analyze primary and secondary sources, engage in debate, and participate in a fishing simulation. |
