A Steveston historical site has decided they will be closed on July 1 to ensure its staff and community members stay safe this upcoming long weekend.
Every year, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site welcomes visitors for free on Canada Day every year during the Steveston Salmon Festival.
However, this year, like in 2020, they will once again be closed for the day.
Mimi Horita, marketing manager at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, said the society made a difficult decision to close the cannery on Canada Day due to safety reasons.
“We don’t have the resources to ensure a safe opening on that day for staff and visitors since it will also be the same day that B.C. opens for Phase 3,” said Horita.
“Most Parks Canada sites have large outdoor open spaces to safely accommodate visitors with free entry on Canada. Ours is an indoor site which makes the logistics more challenging.”
According to Horita, the cannery saw 6,000 visitors at its facility during the 2019 Canada Day celebrations -- the last time it was open before COVID-19 hit.
She added that the Cannery team always enjoys seeing the community visit and celebrate the day in Steveston, but the safety of the public is their main priority.
"The Cannery crew wishes everyone a happy and safe Canada Day, and we hope to celebrate together in 2022."
The Steveston Salmon Festival is traditionally one of the biggest Canada Day celebrations in the Lower Mainland, attracting up to 80,000 people with parades, concerts and a salmon barbecue.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the second year in a row, Richmondites are being invited to a “Canada Day at Home” event, with online programming organized by the City of Richmond and the Steveston Salmon Festival Society.
The Cannery will re-open on July 2 at 10 a.m.
-with files from Maria Rantanen
