Mouth of the Fraser - Richmond, British · PDF fileRichmond dairy industry and more. For ......

Mouth of the FraserPublished by the Richmond Heritage Commission and Richmond Museum & Heritage Services Winter 2011

1City of Richmond Heritage News

Edo: Arts of Japan’s Last Shogun Age (1603 - 1868)An exquisite collection of historic art-works has revived the final days of Japan’s Shogun era at the Richmond Museum, since the opening of Edo: Arts of Japan’s Last Shogun Age, on February 9.

The exhibit features art and artefacts from the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s extensive Japanese collection, and works on loan from the Canadian Museum of Civilization and from private individuals.

Edo is the ancient name for the city of Tokyo, and this exhibit covers the historic period from 1603 until 1868, when Japan was ruled by shoguns of the Tokugawa Continued on Page 2 Woodblock print (detail), Toyohara Kunichika, 1879 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

People lament the loss of the architectural past so often that it is gratifying to find a developer who pays homage to meaningful architectural origins. A perfect example of this occurred at 3900 Moncton Ave in Ste-veston. There, you will find a timber-clad building representing a mixed-use, ground f loor commercia l block, with a 9-unit condo development. The block replaced by this new development used to house Eng-lish Home and the Diplomat Bakery, but before that the corner was the site of the Mukai Confection-ary Company. The new building takes its name from the Mukai Confectionary and,

more importantly, its architecture evokes the character of the old Mukai building, which was demolished in the 1940s or 50s. Each time I head down to Steveston I am pleased to see this architecture that skipped a generation - in reverse. Often, there may be a historical playfulness about these latter-

day interpretations. The high ceilings, broad window space, and attractive massing of simple volumes of the new Mukai building proves to me that it is worth looking back to an earlier time. Hopefully, residents (who were worried about the loss of the ‘grittiness’Continued on Page 2

Re-living the past in Steveston, again - By Barry Magrill

INSIDEPage 2: Laury Wozny Column Edo, cont’ d Re-living the past, cont’dPage 3: Sockeye Special JapanglishPage 4-5: From the CommunityPage 5: Minoru Chapel Opera Sustaining CulturePage 6: Heritage Programs

Mukai Confectionary, Steveston, ca.1940 Photo: City of Richmond Archives RCF 272

Spring 2012

2 City of Richmond Heritage News

Edo, cont’d from pg 1

family. This military class transformed Edo from a fishing village into one of the largest, most populous and most cultivated capital cities in the world.

The exhibit draws upon a wide variety of Edo period art, notably paintings, prints, ceramics, lacquerwares, metal wares, tex-tiles and clothing accessories, religious art and samurai paraphernalia. The works, especially the woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e, reveal the life and customs of the era. The prints, unrivalled material for the study of daily life during the Edo period, illustrate aspects of religion, folklore, legends and historical scenes. Prints were appreciated by commoners of the period, while fine paintings, ceramics and lacquerwares generally suited the tastes of the upper classes.

Palanquin 18th C. Photo: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

This exhibition also features one of the few important palanquins, or sedan

Two heritage projectsAs we enter a new year, we face many challenges in preserving Richmond’s heritage. Recently there have been several newspaper articles regarding the state of heritage in Richmond.

Richmond City Council has hired a con-sulting firm, Brimingham & Wood, to (a) draw up plans for the new Tram Building and (b) to work on a conservation plan for the Japanese Fishermen’s Benevolent Society Building. Both plans have been completed and will be presented to the appropriate stakeholders.

Construction of the tram structure will include meeting space for the Steveston Community Centre and classroom facili-ties for touring groups. The drawings for the tram building are going forward to the City for approval and work on the project should begin this year.

Restoration of the Japanese Fishermen’s Benevolent Society Building, now relo-cated behind the Steveston Museum, will start soon. A conservation plan has been completed and an exterior rehabilitation plan will be submitted to the City soon. The goal is to rehabilitate and integrate the building with the Steveston Museum.

Both preservation projects have great historical value to the City of Richmond.

This year the Richmond Heritage Com-mission has a new Council Liaison in Councillor Derek Dang. We welcome and look forward to working with him.

Chair, City of Richmond HeritageCommission

Laurie Wozny Photo: Heritage Commission

Daimyo Suit 19th C. Photo: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

chairs, outside of Japan. It is decorated with the gold crest of the Tokugawa family, and detailed with bamboo in gold, green, bronze, and brown maki-e lacquer.

The exhibit, curated by Barry Till, Cura-tor of Asian Art at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, runs to May 21, 2012. For more information on Richmond Museum exhibits and programs, please visit www.richmondmuseum.ca

Doors Open Richmond 2012Explore Richmond’s arts, culture and heritage diversity during this two day city-wide free celebration at over 40 sites in Richmond, May 5-6, 2012. Don’t miss this chance to discover Richmond and its rich history.

Doors Open host venue participants can register now at www.richmond.ca/doorsopen. Doors Open volunteers can register at icanhelp.richmond.ca

For more information about Doors Open Richmond 2012, please phone 604 247-8333, or email: [email protected]

Re-living, cont’d from pg 1

in Steveston with the demolition of the cinder block structure) may feel reassured by the new infill that represents the past brought back to life. The respect for his-tory evident in the new Mukai building demonstrates the worth of a volunteer group such as the Richmond Heritage Commis-sion, when providing advice to both the developer and City Council.

“What’s past is prologue…” in this building - a story about “past informing present” is a commendable initiative. Who says good things only happened long ago?


‘Japanglish’ a hit at the Richmond Cultural CentreJapanglish is the comedic and touching story of a Canadian born woman living with immigrated Japanese parents. This popular, family-friendly, one-woman show from local theatre artist Yumi Ogawa was presented to a full house on Feb 24, as a partnership of the Richmond Museum Society, Richmond Arts Centre and Richmond Diversity Services at the Richmond Cultural Centre.

The show’s writer and performer, Yumi Ogawa, grew up in Richmond and is a former member of sketch comedy troupe, Assaulted Fish. She left the group to create this highly successful show based on her memories of growing up with traditional Japanese parents.

The Sockeye Special was the Steveston tram that operated from Vancouver to Steveston from 1905 through 1958. During the tram’s operation the bulk of the passengers were workers from Van-couver traveling to the canneries in Ste-veston, which were world renowned for canning Sockeye salmon, the premium of all salmon. Thus, it became known as the Sockeye Special.The Sockeye Special: the story of the Ste-veston tram and early Lulu Island relates to how the tram was an integral part of transportation between the farmlands of Lulu Island and Vancouver. The tram brought thousands of passengers from Vancouver, New Westminster and Ste-veston to the Minoru Racetrack, where at the track, in addition to exciting horse races, six aeronautical firsts took place between 1910 and 1914.

Author, Ron Hyde, has included stories of the Steveston Opera House, the opening of the fishing season, the Richmond dairy industry and more. For instance, milk cans delivered to Vancou-ver on the morning tram returned with spring water to the well-water restricted Richmond at the end of the day.

With over eighty historic photographs and images, the book takes a fascinating look at B.C. Electric’s partnerships with Richmond’s industry and entertainment and the people of Lulu Island.

The Sockeye Special sells for $15 (plus $5 by mail). In Richmond, the book

is available at the Steveston Bookstore, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, Britannia Heritage Shipyards, London Heritage Farm and Richmond Cultural Centre.

You can also order the book on-line at www.sockeyespecial.com, or by email at [email protected]

The Sockeye Special opens a window on Richmond’s past


Britannia Heritage Shipyard Society (BHSS) is focused on the restoration of several wooden vessels. Currently, the Society has three skiffs and two larger wooden vessels, the Mukai and Merilee II. The BHSS is comprised of member/volunteers, about a dozen of whom are active in the restoration of these vessels.

We can always use, and welcome, more help! Application forms are available in a clear box on the south side of the sliding door at the Richmond Boat Builders building. You can pick one up anytime.

The Mukai and Merilee II were recently surveyed by a professional surveyor, and from his report we know where to concentrate our efforts on each vessel. The Fleetwood, formerly the rum runner Skeezix, is located in the Shipyard Building, while the Merilee II is in the Richmond Boat Builders building, and the Mukai is in the back compound. The Iona was recently relaunched, and another fishing vessel awaiting restora-

tion, the Starliner, is in the back, as well.Funds to buy the materials for resto-ration are not easy to come by, and membership revenues alone are not suf-ficient. The BHSS welcomes donations for its annual Garage Sale. If you have anything to donate, please leave it with volunteers at the Richmond Boat Build-ers building on a Saturday, between 10am – 3pm. Use the north parking lot across from the school playground to park and drop off goods.You can usually find several volunteers

on hand on Saturdays. Come along any-time after 10am and you can get started by working alongside another volunteer. Ask for Bob James, Jim Jewett, Gerry Hudak, Don Rolls, Niels Anderson or Jack Scoular. Brenda Stringer works on model boat kits, and if the weather is good, you’ll find Elaine Graham work-ing on the Murakami Garden. For Society information, visit online at www.britannia-hss.ca

From The CommunityBritannia Heritage Shipyard Society attracts volunteers to work on boat restoration projects - By Elaine Graham

Britannia Heritage Shipyard is the oldest shipyard community in British Columbia and has undergone many transformations since it first came to stand on the Fraser River in 1889. The 8.14 acre site was once a thriving community of boatyards, canneries, residences and stores, comprised of over 90 buildings connected by an immense labyrinth of wooden boardwalks.

The Britannia Heritage Shipyard is now the City of Richmond’s most important industrial heritage resource, maintained by city staff and dedicated volunteers. Great care is taken to ensure that this last remaining community of its kind is not spoiled during its development. A park master plan has been implemented and each year, the City allocates funds to continue the restoration of the site. The intent is to keep the site open and accessible to the public as much as pos-sible while the site undergoes each phase of restoration. Eventually, all buildings will be open to the public and inter-preted to tell the entire Britannia story.

The Britannia site has a long and colour-ful history, each structure itself with a unique story to tell. Through the years efforts have been made to research each building in detail. This body of research has enabled the authentic restoration of many of the buildings and has assisted in the creation of engaging exhibits that interpret this fascinating time in British Columbia’s history.

A variety of special events, public programs, exhibits and outdoor inter-pretation examine the daily life and relationships between the culturally diverse people who lived and worked at Britannia for almost a century.

For information about events, programs and volunteer opportunities, please call 604-718-8050, email [email protected] or visit us online at www.richmond.ca/britannia

Jim Jewett, Britannia Heritage Shipyards Society volunteer Photo: Bob James

Bringing History to Life at Britannia Heritage Shipyard


From the Community

Teddy Bear Exhibit Photo: Steveston Museum

Steveston Museum www.richmond.ca/culture/sites/stevestonChanges are happening at the Steveston Museum at 3811 Moncton Street as we prepare for our upcoming season. Exhibit space is somewhat limited right now, but we continue to feature temporary exhibits in the main floor display case and period kitchen/dining room.

Minoru Chapel OperaThe City of Richmond’s Art, Culture and Heritage Services has partnered with Metro Vancouver opera companies to showcase Minoru Chapel Opera, presented by Canadian Western Bank. Hear selections from classic operas masterfully performed in an intimate and historic setting.

Wednesday, March 7 Vancouver Opera2:00 pm (course #234951) 7:00 pm (course #234952) Vancouver Opera presents an engaging program of arias and duets from classic operas. Host and pianist Kinza Tyrrell, Van-couver Opera’s Principal Répétiteur and Associate Chorus Director, along with three accomplished Vancouver singers— baritone Aaron Durand, soprano Melanie Krueger and tenor Frederik Robert—will perform a selection of highlights from VO productions - Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Puccini’s La Bohème.

Wednesday, April 4Burnaby Lyric Opera 2:00 pm (course #235001),7:00 pm (course #235002)

How do you sustain your cultural heritage?You are invited to share your story about how you sustain your culture and heritage in Richmond, one of the most multi-cul-tural communities in Canada. Councillor Derek Dang, recently appointed Council Liaison to the Richmond Heritage Com-mission, generously agreed to inaugurate this ongoing column. Submit your stories to: [email protected]

Councillor Derek Dang and his family have a long history in Richmond that dates from its early agricultural roots to the urban centre that it is today. His grandfather, Dang Hong Sing, immi-grated to Canada in 1912, and like other immigrants from China, was forced to pay the discriminatory $500 head tax in order to enter the country – more than a year’s earnings for many workers.

Canadian Head Tax Certificate Dang Family Collection

The original document above enforced a law that was in place for almost 40 years. His grandfather, Dang Hong moved to Richmond in 1936 and began using his extensive contacts in Vancouver’s China-town to find workers for local farmers. At a later point Derek’s grandparents lived on Bridgeport Road.

Dang says that in modern-day Richmond it is easier to keep elements of his culture of origin alive for his children and he firmly believes that “the community has been very good to my family for a variety of reasons: economic and social being the most prevalent. It hasn’t been completely seamless, but as an overall experience, it’s the reason why we’re still here and one of the big reasons why I am privileged to be a citizen who can make a difference.”

Burnaby Lyric Opera presents highlights from the 2012 Sunday Afternoon Concert Series - Puccini’s musical masterpiece, La Bohème, Massenet’s Werther and Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades - led by musical director David Boothroyd.

Wednesday, May 2DragonDiva Operatic Theatre

2:00 pm (course #235003),7:00 pm (course #235004) DragonDiva Operatic Theatre is delighted to perform Engelbert Humperdinck ’s opera Hän-sel and Gretel in an abridged concert version. Hänsel and Gretel has become a staple of the

operatic repertoire. A popular favourite with large and small opera companies alike, audiences delight in the lush score and beautiful vocal writing. Rediscover this Grimm’s fairytale classic!

Admission is $20 adults, $18 students & seniors(+HST). Tickets may be purchased in advance at 604-276-4300 (press 2), Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30 pm.

Please quote course # as indicated above. Credit card purchases only.

Our winter exhibit ref lected a popular item many have cherished through their lives – Teddy Bears. Local collector, Gordon Kibble loaned several examples from his extensive bear collection for the exhibit. The bears ranged from early 20th century examples, when the toy first gained popularity, to recent examples dressed in an array of fashions. Teddy Bears captured the imagination of toymakers because of a famous hunting incident in 1902, when former President Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear while hunting.

You can visit our current exhibit, which celebrates the BC Heritage Week theme – energy. We are also busy preparing a walking tour on Steveston’s darker history, called Murder, Mayhem and Morality in Old Steveston. For exhibit and program information, please phone 604-718-8439.


Museum Displays at City HallOpen 8:15am - 5pm weekdays

The Richmond Japan ConnectionTo May 21, 2012This display explores the Japanese Cana-dian history of Richmond through cultural artifacts and photos.

Richmond Scouting HistoryMay 22 - July 9, 2012The history of scouting in Richmond is explored in this display through a selec-tion of artefacts and photos.

Museum MembershipsA membership in the Richmond Museum Society has benefits for individuals and for families. Members receive an invita-tion to the official opening for all our major exhibits and special programs.

Membership fees: Students and Seniors $10, Individuals $15, Couples $20, Family (up to 4 people) $25. Phone 604-247-8300, or email [email protected], for your membership form.

London Heritage Farmwww.londonheritagefarm.ca

Easter Tea & Dahlia Tuber SaleApr 7-8 12 - 5pm & 11am - 2pm

Dahlia Tuber SaleApr 28-29 12 - 11am - 2pm

Mother’s DayTea & Annual Plant SaleMay 12-13 10am - 5pm

Gulf Of Georgia Cannery National Historic Sitewww.gulfofgeorgiacannery.com

From Net to CanHear the whirring and clattering of the the salmon canning line. 10am-5pm daily

Steveston Winter MarketMar 4 & 18, Apr 1 & 15 10am - 3pm

Spring Break at the CanneryMarch 12 – 23 10am - 5pm, dailyMaritime related crafts and tours for kids.

Easter Scavenger HuntApril 7 10am - 5pm

City of Richmond6911 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC V6Y 2C1Tel: 604-276-4000www.richmond.ca

Mouth of the FraserNew! E-News EditionMouth of the Fraser, published three times a year, supports awareness, understanding and recognition of Heritage in Richmond.

To Subscribe: [email protected]

Contributors:

Barry Magrill, Brooke Lees, Elaine Graham, Emily So, Gavin Powell, Linda Eversole, Michelle Haapamaki, Laurie Wozny, Ron Hyde, Teri BarrContacts: Terry Brunette Planner, Policy Planning City of [email protected]

Peter Harris Exhibit & Program Coordinator Richmond Museum & Heritage Services, City of Richmond [email protected]

Richmond Museumwww.richmondmuseum.ca

Spring Break Camp

Young museum expert practices his conservation skills at Spring Break Camp. Photo: Richmond Museum

Discover more about Richmond and how to tell its story through museum exhibits. Create and mount a museum exhibit for the world to see in the Richmond Cultural Centre. This exciting week of Spring Break fun also includes field trips to local museums and heritage sites. Last year, this camp sold out, so register early!6-8yrs Mar 12-16 #191501 9-12yrs Mar 19-23 # 191502Mon-Fri 9am-3pm $165/week Register online at www.richmond.ca or by phone at 604-276-4300.

What does Canadian history look like to our children and youth?

Monica Yao, McNeely Elementary, with her project that focused on women and First Nations in Steveston’s historic fishing industry. Photo: Sue Legault

The Richmond Museum, in partnership with the Delta Museum & Archives, is pleased to present the Richmond Delta Regional Heritage Fair on May 4-5, 2011, at the Richmond Cultural Centre. This event showcases outstanding research project displays from students from across Richmond and Delta schools on a range of Canadian history and heritage topics.

Britannia Heritage ShipyardsNational Historic Sitewww.richmond.ca/britannia

Winter: Sat 10am - 4pm, Sun 12 - 4pmFrom May 1: Tue - Sun, 10am - 6pm

During operational hours, visitors may enjoy the natural landscape of the park, and explore numerous buildings filled with interactive exhibits and demonstrations. Stilt houses on the east side of the site showcase life over the river in the early 20th century. Each dwelling focuses on the living conditions of its inhabitants, which varied considerably; from poor Chinese labourer to the more affluent cannery manager. For more information, please call 604-718-8050, email [email protected], or visit online at www.richmond.ca/britannia

Mouth of the Fraser - Richmond, British · PDF fileRichmond dairy industry and more. For ......

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