50 Years of the Steveston Historical Society

The Steveston Historical Society is marking its 50th anniversary with a free community celebration in Town Square Park on Sunday. This milestone celebration honours the volunteers who founded the Society in 1976 and marks the start of a new chapter for Steveston’s heritage.

50 Years of the Steveston Historical Society

• Date: Sunday, July 26, 2026 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
• Location: Town Square Park (3791 Moncton St, Richmond)
• Admission: Free

For five decades, Society members have donating their time to restoring and operating the Steveston Museum and Post Office, gathering the stories of the village’s fishing, farming and cannery families, and keeping Steveston’s past present as the community around it changed.

The afternoon is designed to reflect the many communities that have shaped Steveston, past and present. Visitors can take in Japanese taiko drumming, Chinese calligraphy, gyotaku (traditional Japanese fish printing) and Indigenous fry bread demonstrations, alongside live music, children’s activities and short heritage walking performances staged by local student actors.

Community and heritage partners will host exhibits, and there will be refreshments including anniversary cake.

Several community projects are underway to mark the milestone, including a commemorative mural by Mark Anderson, an artist known for his mural work in the community. Anderson will be on hand at the celebration to share examples of his work and talk about the project, with the mural itself to be revealed over the course of the painting.

Steveston Historical Society Legacy & Future

“Fifty years ago, a small group of people decided Steveston’s history was worth fighting for,” says Linda Barnes, Co-Chair of the Steveston Historical Society. “The museum, the post office, even the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, and this community’s sense of who it is, all grew out of that decision. Honouring those founders, listening to their stories and thanking them in person, is the part that matters most to me.”

The anniversary also marks a turning point for the Society. A multi-year investment from the City of Richmond has allowed it to bring on a highly experienced Executive Director, working alongside the staff and volunteers who have sustained the organization for decades, as it takes on a more active role in Steveston’s cultural life.

“An anniversary like this is really an invitation,” says Chris Mathieson, new Executive Director of the Steveston Historical Society. “We’d love to see the people who built this Society, the people who’ve quietly supported it for years, and people who’ve never come through our doors at all. This is a day to celebrate everything they’ve been part of — and there’s good work ahead that we’d like Steveston to share in.”

About the Steveston Historical Society

Founded in 1976, the Steveston Historical Society operates the Steveston Museum and Post Office and the Steveston Japanese Canadian Museum in the heart of Steveston Village. Through the museum, its archives and community programs, the Society preserves and shares the history of Steveston including its fishing, farming and cannery heritage and the many communities that have shaped the village. Follow on Instagram for updates.

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