BC Packers’ History to be Presented Online
10 January 2007
The Department of Canadian Heritage, through the Canadian Culture Online Partnerships Fund, has awarded Richmond Museum and Heritage Services $106,853 for an online exhibit project entitled, “In Their Words: The Story of BC Packers.”
“The Partnerships Fund has provided a precedent setting opportunity for Richmond Museum and Heritage Services to partner with other stakeholders and develop an online exhibit that has such engaging cultural significance,” said Connie Baxter, Richmond Museum and Heritage Services Project Manager. “The BC Packers’ story, with its work force diversity, is truly reflective of the colourful and turbulent history of the West coast fishing industry, and therefore represents the development of this community, the province and the country”.
“Canada’s new government is proud to be part of a project that will inform British Columbians of their history and will help young people better understand the development of Richmond and other communities,” said the Honourable Beverley Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women.
Richmond Museum and Heritage Services will create an online exhibition that documents the history of BC Packers Ltd. through the voices of its workers. The project will explore the company’s development and impact upon the region’s culturally diverse communities. Utilizing oral, visual and textual resources, the stories of the First Nations, Japanese, Chinese, Indo-Canadian and European workers will be presented as one story. The project is being supported by numerous community partners, including the City of Richmond Archives, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery and School District Number 38.
This project will bring online little-known stories and experiences to Richmondites, British Columbians and Canadians. The Partnerships Fund seeks to connect Canadians with the riches of Canada’s heritage. It will provide a fun, educational and interactive website through which people can learn and experience life in a West Coast fishing and canning community. By working with the local school board and various repositories in the city, province and country, this project will provide a meaningful experience for users.
Work on the project began in late July 2006 and the project will be completed by March 31, 2007.
