Steveston's Legacy (2009)

Norm Williams

Gulf of Georgia Cannery, 12138 Fourth Ave.

Area: Steveston
Location: At the entrance to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.

Materials: Bronze with brown patina

Program: Donation
Ownership: Civic
Sponsored By: Steveston High School Alumni Association

Description of Work

The artwork contains three figures in a typical scene from Steveston in the 30’s. An elderly fisherman sits on a mending bench, talking to a female Japanese cannery worker and a young dock worker on a coffee break. The life-sized bronze figures are at ground level, allowing for interaction and contemplation.

This tribute to Steveston's fishing industry workers was made possible with support from the Province of British Columbia, BC 150, Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society, Parks Canada, Steveston Harbour Authority, Steveston Community Society, Steveston High School Alumni Association, CUPE 394, the Greczmiel Family, Steveston Rotary Club and other individual contributors.

Artist Statement

Steveston's Legacy, designed by Norm Williams, was conceived as a Steveston Legacy project by the Steveston High School Alumni Association many years ago. The artwork is made up of three figures that represent a typical 1930’s fishing industry scenario on the docks. It consists of an older fisher sitting on a bench mending a net and telling a story to a young male dockworker and a cannery worker on her break. The intention is to represent the ethnic, gender, and age diversity of the industry pre-WWII. The life-size statue itself is cast bronze, is life size, 3-dimensional and is in a realism style that allows visitors to interact and easily understand the ‘story’.