Historic and Picturesque Steveston

Steveston, Richmond BC, Canada - "History is all over the place".



This is one hackneyed phrase locals would readily describe Steveston Village, in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. As a photographer, I would like to add the adjective "picturesque".

While Steveston is replete with a colorful past, it is also abundant in beauty in the present. I love to read about history. But I am not one who is highly steeped in academic history. What I know of Steveston's history is just as good as anyone else's. Nonetheless, I am always ready to engage anyone into a lengthy discourse as to how charming and scenic the place is.

Indeed, a photographers delight.

I do not live in Steveston --- I mean, the historic village itself. But I happened to stay for quite sometime in a strata complex in its environs. Literally it was a stone's throw away from where I stayed. How I wish I could live there until I grow old and ugly, but being historic and beautiful place making it my permanent address is not for me a feasible economic and financial option.

A "historic fishing village" they say. It was once touted as the salmon capital of world where the fish was harvested in hundreds of tons. Canneries lined up along its shores. In the 1800's up to the early 1900's, it was the hub of a commercially important fishing and canning industry in North America. It drew a motley and multi-cultural denizens consisting mostly of early European settlers, Japanese, Chinese and First Nation people.

Today, that multi-cultural demographic makeup is still very visible. Mind you, there is still a lot of fishing going on right now though as not as massive, understandably, as it was in the 1800s. You can still shop for fresh produce in the fishers' market. Here I took some images of the fresh wares from the sea other than the renowned salmon.

The Board Walks : As today and as they were in the 1800s they remain a
fixture in the Steveston historic landscape. In the past when these
solid planks of hard wood serve to facilitate the transport of tons of
salmon harvest and the commute of fish industry workers, now mostly
tourists use the planks in their leisurely stroll.

Yes, you can still buy fresh today. This big one was
aesthetically presented by its fisherman cum
trader hence I trained my camera on it for a shot.

As a dynamic community, Steveston continues to evolve through time. However, its residents have a way of keeping its colorful history intact and translating them into a scenic and exquisite present.

Photography gear used :

Camera bodies : Nikon D90; Nikon D5000

Lens: Sigma 18-200 mm zoom