Opening of the Seine Net Loft Building at Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site of Canada - Steveston Village, BC

Opening of the Seine Net Loft Building

Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site of Canada Steveston Village

Voices of Britannia: The People, The stories, and the Future - Community engagement exhibit project  at Seine Net Loft

The Opening of The Seine Net Loft Building at Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site of Canada was celebrated last Thursday September 26, 2013 with live music, self-guided tours, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Seine Net Loft is a significant part of historic Steveston's "Cannery Row", which included 15 canneries stretched along the Steveston waterfront between today's Garry Point Park and London Heritage Farm.

Information from the brochure: 

"Net lofts like this building were constructed at cannery sites all along the Steveston waterfront to store and repair fishing nets. Their location on pilings over the water made it easy for fishermen to load and unload their nets directly from their boats. The building's size and cavernous interiors were designed to enable large cotton nets to be hung up to dry.

This Seine Net Loft was built in 1954-1955 by the Anglo-British Columbia Packing Company as part of the Phoenix Cannery complex, and was the last building of its type to be constructed specifically for the fishing industry..... In 2012-2013 the City of Richmond, with the support of Western Economic Diversification Canada, undertook a restoration project that would allow the community full access to this historically significant waterfront structure. 

Like many industrial buildings on the waterfront, the Seine Net Loft has served many purposes in its 58-year history. The completion of this project has opened the door for the next phase of the building's life; a multi-purpose community gathering space for programs, exhibits and events."

For hours of operation and more information about The Seine Net Loft  visit: Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site website.

We want to thank Loren Slye president of the Steveston Historical Society for the invitation to the Grand opening of the Seine Net Loft building, and also Steveston Villager Artist Carmen Keitsch for the invitation and the guided tour in Steveston .

Richmond Mayor Malcom Brodie at the Grand Opening of the Seine Net Loft Building at Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site of Canada

 Grand Opening of the Seine Net Loft Building at Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site of Canada

 Loren Slye President of the Steveston Historical Society at the Grand Opening of the Seine Net Loft Building at Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site of Canada

 Grand Opening of the Seine Net Loft Building at Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site of Canada

 Grand Opening of the Seine Net Loft Building at Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site of Canada

Voices of Britannia: The People, The stories, and the Future - Community engagement exhibit project  at Seine Net Loft

Voices of Britannia: The People, The stories, and the Future

"Community engagement exhibit project  at Seine Net Loft designed to gather and reveal the voice of the community by creating opportunities for visitors and community members to share their memories and visions of Britannia."

Opening of the Seine Net Loft Building, a set on Flickr.

Opening of the Seine Net Loft Building at Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site of Canada.
Richmond, BC
September 26,2013