GULF OF GEORGIA CANNERY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Apr 1 GULF OF GEORGIA CANNERY 2005 SEASON OPENS
Apr 2 GRAND OPENING of GOG new exhibit: "Uprooted: A Journey of Japanese-Canadian Fishing Families".
April 23 2-4pm DOUBLE BOOK LAUNCH: Watari-Dori (Birds of Passage) –
Moe Yesaki and Stand By, Let ‘er Go! – Robert Karliner & S.C. Heal
May 6 Workshop performance of "The Gull" a contemporary Japanese Noh play about two fishermen returning to Steveston.
Oct. 16 Performace of Vancouver Opera's "Naomi's Road" a 45 minute opera dealing with the internment of Japanese-Canadians in WWII.
Oct 29 & 30, Ghosts of the Fraser - Haunted Halloween Tours at the Cannery

The Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society relies on our members to help operate the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, and to offer innovative and exciting programming. By becoming a CORPORATE MEMBER you help us achieve these goals. Please support Richmond’s most popular destination.

Your membership includes:
· Unlimited free visits to the site (for 2 people at any one time)
· Brochure racking privileges in our lobby ( we had almost 24,000 visitors in 2004)
· 20% off the purchases at the Cannery Store
· “Cannery Currents” newsletter 4 times a year
· An ad once a year in “Cannery Currents”
· 6 invitations to Special Member Events (for 2 people each, on day of event)
· Voting privileges at Annual General Meeting

Corporate membership is only $50 for a full year (tax receipt provided and Certificate to hang in your business). Call Rob at 604.664.9134 for more details or to have an invoice sent, email at: rob.hart@pc.gc.ca Ask about our Regular individual Memberships too!

Folk Night - The Steveston Folk group offers a mixture of Celtic, Folk and Blues tunes every third Thursday of each month from 8:00-10:00pm in the Murakami boatworks building.

Silver Ann Restoration - Britannia volunteers will be involved in a project to restore the Silver Ann. This 33-foot gill-netter was the last boat constructed on the site in 1969. Volunteers will be needed for all phases of the restoration and operation of the boat. Please call 604-718-8050 to participate in this exciting project. Training will be provided

Skimboard Workshops - Design, build and paint your own skimboard. This simple woodworking project will give you hours of fun playing on the beach and in the waves.

Richmond Maritime Festival - Second annual Richmond Maritime Festival featuring heritage boats, maritime displays, demonstrations, activities both on and off the water. Co-sponsored by the Britannia Heritage Shipyard Advisory Board and the Steveston Rotary Club. August 19-21.

STEVESTON MUSEUM AND POST OFFICE

The Steveston Museum Society would like to remind all businesses and residents about the services they offer. Don’t forget when you are doing your holiday mailing that you buy your stamps and send your parcels through the Steveston Post Office. The Post Office is run by the Society and all proceeds are used to operate the Museum. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MUSEUM.

The Steveston Museum has completed a history exhibit called "STEVESTON RECOLLECTIONS: HISTORY OF A VILLAGE" which is now available online in the Community Memories program of the Virtual Museum of Canada website. It includes 197 pictures and text in a chronology of Steveston from its beginning to the Tall Ships Festival in 2002. It was done entirely by the local museum volunteers for the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN), an agency of the federal Department of Canadian Heritage. Everything you need to know about the village history at your fingertips. (click here).

LONDON HERITAGE FARM

We are having an outdoor garage sale at London Farm on April 17 from 10 - 4. Vendor tables are available for $15 each by calling London Farm at 271-5220 or emailing londonhf@telus.net We will have about 30 tables and a concession stand.

If you would like to book a table, please email or phone the office (Wednesday, Thursday or Friday between 9 and 4:30).

Donations may be left at the Farm on Friday, April 15 or Saturday, April 16 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Sunday morning before 10 a.m.

London Heritage Farm is located in Richmond on Dyke Road between Gilbert and #2 Road, facing the scenic Fraser River with it’s abundance of waterfowl and marine traffic. London Farm is an 1880’s fully restored and furnished heritage farm house with a tea room and gift shop.

The house, tearoom and gift shop is open to the public year round with the exception of January when the house is closed for restorative work. From September to the end of June we are open Wednesday and Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5:00 p.m., and during July and August we are open Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Office hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The grounds are open year round from dawn till dusk.

Our own blend of London Lady Tea with home-made scones, butter and London Farm jam or jelly, home-made cookies and a dessert square is served in our elegant tea room using bone-china tea cups and tea pots for $6.00 per person. London Lady Tea, scone mix, jams, jellies, cookie mixes, and work by local artisans are available in our gift shop. Self-guided tours may be taken through the house or guided tours may be arranged.

Surrounded by gardens, the house is situated on 4+ acres of land, on its original site. Visitors may stroll through the heritage gardens filled with bulbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs, vines, berries, herbs, rose gardens and fruit trees, including the 100 year old pear trees, or enjoy a picnic in the gazebo area.

Visitors to London Farm can also see bee hives, Blue Orchard Mason Bee houses (our early pollinators), chickens, allotment gardens, a pond (awaiting restoration), and the reconstructed Spragg family barn, which houses the heritage hand tool museum, outdoor implement display and vintage farm machinery.

The London Heritage Farm Society is a non-profit society whose members have undertaken the stewardship of London Farm.

RICHMOND BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

Meeting the second Tuesday of every month, except July and August, at 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm in the Kinsman Pavilion at the Richmond Nature Park, No. 5 Road and Westminster Highway. Meet local beekeepers, and exchange information about beekeeping, equipment, honey, bee pests and treatments. Phone Gerhart Pahl 604-272-4696 for more details."

THE ROTARY CLUB OF STEVESTON

Is pleased to advise the 4th annual Steveston Seafood & Wine Festival , Friday April 29th 2005, to be held at the Historic Gulf of Georgia Cannery is now officially sold out. Many thanks to the participants and the various sponsors for their support of the Rotary Club’s major fundraiser for 2005.

The Rotary Club of Steveston, the Steveston Harbour Authority, the City of Richmond and the Richmond RCMP are pleased to announce the 3rd annual “Jimmy Ng Memorial Road Hockey Tournament”. The event will run Saturday and Sunday May 28th and 29th. Proceeds from this year’s event will go toward the Richmond RCMP’s “D.A.R.E.” program in the local schools.

Rick Alder , W 253-5577, C 464-8634

TREASURER COTTAGE THRIFT STORE

Is recruiting mature men and women to work with our Volunteer Team! We solicit, sort, price and sell donated clothing, books, household items and small items of furniture, and we emphasize having fun!! We are a voluntary, non-profit thrift store, and the proceeds of our work benefit the SOS Children’s Village serving BC children.

If you can spare 4 to 6 hours per week to help us we would like to talk to you. Please call Barb at 604-274-8866

Barbara High - Manager, Treasure Cottage 604 274 8866, SOS Children's Village BC providing foster children a place they can call home!

PS. Come find a treasure at the Treasure Cottage Thrift Store. Open 7 days a week and we'd love to see you! www.sos-bc.org

BIKE LANE ENCOURAGES GREEN TRAVEL, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Richmond - The extension of the bike lane north on Garden City Road will help encourage commuters to get out of their cars and get on their bikes, says Richmond MLAs Linda Reid and Greg Halsey-Brandt.

"Cycling is becoming more and more popular as a way from getting to point A to point B," said Reid. "Safety is a concern for bikers so I'm pleased that we can construct this bike lane between Capstan Way and Sea Island Way to keep them off the busy street."

Municipalities across British Columbia have more opportunities to create new cycling transportation routes as the result of new provincial government funding under the Cycling Infrastructure Partnerships Program.

"We're matching Richmond's contribution to create the bike lane, a funding grant of $72,650 towards the total funding cost of $145,300," said Halsey-Brandt. "This is another example of ways our government is committed to sustainable environmental management and cleaner transportation options."

"Richmond City Council recognizes the importance of encouraging bicycle travel in Richmond, and is pleased the Province is working in partnership with the City on this beneficial community initiative," says Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "This project will not only enhance our environment and the City's cycling network, but will also minimize potential conflicts between vehicles and cyclists on Garden City Road."

The Province is dedicating $2 million over two years to the CIPP, which is a cost-shared program between the province and municipal and regional governments to build new cycling routes that link existing modes of alternative transit

SERVICES FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN EXPANDING IN RICHMOND

Richmond – Women and children dealing with violence will benefit from an increase in provincial funding for services in Richmond, MLAs Linda Reid, Greg Halsey-Brandt and Geoff Plant announced today.

“This is the most significant increase in funding for these programs in a decade,” said Reid. “The organizations providing services will be able to utilize these additional funds to help those most in need and help them get back on their feet.”

“Not only is there an increase of funds to enhance the services provided by existing facilities like Chimo Crisis Services, but we’re also seeing new a service in Richmond,” said Halsey-Brandt. “$35,000 in new funds will be available for an outreach support service as well as multicultural support services.”

A Request for Proposal will be posted on the BC Bid Website March 24.

This new funding is part of a $12.5 million increase province-wide for Stopping the Violence programs, bringing total funding to $45.5 million annually. The new funding goes into effect April 1st.

“Chimo provides a vital service in our community and they’ll be receiving a funding increase of $100,764 to further their ability to help women and children who need it,” said Plant. “The Transition House will expand the 24 hour a day accessibility and will be able to increase support staff for children.”

$53,650 will be used for the 24/7 access expansion, $37,500 to increase counselling for children who witness abuse and $9,614 will fund a child support worker in the Transition House. The increase takes annual funding for Chimo to $682,910.

“This is the most significant funding increase for these programs in more than ten years,” said Wendy McMahon, Minister of State for Women’s and Seniors’ Services. “Our government has always been committed to making sure women and their children have a safe place to turn. This new funding will strengthen supports in communities around British Columbia.”

Funding to make Terra Nova Park a reality, Halsey-Brandt

Richmond – $2 million in grants from the province’s Community Development Infrastructure initiative will be directed to develop Terra Nova Rural Park, announced Richmond-Centre MLA Greg Halsey-Brandt and Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie.

“Terra Nova protects environmental diversity on our riverfront, and reminds us of Richmond’s natural, rural heritage,” said Halsey-Brandt. “The City of Richmond is going to use the grant to improve and restore the beautiful, sixty-three acre park.”

Details of the project are:

“The City began to acquire property along the edges of Sturgeon Banks and the middle arm of the Fraser River at Terra Nova in the mid-1990s," said Brodie. "Now in a City-Provincial funding partnership, we can finally fulfil our vision for the sixty-three acres, which includes a variety of environmental and heritage uses.”

Announced by the Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development through supplemental estimates to the 2004/05 budget, the $66 million Community Development Initiative provides up to two-thirds funding for significant community infrastructure projects around BC The projects selected for funding come from proposals submitted to government under the Canada/BC Infrastructure Program and the Western Economic Partnership Agreement.

A SPECIAL REQUEST FOR STEVESTON:

On August 19-21, 2005 I'll be participating in a very special event called The Weekend to End Breast Cancer.

Last year I walked 60 kilometres and raised almost $3.000. In total the walkers raised over 7 million for breast cancer research. Thanks to each and everyone of you for your support.

It was a hard journey, especially the first day - 32 kilometres and we had 3 1/2 hours of torrential rain. This year my arthritis in my left knee is much worse, but I consider it an honour to be able to participate in this event. My pain is nothing compared to this horrible disease - cancer.

I'll walk 60 kilometres over the course of one weekend with thousands of other women and men. The net proceeds will support breast cancer research, treatment, and services through BC Cancer Foundation.

In order to participate in this event I must raise $2,000. So I need your help again. Would you please consider making a donation? Use the link at the bottom of this email, and go visit my site - and please take the time to support me.

Please keep in mind how far I'm walking - and how hard I'll have to train.

According to the National Cancer Institute of Canada, approximately 20,500 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and about 5,400 will die from the disease. That's why I'm walking so far. To do something bold about breast cancer. I hope that you'll share this incredible adventure with me - by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sincerely,
Mardi Kelly

CLICK HERE to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support BC Cancer Foundation.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://va05.endcancer.ca/site/TR?px=1027094&fl=en_US&s_tafId=1010&pg=personal&fr_id=1000

Click here to view the team page for Save Our Breasts
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://va05.endcancer.ca/site/TR?team_id=3630&fl=en_US&s_tafId=1010&pg=team&fr_id=1000

THE STEVESTON COMMUNITY WEBSITE WELCOMES …….

Basic Nature: http://www.steveston.bc.ca/online/basicnature.html

Elves Embroidery: http://www.steveston.bc.ca/online/elvesembroidery.html

We can host a web page for your business also to advertise 24-7-365, just ask how! Very affordable (see below), sunor@steveston.bc.ca