The history of Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site in British Columbia, Canada

A Living Memory by the Fraser River

Along the quiet banks of the Fraser River in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, stands the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site — a rare and beautifully preserved reminder of the province’s maritime past.
Here, weathered wooden buildings, old docks, and restored fishing sheds tell the story of a community built on the rhythms of the sea.
Once a bustling industrial hub, today it serves as a living museum, preserving the legacy of those who lived and worked along the river’s edge.

From Cannery to Shipyard

The site’s history began in 1889, when the Britannia Cannery opened to process the salmon that poured in from the Fraser each season.
Japanese, Chinese, Indigenous, and European workers labored side by side in the noisy, fragrant atmosphere of the canning lines.
After the cannery closed, the property was converted into a shipyard in the early 1900s, becoming a center for building and repairing wooden fishing boats.
The Britannia Shipyards soon became an essential part of the local fishing industry that defined Richmond’s waterfront life.

A Multicultural Waterfront Community

What made the Britannia Shipyards unique was not only its industry but its people.
Workers and their families lived in simple bunkhouses along the river, forming a close-knit, multicultural community.
Japanese Canadian fishermen, Chinese cannery hands, Indigenous laborers, and European settlers all shared this space, contributing to the evolving story of British Columbia, Canada.
Their perseverance and cooperation remain central to the site’s identity — a testament to the province’s diverse roots.

Hardship and Decline

The prosperity of the early 20th century could not last forever.
By the 1930s, changes in fishing regulations and declining salmon stocks began to take their toll.
World War II brought further tragedy when Japanese Canadian families were forcibly removed from the coast, leaving homes and boats behind.
The shipyards slowly fell silent, and for decades the buildings stood weathered and forgotten, fading into the tidal landscape.

Restoration and Renewal

In the late 20th century, the City of Richmond and local heritage organizations began a massive effort to restore the Britannia Shipyards.
Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1992, it was carefully reconstructed using original materials and techniques.
The restoration honored not only the physical structures but also the multicultural legacy of the community that once thrived there.
Today, the shipyards serve as a powerful example of heritage conservation done with authenticity and respect.

A Window into Coastal History

Visitors walking through Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site can step into a different century.
Historic buildings such as the Murakami House, the Chinese Bunkhouse, and the Boatworks building tell deeply human stories of labor, resilience, and adaptation.
Exhibits, guided tours, and community events bring the site to life, connecting modern visitors to the maritime traditions that helped shape Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
Each structure stands as both artifact and storyteller — a bridge between past and present.

In Reflection

The history of the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site in British Columbia, Canada, is one of endurance, diversity, and rediscovery.
From its beginnings as a salmon cannery to its rebirth as a national treasure, it reflects the soul of a province built by the river and the sea.
To wander its boardwalks is to walk through time — where the scent of cedar, the sound of tide, and the stories of its people still linger in the air.
A place where history breathes, and the past continues to guide the present.