The history of Garry Point Park in British Columbia

A Coastal Gem at the Edge of the Fraser

At the western edge of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, where the Fraser River meets the Strait of Georgia, lies Garry Point Park — a windswept expanse of meadows, beaches, and sky.
This scenic park is not only a favorite spot for locals and visitors but also a site deeply rooted in the province’s maritime and agricultural history.
Its open fields, salty air, and panoramic sunsets capture the spirit of coastal British Columbia — wild, free, and enduring.

Early Indigenous Presence

Long before European settlement, the land now known as Garry Point was part of the traditional territory of the Musqueam First Nation.
For generations, Indigenous peoples fished the Fraser’s waters and gathered food along its tidal flats.
This area was a place of sustenance and connection — a vital link between the river and the sea.
Even today, traces of this ancient relationship remain in the rhythms of the tides and the stories carried by the wind.

The Arrival of Settlers and the Fishing Era

By the mid-19th century, European settlers began to arrive in the region, drawn by fertile soils and abundant fish stocks.
The nearby village of Steveston, just east of Garry Point, quickly became a thriving hub of salmon canneries and boatyards.
Fishing vessels lined the riverbanks, and Japanese Canadian families played a vital role in the development of the industry.
Garry Point, then an undeveloped stretch of land, stood as both a lookout and a working space for fishermen heading out to the Strait.

The Cannery Legacy

The growth of Steveston’s canning industry from the 1880s to the 1940s defined the region’s economy.
The shoreline near Garry Point Park British Columbia buzzed with activity — nets drying in the sun, steam whistles echoing across the water, and workers loading fish barrels onto rail cars.
Though the canneries eventually closed, their legacy lives on through the heritage buildings of Steveston Village and the cultural memory preserved within the park.
Garry Point remains a quiet witness to those industrious decades that built a community by the river.

Transformation into a Public Park

By the late 20th century, the City of Richmond recognized the site’s potential as a public space.
In the 1980s, Garry Point Park was officially developed, transforming former industrial and open lands into a waterfront park.
Walking trails, viewing points, and picnic areas were carefully designed to highlight the park’s natural beauty and historical context.
The park opened as a space where visitors could reconnect with nature while remembering the people who shaped the land and waters before them.

Nature, Wind, and Wide Horizons

Unlike manicured city parks, Garry Point Park British Columbia retains a raw, natural character.
The vast grassy fields and coastal vegetation reflect the openness of the Fraser delta, while the steady wind attracts kite flyers from all over the region.
From its shores, one can see the Gulf Islands to the west and the mountains framing Vancouver to the north.
It’s a place where landscape and light meet — constantly changing, endlessly inspiring.

A Place of Reflection and Memory

Within the park stands the Kuno Garden, a Japanese-style memorial created to honor the Japanese Canadian fishing families who once lived and worked in Steveston.
Its delicate design contrasts beautifully with the wildness of the surrounding land, offering a peaceful place for reflection.
The garden is a poignant reminder of the resilience and contributions of those whose lives were forever changed by wartime displacement.
Together, the park and garden weave a narrative of remembrance and renewal.

Cultural and Community Connections

Today, Garry Point Park is home to local festivals, seasonal kite events, and quiet walks at dusk.
It has become both a cultural gathering space and a natural sanctuary for residents of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
Whether for a family picnic, a stroll through the sea grass, or a moment of solitude by the water, the park embodies the West Coast’s harmony between land, people, and sea.
It’s as much a living park as it is a living story.

In Reflection

The history of Garry Point Park in British Columbia is a journey from working waterfront to tranquil refuge.
It honors Indigenous heritage, celebrates the fishing legacy of Steveston, and preserves the open beauty of the Fraser River delta.
To walk its paths is to trace the layered history of British Columbia — from industry to peace, from toil to tranquility.
Garry Point Park stands as a timeless reminder that even the busiest shores can find calm in the wind.