[BCMA] Steveston Historical Society turns 50 — celebration July 26, colleagues welcome

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

Hello colleagues,

A milestone to share from Steveston: the Steveston Historical Society turns
50 this month. Founded in 1976 by volunteers working to save the village's
history — starting with the old post office building that became our museum
— the Society today operates the Steveston Museum and Post Office and the
Steveston Japanese Canadian Museum, in the former Japanese Fishermen's
Hospital.

We're celebrating on Sunday, July 26 with a free community afternoon in
Town Square Park, with many of our founding volunteers attending as guests
of honour. Colleagues in the region are very welcome — it would be a
pleasure to see you there.

For those who don't know me yet: I joined the Society as Executive Director
in June, supported by a multi-year investment from the City of Richmond,
after previous roles including the Vancouver Police Museum and the Grist
Mill at Keremeos. I'm looking forward to connecting with many of you in the
months ahead.

Press release with full details below.

Best regards,
Chris Mathieson
Executive Director, Steveston Historical Society
chris at historicsteveston.ca | (604) 238-8026 |
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://historicsteveston.ca&source=gmail&ust=1784742337066000&sa=E

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Steveston Historical Society Marks 50 Years with a Community Celebration in
Town Square Park

STEVESTON, B.C. — The Steveston Historical Society will celebrate its 50th
anniversary on Sunday, July 26 with a free community celebration in Town
Square Park, honouring the volunteers who founded the Society in 1976 and
set out to protect Steveston's history before much of it was lost. Everyone
is welcome; the park opens to the public at noon and festivities run until
5 p.m.

For five decades, the Society has been carried by community members who
gave their time — restoring and operating the Steveston Museum and Post
Office, gathering the stories of the village's fishing, farming and cannery
families, and keeping Steveston's past present as the community around it
changed. Many of the founders and earliest volunteers will be guests of
honour on the 26th.

The afternoon reflects the many communities that have shaped Steveston:
Japanese taiko drumming, Chinese calligraphy, gyotaku (traditional Japanese
fish printing) and Indigenous fry bread demonstrations, alongside live
music, children's activities and heritage walking performances by local
student actors. Community and heritage partners will host exhibits, and
several community projects are underway to mark the milestone, including a
commemorative mural by artist Mark Anderson.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie will officially open the celebration with remarks at 1
p.m., followed by the cutting of the anniversary cake.

What: Steveston Historical Society 50th Anniversary Celebration
When: Sunday, July 26, 2026 — park opens at noon; official opening 1 p.m.;
festivities to 5 p.m.
Where: Town Square Park, Steveston (3811 Moncton Street, Richmond, B.C.)
Cost: Free — all welcome

Contact: Chris Mathieson, Executive Director — chris at historicsteveston.ca
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