[BCMA] Media release: Saving the Stories of BC's Fishing History

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

[cid:27bb377b-afa9-4c59-83df-b1ce30687653]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Saving the Stories of BC's Fishing History



RICHMOND, BC - January 30, 2017:  The Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society is renewing its efforts to save the stories of Canada's West Coast fishing industry. After a break of many years, the Society is again actively collecting stories from people who played a role in BC's industry and for the first time, making them publicly available online.



With support from the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Society is recruiting and training a team of volunteer interviewers to speak to seniors who fished commercially, worked in a cannery, or otherwise played a role in the fishing industry. These interviews will be digitally recorded and made available to the public through a new online database.



Executive Director, Rebecca Clarke commented, "We are very pleased to be able to connect with people who have contributed to one of Canada's most significant industries. The fishing industry has changed so much and it's important to save the stories of the men and women who spent years of their life working in it. We want to make sure their stories are available for future generations to understand what it was like."



"The Government of Canada is proud to support organizations like the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society through the New Horizons for Seniors Program," said Joe Peschisolido, MP for Steveston - Richmond East, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. "The Society's timely oral history project will help preserve for generations to come the memories and stories of people who worked in the westcoast fishing industry."



The Society launched this oral history project this year and will continue collecting stories for years to come. Look for the online database in Spring 2017 with future interviews to be added regularly.



Interested in participating? The Society is looking for volunteers to help collect interviews, and for people who worked in the fishing industry and are willing to share their story. For more information about the project, or to volunteer, please contact Collections Manager, Heidi Rampfl at Heidi.rampfl at gogcannery.org or 604-664-9007.



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The Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society's mission is to preserve, present and promote Canada's West Coast fishing history. The Society operates the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site on behalf of Parks Canada. Location: 12138 Fourth Avenue at Moncton, Richmond (Steveston Village). Hours: Open daily, year round from 10am-5pm. Tel: 604.664.9009   Celebrating #Canada150 with free regular admission in 2017.  www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.org<http://www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.org/>



For media information please contact:

Mimi Horita, Marketing & Visitor Services Manager, 604.664.9006  mimi.horita at gogcannery.org
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