2026 World Ocean Day Celebration – The Ocean and Us
Celebrate World Ocean Day at the Cannery as we come together to explore “The Ocean and Us”! Join us for this free public event celebrating our oceans and the diversity of communities connected to the water. Coinciding with Doors Open Richmond and Steveston’s annual Spot Prawn Day, join us for interactive programming, activities, and presentations, including the return of gytotaku art print workshops with Japanese Canadian artist Paula Nishikawara.

But that’s not all! This year’s event features even more exciting activities inside the Museum, with free admission to the site for all visitors! Visit the OceanWise Sea Dome for an unforgettable 360 degree video experience, and visit the Cannery Kids Corner for special presentations from Parks Canada on beachcombing and the treasures the ocean shares with us. Outside the Cannery, Paula’s workshops will connect you with real fish as you learn a traditional Japanese and Japanese Canadian artform, and a live art demonstration will share the creation of an all-new legacy art piece depicting the cultural connections between local communities and the ocean.

On top of all of that, our annual community outreach expo will return to share a variety of maritime-focused community stories, experiences, and traditions from Steveston and beyond! Join us for a day celebrating maritime traditions, cultural practices, history, and connection as we honour World Oceans Day 2026!

Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: all day!

Cannery opens at 10:00am and closes at 5:00pm
Outreach Expo and special activities run between 11:00am-4:00pm
Location: Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, 12138 Fourth Avenue, Richmond, BC

Cost: FREE!

What to Expect:
Celebrating “The Ocean and Us”, get ready for a wide range of activities, workshops, presentations, and art demonstrations featuring the many ways that we have connected, and still do connect, to our oceans and waterways. Experiences include:

– gyotaku fish printing workshops with Paula Nishikawara
– Ocean Wise Sea Dome experience
– Interactive beachcombing presentations from Parks Canada
– Live creation of a new piece of art for the Cannery
= Community outreach from local historical sites and maritime organizations
– FREE access to the Cannery museum
– Sneak peek access to the Cannery’s upcoming Fish Tales community recipe book
– and more!