Submitted by Cathy L., Heritage Interpreter

Everyone who visits Vancouver has either heard of, or heard, the Gastown Steam Whistle. Not to toot our own horn, but did you know that there is a louder, more majestic whistle in Steveston?

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the Cannery Whistle!

 

As our Steveston neighbours would be able to tell you, every day (barring any power failures, or freezing weather) at 10am, 12noon, and 5pm, this beautiful beast from Sunnyside Cannery bellows out compressed air. The whistle can be heard throughout Steveston village. It is used to signal opening, lunch time and closing at the museum.  In the ol’ canning days, it had a similar function but the “times” were very different back then! The whistle used to blow once at 8am when fishermen were allowed to put in their net, 12 noon for lunch, and 4:45pm so that workers could catch the 5 o’clock tram back to Vancouver.

So the next time you come down to the village, make sure you have your ears tuned to the impressive echo. Toot-da-loo!

Posted by m.horita

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