Steveston Village offers a seaside escape for a slow-paced weekend

I found out about Steveston through the community at the UFV dorms and thought it would be a good place to explore on a Saturday. UFV housing hosts trips throughout the semester and this was the first one I participated in this spring. The Steveston trip was organized by the Campus Living Team and residents paid a $15 fee while guests paid $20 for the bus ride. The trip takes about an hour and a half through the countryside and while I did get car sick from the bus ride, I appreciated the fact that travel was arranged through the school and I didn’t have to spend money on gas. 

Steveston was founded in the 1880s, and was built on farming, fishing, and boatbuilding. It still has an active fishing community today, with the daily catch sold directly at the dock on Fisherman’s Wharf. Before European settlers arrived, the site was a centuries old summer fishing ground for First Nations. Steveston later attracted Japanese settlers who were drawn by the abundance of fish, especially salmon since the town is located at the mouth of the Fraser River. The community suffered financial loss during the Great Depression and World War II when Japanese residents were forcibly removed and placed in internment camps, but the village still managed to survive and is now recognized as a heritage site.

Today, Steveston is a quiet neighbourhood, at least before the spring and summer season, with many dining locations and small shops. The area is quieter in the off-season, but picks up from April through the summer months with events like whale watching and the fishing season. 

Steveston is worth visiting year-round for its food, shopping, and relaxed atmosphere. 

When I visited Steveston on a Saturday in mid-March the waterfront was full of families and dog-walkers enjoying the neighbourhood. I tried salmon and halibut at Dave’s Fish and Chips and it was some of the freshest and crispiest seafood I’ve ever had. I also browsed through the local shops and found interesting places like the Moncton Crafthouse jewelry shop that specializes in pearl jewelry, Nikaido Tea, a Japanese tea and stationary store, and the Steveston Bookstore, along with gift shops, cafes, and many ice cream shops and restaurants. 

Sometimes it’s therapeutic to take a break from school and visit the coast on a Saturday. If you want to explore shops and walk around with the smell of delicious food and feel the ocean breeze in early spring, Steveston Village is a lovely neighbourhood with activities for everyone year-round. Steveston is a low-key and relaxing place to visit if you have been stuck in a work and school grind and need a place for some relaxation and a little refreshing excursion.

Maria Sylvester

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