5 Best Sights in Richmond, Vancouver

Located at the mouth of the Fraser River in the historic fishing village of Steveston, this cannery grew from a single salmon canning line in 1894 to British Columbia's biggest salmon cannery—with 2.5 million cans packed annually until the 1930s. Through the years, production was impacted by the landslide at Hells Gate, the onset of the Depression, and World War II, when much of its activities turned to canning herring for wartime consumption by troops and civilians. Designated a Federal Heritage site in 1987, the cannery now operates as a west coast fishing industry museum with ongoing interpretive programs and tours. You can check out the canning line, learn more about BC's fishing industry, and explore the heritage of the various ethnic groups who worked on-site. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is a 35- to 40-minute drive from Downtown Vancouver. By public transit, take the Canada Line to Brighouse Station, then change to Bus 401, 402, or 407.

Now a flagship summer event and an experience unmatched anywhere else in Canada, the bustling Richmond Night Market has grown to include more than 100 Asian street food stalls, 250 retail booths, carnival rides, children's amusement area, and family-friendly entertainment. Just steps from the Canada Line's Bridgeport Station beside the River Rock Casino, the market is open nightly Friday to Sunday and holiday Mondays from end of April through mid-October. For those driving, there are more than 1,000 free parking spots available.

Linked to Steveston's historic waterfront, this 8-acre (3.7-hectare) park offers a rare glimpse of life within a once-thriving mix of canneries, boatyards, residences, and stores. Britannia Heritage Shipyard dates back to 1885 and is the oldest remaining shipyard structure on the Fraser River. Weathered to a silver-gray color by a century of exposure, many of the buildings are the last examples of their type on the entire coast. Several buildings have been restored. These include Murakami House, once the three-room home of the 11-member Murakami family; boatworks buildings; shipyard residences; stilt houses; the last surviving Chinese bunkhouse on the west coast; and a board-and-batten First Nations House similar to traditional 19th-century Coast Salish longhouses. Year-round programs include the restoration of wooden boats. 

You don't have to be a Buddhist to appreciate the intricate workmanship of traditional Chinese art and culture inside this magnificent Buddhist temple, one of the most exquisite examples of Chinese palatial architecture and second-largest Buddhist temple in North America. Amid the peace and tranquility, the temple holds regular Buddhist ceremonies, lectures, and meditation classes, and conducts tea ceremonies. There is also a renowned bonsai garden, resource library, and museum on the grounds, as well as a cafeteria offering Taste of Zen lunch service on Saturdays and Sundays. Because of the sacred nature of the temple, photography is restricted to outside areas. To reach the temple by public transit, take the Canada Line to Brighouse Station, then catch Bus 403 to the temple.

As a major wintering area for more than 260 species of birds, this bird sanctuary is busy year round with avian activity. Shorebirds start arriving mid-August, followed by northern waterfowl; bird sightings peak in November. Nesting takes place April through June; kids love seeing the goslings and ducklings. Birdseed is 50 cents. Located on Westham Island in Ladner across the Fraser River estuary from Steveston, it takes a bit of a loop route to get there. But rain or shine, there are always birds to see.