During Vancouver's early days, the canning and processing of fish, particularly salmon, played a large role in its development, as one of its main economic drivers. As early as 1870, canneries were popping up along the fraser river, providing work for many of Vancouver's immigrants. One such Cannery, the Celtic cannery, commenced operation in 1897, in what is now southlands. Along with many other canneries, It would recruit Japanese fishermen into what were known as 'cannery gangs', providing food and clothing for them, as well as a small income. Over time, these fishermen brought their families to Vancouver, and a Japanese setllement began to form along the fraser river. By the time celtic cannery closed, southlands was home to a vibrant Japanese fishing community, who called themselves 'Celtic Cannery'. In 1926, a new business, the celtic shipyards took the cannery's place. Despite the name, the company's main vocation was fishing, and it employed many Celtic Cannery residents, providing them with housing in return for their catch. Including a confectionary store, several mobile businesses, and a Japanese school, Celtic Cannery continued to thrive for another two decades as a close knit community. Sadly, it all came to an abrupt end when, during WWII, its residents were unjustly deported to internment camps. Almost overnight, thriving Japanese communities bacame barren streets and houses, and fishing boats that once provided for Celtic Shipyards lay abandoned on the fraser river. This property was never returned, and former Celtic Cannery residents started anew elsewhere after the war. Along with the B.C. Forest Maintenance depot, established 1941, Celtic Shipyards remained in operation untill 1981, building and repairing forest service vessels. It was the last wooden shipbuilding facility in the lower mainland. Afterwords, the land was purchased by the Musqueam first nation, who used its facilities to build ships untill 1994, and later developed it for residential use. Due to fires in 1949 and 1995, and redevelopment of the area, almost nothing from the area's rich heritage remains, save a carpentry shop, a machine shop, and a half built boat on a broken down dock (shown on the map).
To begin, go to the posted coordinates and walk along the eastbound trail (towards the river). Along this trail, there are six interpretive signs and one artifact, which you will need to collect information from to reveal the cache's final coordinates. The information you must find is as follows, in the order you'll find it on the trail:
A = (The date the aerial photo on the first sign was taken) - 1000
B = The number of boats named on the second sign
C = The number of asterisk (*) symbols on the third sign
D = The number of times the letter 'B' appears on the plaque on the winch
E = (The date the aerial photo on the first sign was taken) - ( The date the aerial photo on the fourth sign was taken)
F = The most common digit in the year Musqueam stopped using Celtic Shipyards to build ships
G = C + D + E
Finally, use these variables to reveal the final coordinates: N 49 B.A W 123 GD.EFC
Be careful, as the area is frequented by bees, and, as always, good luck, have fun!
First and second to find get a HUCKLEandtheSTALKER ribbon of honor.