Our second day in Vancouver, and we took advantage of the sunshine to learn more about the city’s history. After our morning briefing, part of the team set off towards the Discovery Centre at Canada Place to give presentations about the Canada C3 journey. Thank you to everyone who came out to learn more about our voyage – we enjoyed meeting you and answering your questions. Our first group of participants made their way to the Ross Street Sikh Temple, where they heard about the Komogata Maru Incident of 1914. Harminder Pal Singh, the head priest of the temple, told our participants about the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru, which was denied entry into Vancouver in 1914. The 376 passengers from India on board were forced to turn back – a tragic example of Canada’s exclusion laws from the early 20th century. Another group learned about CityStudio Vancouver, an innovation hub where city staff, students, and community co-create experimental projects to make Vancouver more sustainable, liveable and joyful. We then gathered at the Vancouver Maritime Museum, where we learned more about the famous RCMP St. Roch. The St. Roch was the first vessel to sail the Northwest Passage from west to east (1940-1942), the first to complete the passage in one season (1944), and the first to circumnavigate North America. Built in British Columbia, named after a parish in Quebec, captained by a Norwegian immigrant, crewed by farm boys from across the country, and helped by the Inuit, the St. Roch is a great Canadian ship with a great Canadian story. After exploring the museum, we made our way to Granville Island, where a play featuring leg 2 participant Andrea Menard was on the schedule! Andrea stars in Thanks For Giving, written and directed by Governor General award-winning Indigenous playwright, Kevin Loring, the first Artistic Director of Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre. We were thrilled to see Andrea, and the many other former participants that took time to come visit the Canada C3 ship throughout our time in Vancouver.
