Photos by Don Fennell
Multiculturalism may be a modern buzzword,
but it has been a reality since the arrival of the first settlers.
During the community’s formative years over a
century ago, folks from throughout the world contributed unique customs and
traditions that helped to shape their new home.
With immigration, many cultures joined the
Musqueam already here since before written history. The blending of nations
offered many challenges and opportunities, of which we catch a glimpse thanks
to the student actors.
“I didn’t know that back in the day it was
(already) really diverse,” says Vince Bernales, a Grade 12 student at Hugh
McRoberts secondary who takes on the role of Ollie in this summer’s Steveston
Alive! Walking Tour Vignettes. “There were a lot of different communities,
especially from around the world that helped build Steveston like the Chinese
people helping to build dikes, the Europeans flood gates, and the Japanese
families fixing boats.”
Portraying Oillie’s sibling Mika, Caroline
Tang says it’s nice to see more of Steveston than meets the eye.
“There’s so much history that’s interesting,
and the vignettes bring out the interesting quirks you probably wouldn’t notice
just walking around,” she says.
Both relate well to their characters. As the
older of the siblings, Ollie is always looking out for Mika. That’s also true,
Bernales says, with his real-life younger brother. And in Mika, Tang sees a
spitfire who wants to get things done andé “check for herself.”
“I thought women then were a little more soft
spoken and shy,” Tang says.
This is the second year the young actors have
been a part of the walking tour vignettes. Their drama teacher encouraged them
to try out. But while Bernales had considerable on-stage experience since Grade
8, Tang worked mostly back stage before emerging from the shadows. Now,
although both have chosen very different career paths—Bernales will be studying
bio-medical engineering and Tang biology with the intent of becoming a teacher—they
can’t imagine their lives going forward won’t also include acting.
“Performing arts is something you have to see
to believe. It’s so engaging,” says Tang. “We have so much opportunity for
creativity that it’s going to be different every time.”
Written (alongside a heritage advisor) and
directed by award-winning playwright and McRoberts alumni Andrew Wade. He plays
the conductor. The historical vignettes use actual locations as settings for
each brief play, buildings that were here in 1917.
There are five vignettes total that involve
eight characters imagined from life 100 years ago, explains Steveston
Historical Society executive director Sarah Glen. “Stories address issues such
as the decline in salmon population after the Hell’s Gate landslide, women
winning the right to vote, the effect of the First World War on the community;
alongside more personal tales of romance, friendship and perseverance.”
The Steveston Alive! WalkingTour Vignettes are performed Saturdays at 1 and 3 p.m. in June and July, and are about an hour long and just over a kilometre in length. Tickets are $10, and free to kids 12 and under. The program is made possible through the support of GF Financial and the City of Richmond. For information visit richmond.ca/stevestonmuseum.
Apr-23-2019
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 really diverse,” says Vince Bernales, a Grade 12 student at Hugh
McRoberts secondary who takes on the role of Ollie in this summer’s Steveston
Alive! Walking Tour Vignettes. “There were a lot of different communities,
especially from around the world that helped build Steveston like the Chinese
people helping to build dikes, the Europeans flood gates, and the Japanese
families fixing boats.”
Portraying Oillie’s sibling Mika, Caroline
Tang says it’s nice to see more of Steveston than meets the eye.
“There’s so much history that’s interesting,
and the vignettes bring out the interesting quirks you probably wouldn’t notice
just walking around,” she says.
Both relate well to their characters. As the
older of the siblings, Ollie is always looking out for Mika. That’s also true,
Bernales says, with his real-life younger brother. And in Mika, Tang sees a
spitfire who wants to get things done andé “check for herself.”
“I thought women then were a little more soft
spoken and shy,” Tang says.
This is the second year the young actors have
been a part of the walking tour vignettes. Their drama teacher encouraged them
to try out. But while Bernales had considerable on-stage experience since Grade
8, Tang worked mostly back stage before emerging from the shadows. Now,
although both have chosen very different career paths—Bernales will be studying
bio-medical engineering and Tang biology with the intent of becoming a teacher—they
can’t imagine their lives going forward won’t also include acting.
“Performing arts is something you have to see
to believe. It’s so engaging,” says Tang. “We have so much opportunity for
creativity that it’s going to be different every time.”
Written (alongside a heritage advisor) and
directed by award-winning playwright and McRoberts alumni Andrew Wade. He plays
the conductor. The historical vignettes use actual locations as settings for
each brief play, buildings that were here in 1917.
There are five vignettes total that involve
eight characters imagined from life 100 years ago, explains Steveston
Historical Society executive director Sarah Glen. “Stories address issues such
as the decline in salmon population after the Hell’s Gate landslide, women
winning the right to vote, the effect of the First World War on the community;
alongside more personal tales of romance, friendship and perseverance.”
The Steveston Alive! WalkingTour Vignettes are performed Saturdays at 1
and 3 p.m. in June and July, and are about an hour long and just over a
kilometre in length. Tickets are $10, and free to kids 12 and under. The
program is made possible through the support of GF Financial and the City
of Richmond. For information visit richmond.ca/stevestonmuseum.
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