Cultivate Magazine is published annually by British Columbia Food & Beverage. The 2026 edition contains “The House That Smoked Oysters Built” by Rebecca Coleman about St. Jean’s Cannery in Nanaimo. Described as “the oldest and most successful fish-packing plant in British Columbia,” the Cannery has 60 years of history behind it. We know some of the story – founded by Armand St. Jean in the 1950s, in 2015 majority ownership was bought by five West Coast First Nations, the last salmon cannery on the West Coast, and Hall of Fame Inductee 2025 as part of the Rise Awards by BC Food and Beverage. All the details and great photos can be found on the BC Food & Beverage website.
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About the Author: Linda Peterat
Linda Peterat is Professor Emerita Curriculum Studies, UBC Vancouver. She writes articles on British Columbia ski history, 19th century historical figures and recently authored the book "From Denmark to the Cariboo" (Heritage House, 2022).