Steveston’s Finn Slough. Shanty slum or quaint fishing village?
Finn Slough:
We biked to Finn Slough last Thursday. It’s located at the end of No. 4 Road about six clicks from Steveston. Depending on what you read or who you talk to, it’s either a quaint little fishing village or a bunch of degenerates squatting on a Richmond waterway. Personally, I think it’s quite charming–a collection of eccentric looking stilted houses, beached boats, ancient fishnet shacks and house boats that move up and down with the tide.
The rickety wooden bridge that leads to a dozen or so homes on the Gilmour Island side of the water has a cross at your own risk warning and a bulletin board with some history of the area as well as a petition to keep it.
The settlement has existed there for the past 100 plus years, peaked at 70 households in the 1940s and ‘50s and now has about 30 people living there. Three are descendants from the founding Finns, immigrant fishermen and women who settled here in the 1880s. Some still fish, but most are an assortment of actors, artists and musicians who live in homes that range from around 400 square feet to just under a thousand.
Finn Slough claims to be the last of what were once dozens of fishing shantytowns that dotted the shore of the Fraser River, and it has a great back story that’s been going on for about two decades. There’s the history of the area, the back-to-the-landers, the evil property developer from back east who wants to pave over the shanty town with condos and a park, and a few levels of government that would rather fill pot holes than be caught up in this drama. Ironically it’s the red tape that seems to be the saviour in this story.
There is the feel of a movie set, and obviously Hollywood thought so to, because last June they filmed a few scenes from Godzilla: “A giant radioactive monster called Godzilla awakens from its slumber to wreak destruction on its creators.” Really it wasn’t Godzilla that wreaked destruction on Finn Slough, just time.
If you haven’t been out here, it’s a great bike ride from Steveston village along the South Dyke trail. You bike through the Britannia Shipyards, past the 1890s London Heritage Farm and if you keep going past Finn Slough you wind up along the trails of Horseshoe Slough where London Drugs have its headquarters.
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13 comments on “Steveston’s Finn Slough”
Hi Eve,
This is a wonderful article. The next time you are in this neighbourhood, stop by. My husband and I own one of the small farms nearly at 9651 Finn Road.
All the best,
Teresa
Teresa I would love that. And same back at you if you’re in North Van – no farm but we have some great walks.
[…] Finn Slough represents a rare glimpse into a history and a way of life that has been lost to most urbanites living in a developed nation like Canada. There is a palpable sense of connection to be felt in a rare and unlikely place like Finn Slough — a connection to the land and the sea and deep time. Each home is essentially handmade, built in place to compliment and co-exist with its surroundings. That co-existence has likely not been peaceful, for nature can be cruel — but the village has adapted to change. Spend a few moments contemplating existence on the boardwalk in Finn Slough and you’ll surely feel the weight and heft of history in this place — even without knowing any of the specifics. […]
Thank you for sharing this interesting story Eve
Glad you enjoyed it Dale! Time for me to revisit it, love Finn Slough
Hi Eve!
I cycled past Finn Slough yesterday along with 4 friends and was amazed to see this small historic community I never knew about, which prompted me to search the Web to see if there was any info on it. Voila! I came across your article published 7 years ago! Thank you! I would love to see an update on this historic, little known site!
[…] Finn Slough […]
Very interesting. I remember this place
I lived in a net loft on Finn Slough 1972 .
It was surrounded by strawberry fields
Only a few folks lived there back then .
The tides ruled and it was off the grid .
I found it very romantic …
Rick
Hi Eve, Loved your article in regards to Finn Slough. We go by pretty often, such a great place
Thanks Rick, glad you enjoyed the story!
Go by Finn Slough quite regularly Great place to see. We really enjoy seeing it.
[…] squatters were part of a long tradition of settlements such as Crabtown in North Burnaby, and Finn Slough in Steveston. On the North Shore, the squatter community stretched from what’s now called Cates […]