WHERE history & nature meet.

ABOUT Cassiar Cannery

Located at the mouth of the Skeena River, only 25 minutes from Prince Rupert, Cassiar Cannery is surrounded by outstanding wilderness beauty and biodiversity in some of the most favoured fishing grounds in BC.

For the thousands of residents over Cassiar’s history it is a home, a job, a way of life – of friends, family and fond memories. It was a place of big buildings, noise, activity and as many recall ‘the smell of money’. A fast current from the mighty Skeena River coupled with big tides pushed and pulled the boats up Inverness Passage to the mouth of the Skeena and back again. There were boats everywhere. There were salmon.

Cassiar Cannery was the last operating salmon cannery on the Skeena River declaring bankruptcy in 1983. Although Cassiar is no longer packing salmon, the site has always been open for business.

Since the summer of 2006, Cassiar Cannery has been undergoing restoration and diversification into the conservation economy.

A character in its own right – Cassiar Cannery – established in 1889 and still going 135 years later.

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GUEST houses

Welcome to our four restored Guest Houses. Clean, comfortable and well stocked, these former cannery manager’s homes are quirky and unique. Guest Houses range in size from one bedroom to three bedrooms. With large decks and well equipped kitchens for your meals, the Guest Houses at Cassiar Cannery are a great base for any North Coast adventure.

Cassiar Cannery has been named as one of the Top 10 Unique Places to Overnight in BC, a Canadian Hidden Gem by the Globe and Mail and one of the top glamping sites in North America by Honeytrek. It’s a rustic chic experience you will never forget.

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HALIBUT HOUSE

Three bedrooms with a water view queen, private queen and one set of deluxe twin XL bunk beds.

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SOCKEYE HOUSE

Three bedrooms with a private water view queen, two twin beds in the middle room and one private queen.

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STEELHEAD HOUSE

Perfect for a bigger group with one private queen and four deluxe twin bunk beds.

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COHO HOUSE

A self-contained one bedroom with one queen sized bed

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EXPERIENCES

Looking for a remarkable experience?
Try an experiential adventure or retreat!

Women’s Rejuvenation Retreat

2024 Dates: May 23-26, September 26-28

A glorious chance to step away from the day-to-day activities of a busy woman and have a chance to relax, recharge and renew. Beautiful healthy food, yoga for all levels, a big canoe adventure, try your hand at custom blended oils during the aromatherapy workshops and pamper yourself with massage and other treatments.

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Skeena Adventure
Songs & Stories of the Skeena

2024 Dates: July 2-3, Jul 4-5

Your own private concert with renowned Northern BC musicians along various scenic stops exploring down 150 kms of the mystical, magical and musical Skeena River by boat!

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Artist-In Residence

Now into its sixth year, the Cassiar Cannery Artist-in-Residence program hosts two artists per year. The long residency (20 days) is intended for professional artists with formal training or the equivalent experience and recognition among their peers. The short residency (10 days) is open to emerging and established artists living and working in Northern British Columbia only. Artists are required to donate one piece of art celebrating the Cassiar Cannery to the Cassiar Cannery Legacy Collection.

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SCIENCE & RESEARCH

Science and Research at the Cassiar Cannery

When we arrived at the Cassiar Cannery in 2006, we quickly realized how important the Skeena River is to the thousands of people throughout the watershed in addition to providing critical habitat for resident and migrating birds, mammals and salmon. One of the most fascinating characteristics of the Cassiar Cannery is its rich and varied ecosystem coupled with the more humbling aspects of the importance of this place, this river and its diverse human history that depends on the health and bounty provided by the Skeena River and the Pacific Ocean.

There is a large gap in scientific data on the West Coast between the research station in Nanaimo and the next one in Alaska. We are proud to begin the first phase of science and research at Cassiar Cannery with a detailed assessment of the biodiversity of the Skeena Estuary along Cassiar Cannery’s foreshore area with the University of Northern British Columbia.

For close to a decade we have hosted a variety of studies based on the local ecosystem with the main ones being a long term botanical study of the Skeena saltmarsh with Dr Darwyn Coxson and an in depth look over several years of the biodivisity of the Skeena Estuary mudflats.

We hope this is just the beginning of hosting many facets of science and research here.

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GETTING HERE

Getting Here By Air

For those seeking the fastest route to the Prince Rupert area, there are three flights daily from Vancouver. The Prince Rupert airport is on Digby Island. Arrivals will be met by a bus, which will take travelers to a 15 minute ferry across the Prince Rupert harbour to the Shuttle Bus Terminal in downtown Prince Rupert. Departures also leave from the Highliner Hotel.

It is important to note bus departure times – a critical transportation link to the airport. There is no charge for the bus or the ferry.

AIR CANADA www.aircanada.com

Air Canada departs from YVR’s Main Terminal twice daily, with early morning and evening flights. Passengers are responsible for collecting personal baggage at the Digby Island Airport and transferring it to the bus. The bus arrives and departs at the front of the Highliner Hotel in Prince Rupert. Check in for an Air Canada flight is at the airport.

CAR RENTALS

Car-to-go Rentals	250-627-1525
Hertz Rent a Car	250-627-8444
National Car Rental	250-624-5318

Getting Here By Ferry

Stunning is the only word that captures the BC Ferries Inside Passage route between Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert. The voyage takes approximately 18 hours and is extremely popular during the spring and summer season. Advance reservations recommended. Cassiar Cannery is located 30 minutes from the terminal in Port Edward.

http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/inside/

Getting Here By Rail

Ranked as one of the top ten scenic rail journeys in the world, VIA Rail offers passenger service between Jasper and Prince Rupert. From the majestic Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, riders will travel through some of the most scenically stunning panoramas in the province. Book direct to the Cassiar Cannery on the VIA Rail website.

Please note, this is a 2 day journey with an overnight stop in Prince George. Hotel reservations are recommended.

Cassiar Cannery had its own train station until the 1980s and the passenger train will stop at Cassiar upon request for guests to embark or disembark. Please note VIA Rail requires a minimum of 48 hours notice to coordinate this special service and the request should be made at the time of booking. If this is of interest, the VIA Rail agent will need to know the stop is on the Skeena Sub, Cassiar Cannery at mile marker 79.63.

http://www.viarail.ca/en/stations/stops-between-two-stations

VIA Rail service map

Getting Here By Road

Traveling through BC by road is exquisite. Towering mountains, raging rivers, babbling brooks, gentle fields and even a desert are a few of the sights to see. No matter which route one selects, it will not disappoint.

Access to Cassiar is off Highway 16, the Yellowhead Highway, which runs east to west through central BC. The drive between Smithers and Prince Rupert is ranked in the Top 10 of the World’s Most Scenic Drives and it is stunning. The Cassiar Cannery is located about 30 minutes from Prince Rupert, BC and 15 minutes from the Port Edward exit off Highway 16.

Here are detailed driving instructions from Highway 16, the main highway:
Take the Port Edward turnoff – about 1 1/4 hours from Terrace. Drive through the townsite staying on the main road – note the General Store on your left – marine fuel, fishing licenses, ice and bait available here. The road changes into ‘Cannery Road’ Drive past North Pacific Cannery Museum on your right. Slow down for the final 3.5km to the end of the road as it is bumpy. When you come to the end of the road with a yellow gate across the tracks – you’ve made it!

For road reports and updates:

www.drivebc.com

BC Road Reports: 1-900-565-4997
Skeena District Highway: 1-800-663-9910

Depending on your route, recommended stops include:

Barkerville – 1 hour from Quesnel
Barkerville is a national Historic Site built around the BC’s famous Gold Rush. It is well worth a visit, especially the stagecoach ride.

Chasm Provincial Park
A Grand Canyon – BC Style! Located near 70 Mile House.

K’san – Beautiful First Nations Village on Highway 16. Well worth the stop.