On November 22, 2025, 30 students and three instructors from the UBC Cantonese Language Program participated in a cultural field trip that connected classroom learning with local history. Students from CNTO 301, 401, and 403 (Basic and Intermediate Cantonese) began the day with a shared dim sum lunch in Richmond, providing an informal setting to practice Cantonese and build community beyond the classroom.
Following lunch, the group visited the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site in Steveston. The visit featured a Cantonese-language guided tour led by Sherry Wong, Educational Programs Coordinator of Steveston Heritage Sites.
Through the tour, students learned about the site’s lesser-known local and national histories, including the multicultural labour communities that shaped British Columbia’s fishing, canning, and shipbuilding industries. The field trip highlighted the value of experiential and place-based learning, allowing students to engage with Cantonese in an authentic community setting while deepening their understanding of the historical and cultural landscapes of Metro Vancouver.
The UBC Cantonese Language Program would like to thank and acknowledge the generous sponsorship and support of the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site and the UBC Department of Asian Studies, whose contributions made this enriching educational experience possible.
