Outdoor activities usually bring us closer to nature and hence we are at a better position to love, care, protect and conserve the aspects of nature involved. One such outdoor activity is sport fishing and angling, both of which have their heritage emanating from recreational fishing. These activities can either be participated in the salty waters of in freshwaters. All in all, there must be regulations governing them because of the needs to protect endangered water species. Many governments where sport fishing is common do this through special licensing programs hobbyist who want to take part in the activities.
Consequently, there are other recreational activities which go hand-in-hand with recreational fishing and include activities such as bottom sea diving, whale watching, swimming with sea creatures such as dolphins as well other common water activities such as scuba diving, kayaking, canoeing etc.
Previously, this website was established as a Sport Fishing Museum website for The Granville Island Sport Fishing Museum. The Sport Fishing Museum used to boast as one of the world’s largest collections of Sport Fishing history and equipment. The Museum was home to an extensive collection including Hardy Brothers Reels, Rare Art, Fly Plates, Salmon Fishing History, Ralph Wahl Photographs and much more. The Museum closed doors in 1st September 2008
Below is some history about them that I found from the wayback machine.
The Granville Island Sport Fishing Museum is a sport fisher’s dream come true. Along with beautifully designed flies, fly plates, fly boxes, creels, gaffs, plugs, lures, priests, and nets, the museum features what may be the world’s largest collection of Hardy rods and reels. Our extensive international collection of historic and contemporary artifacts, displays and, artwork is dedicated to preserving the history and ideals of both fresh and saltwater sport fishing on a global basis.
The Granville Island Story
Granville Island is a forty-acre manmade island created in 1917. For fifty years it housed heavy industry.
During the depression, hundreds of families lived on Granville Island, then known as “Mud Island”. The shantytown settlement was called “Bennettville” after the former Prime Minister of Canada, Richard B. Bennett.
Families on the island operated small boats or sold salmon or buckets of smelt door to door to survive. They were basically self-sufficient and were left alone by city officials until 1949 when seven hundred people were given eviction notices. Most families eventually moved off the island by the late 1950’s.
The Granville Island Museums run along Broker’s Bay, once referred to as “Rat Portage”. This was one of two entrances to the island during the 1930’s. A second entry was a stairway leading from the old Granville Street Bridge to the shantytown settlement on the island. During World War II the stairway was closed for fear of sabotage.
In the 1970’s, the Federal Government developed a plan, creating a partnership between government and private enterprise. The Granville Island Concept — a recycling of old buildings and an orchestrated mix of tenants was designed to maintain an equally busy evening environment as it was during the day by local residents and tourists alike. Also, development was not to compete with other city zoning. Special features were kept or enhanced such as the metal or stucco siding, heavy timber structures, large doors, and mulit-paned industrial glazed windows and skylights.
The Sidney Roofing & Paper Company building, home of the Granville Island Museums, was built in 1936 by Townley & Matheson Architects, and then renovated in the 1980’s – Art Deco.
Today, so commercially popular, some of the original low profit businesses are being squeezed out. There is however still a good representation of live theatre, marine stores, a wonderful public market, an art school and three unique museums that fulfill its original mandate. Since the islands new beginning 21 years ago, it currently sits in the middle of the newly developed False Creek area. This area occupies some 30,00 new residents who routinely shop at Granville Island along with the regional and international visitors, In total, Granville Island now receives over 9 million visitors a year.
Granville Island, now well placed, answers the various needs of the whole family. Dad can visit the sport fishing museum, mom can go the public market, while grandma takes the little ones to the children’s market, or to the train museum. They can all meet for lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants such as the Sirloiner of the Keg and then they can charter a harbor cruise. The options are numerous.
Behind the Scenes – Granville Island is a hotbed of bureaucratic and political intrigue. In spite of these hidden complications, Granville Island is one of the few, very pleasant destinations that offers more comprehensive activities for families than any other location in the province, and one of the few successful partnership between public and private enterprise.
For an economical investment of $19 million in the late 1970’s, the Federal government now reaps over $35 million a year in taxes.
