Longstanding Shipyard Pals, Sal and Sam, are back this year to bring the history and stories of The Shipyards to life.
The characters have been developed by MONOVA: The Museum of North Vancouver, and use anecdotal history of shipbuilding on the North Shore at Burrard Dry Dock during the Second World War to give listeners an insight into the days of yester-year.
While the characters aren’t based on any one person, the stories weave together people and accounts from many different sources. And although Shipyard Pals are nothing new to the North Shore, each iteration is unique to the actor portraying the character, while the base historical information stays the same.
“My favourite part of being one of the pals is the physicality and expressiveness of telling these stories. This includes sharing knowledge about this area’s history and helping folks make connections to their own lives through the stories I am able to share,” actor Kelsey Ranshaw said.
Starting at the at Punch Clock Portal right next to Tap and Barrel, the pals sing and dance and entertain guests, highlighting the lesser-known history of the area, the importance of The Shipyards to women’s labour rights, and Canada’s contributions to the war, among other things.
Free walking tours, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., begin on July 7 and run until Sept. 4, 2022. Visit the MONOVA website for more information.
Charlie Carey is the North Shore News' Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
