FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
What is this program?
Working Waterfront is a school
program that will introduce students to what happens on the waterfront in North
Vancouver. It will explore connections between the North Vancouver waterfront
and the rest of the world and focuses on international trade, Canadian
geography, renewable and nonrenewable natural resources, transportation, local,
national and world economies and waterfront careers. All of these elements are
significant components of the grade five curriculum.
What does the program consist of?
The program consists of a
60 minute in-class visit (Introduction to the Waterfront), a 90 minute guided
boat tour of the harbour (Harbour Tour) and a follow up visit by a
representative from one of the waterfront industries (Representative Visit).
Who can participate?
This program is offered
exclusively to students in the City and District of North Vancouver. The
program is targeted to students in Grade 5. Other grades may participate if
space is available.
Is there a cost to participate?
No. The program is completely
sponsored by the North Shore Waterfront Industrial Association.
Who is the North Shore Waterfront Industrial Association?
In 1999, major waterfront
industrial users located in North Vancouver formed an industry association.
Together, these companies employ about 3,000 employees and have a total payroll
of about $200 million. NSWIA members have identified a mandate for the
association to: improve both the economic viability and community understanding
of the importance of waterfront industries on the North Shore. For more
information about NSWIA please contact Debbie Tardiff at 1 855 738 0188,
info@nswia.com or visit the NSWIA website at www.nswia.com.
What is the harbour tour?
The Harbour Tour component of the
program is a field trip where students are taken aboard a boat for a guided
tour of the inner harbour of Burrard Inlet. The 90-minute trip starts at St
Roch Dock in North Vancouver (at the foot of St Georges and Lonsdale Avenues) and
loops around the inner harbour between the Lions Gate Bridge and the Second
Narrows Bridge and returns to St Roch Dock.
What will the students be doing during the harbour tour?
The students will be
actively engaged throughout the tour with commentary and a workbook they are
expected to complete during the voyage. Along with the teacher and parent
volunteers, a museum volunteer will guide each class through the activities and
onto the outer deck.
What boat are you using?
The MV (Motor Vessel) Harbour Princess
has been chartered from Harbour Cruises Ltd. Launched in 1992, the vessel is
designed to be a comfortable and spacious vessel with two interior decks and
one large exterior deck. With a capacity of 220 people, washrooms and enclosed
interior decks, Harbour Princess is an excellent vessel for this excursion and
is the vessel used for this program for many years.
Harbour Cruises provides a vessel
and crew which meets the applicable safety, crewing and insurance requirements.
Harbour Cruises will also provide children’s life jackets (one per child), a
safety briefing and demonstration on how to don lifejackets. Safety
instructions include instructions on what to do in case of an emergency, who to
contact with question about the vessel, the location of washrooms and what
behaviour is not allowed on the vessel (running, roughhousing, not listening to
instructions etc).
Will the students be wearing lifejackets?
No, the students will not be
wearing lifejackets during the tour. MV Harbour Princess is a large vessel and
the experience is similar to that of being aboard a BC Ferry.
How many people will there be on the boat?
Four classes are invited to
participate in each harbour tour (maximum of 130 students). Teachers have been
asked to provide at least one adult per 8 students to supervise the students
during the trip. There will be at least four museum staff and volunteers
onboard to assist teachers and students.
Who is responsible for the students during the harbour tour?
The Captain is ultimately
responsible for the operation of the vessel and the safety of the passengers
and crew. However, teachers and parents are still responsible for the behaviour
of the children and ensuring that they follow the instructions of crew members.
Where is St Roch Dock?
The St Roch Dock is located in
the City of North Vancouver on the waterfront just east of Lonsdale Avenue and
the Lonsdale Quay. It is a floating drydock on the west side of the landmark
Burrard Drydock Pier and can be reached by foot from the food of Lonsdale and
by car from Esplanade Avenue.
Where can I park my car?
There is parking adjacent
to the site and at the Lonsdale Quay.
Where do I drop off or pick up the children?
If you are dropping off or
picking up children, there is a roundabout at the foot of St Georges Avenue
where you are able to stop to unload or pick up children. Discuss this with
your child’s teacher.
