July 7, 2006: Kids of all ages are invited to the Fraser River Port Authority’s “shipyard” at FraserFest 2006 to build their very own “Ship of the Fraser”. Visitors to the Port Authority’s tent at the west end of the festival site can build their own wooden boat, view marine models, and learn about the Port, its vessels, and their cargoes.

“We’re really excited to be able to present so many wonderful family activities at FraserFest,” said Megan Park, Public Affairs Coordinator for the Fraser River Port Authority. “It’s just one of the ways we can showcase the Fraser while boosting the ‘fun-factor’ of one of the Lower Mainland’s most popular family festivals."

Free children’s boat building workshops have been a festival highlight for over ten years and are an ideal opportunity for parents and children to work together to build and decorate their own wooden boat. Every child will receive a free boat kit containing a rough wooden hull, a wheelhouse, mast, and other parts and tools for assembly. Volunteers from the Vancouver Maritime Museum will be on hand to offer assistance to the kids. The workshops will be offered from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday, July 15 and 16, at the Port Authority’s tent.

Kids can gain inspiration from the adjacent exhibit, a marine model demonstration. A new addition to FraserFest this year, the demonstration will highlight the talent of the Burnaby Association of Marine Modellers, who will be bringing their scale, working models of various ships of the river. They meet every Sunday at Central Park in Burnaby, but for FraserFest 2006, they will set up next to the Port Authority’s tent. The demonstration occurs on Saturday only, July 15 from 10 am to 4 pm. Come on down to cheer on your favourite ship as a race or two between the vessels might be in order!