When the City acquired the site, the original vision was for it to become a heritage attraction for tourists that would include some form of paid admission. As restoration of the site's buildings nears completion, Council has asked staff to explore the option of introducing admission fees.

No decision has been made about introducing admission fees or specific rates. If admission fees are considered in the future, details such as rates and discounts would be determined at a later date and would be informed by an analysis of fees charged at similar sites.

If admission fees were introduced, a controlled entry point would be required. Gating the site would also help improve visitor safety and enhance site security, which currently experiences challenges with vandalism.

The exact location would be determined in the future as part of a larger park planning process.

More planning will be required before any changes can move forward. If Council approves changes in the future, they could be implemented over the next four to six years.

There are two original buildings that still need restoration and are not currently open to the public: the First Nations Building and the Japanese Duplex.

The First Nations Building reconstruction has been approved, with construction expected to take place from fall 2026 to fall 2027. Once complete, the building will include interpretation about First Nations in Steveston.

The Japanese Duplex building has been approved as the future Visitor Centre. Restoration of this building is expected in the next four to six years.

The City of Richmond owns and operates the site.

Basic operations, maintenance and building improvements are funded through the City’s annual budget process. Enhanced programming and special projects have been funded by hotel tax revenue and grants.

There are limited funding options for operating a historic site. Sites are often subsidized by a municipal, provincial or federal government, depending on its ownership. In the case of Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, because it is owned by the City of Richmond, the majority of costs are covered by the City from property taxes. If an admission fee is implemented, these costs could be offset by revenue from ticket sales, program fees, gift shop sales or food service.