Raymond Saunders is a Canadian clockmaker who has designed and built more than 150 customized clocks that mainly serve as tourist-attracting public artworks. In 1977 he was commissioned to build a steam clock for the Gastown district of Vancouver, Canada.

The Gastown clock may be the first steam clock ever built, although there is evidence that 19th-century British engineer John Inshaw made a steam clock after which was named a Birmingham pub. Saunders has since built six different public steam clocks for clients such as the city of Otaru, Japan, and the Indiana State Museum. He has also built a clock for Vancouver’s York House School’s 78th birthday in 2010.

Every day of the year, rain or shine, dozens of tourists stand around at Cambie and Water Streets waiting for the steam to blow. The clock has become one of Vancouver’s top attractions — a Google search for “Gastown steam clock” turns up 108,000 results.