A new cultural center has opened in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown and will provide space to showcase and celebrate Chinese-Canadian heritage.
The Chinatown Storytelling Center is the first permanent space of its kind in Canada and will feature over 150 stories of Chinese immigrants who played an important role in building the country, as well as the current living history of Chinatown.
“Above all, this day and this place is all about stories,” Carol Lee, president of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, said at the centre’s opening event on Friday.
“This is the start of the most important part of our cultural revitalization efforts.”
The 4,000 square foot center is located in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown at 168 East Pender Street and will contain permanent and special immersive exhibits featuring archival films that take visitors through the history and stories of early immigrants. Chinese.
“It was a dream to build a place where we could tell the story of the 150-year history of Chinese Canadians and their tremendous contribution to building this city, this province and this country. A place that would make us proud of this story, ”said Lee.
The opening of the first cultural center of its kind comes as anti-Asian racism has dramatically increased during the pandemic.
Vancouver police said anti-Asian hate crimes rose 717% in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A investigation published in June by the Angus Reid Institute suggests that more than half of Asian Canadians have experienced discrimination in the past year.
Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, attended the opening on Friday and said a center like this is more important than ever.
“There is no place for such hatred and racism in Canada. And I think a place like this where we bring the community together, deliberately… let’s keep doing this work,” Ng said.
Lee says she hopes this storytelling center can be a catalyst for other Chinatowns across the country to consider building one.
“These stories that we bring to life will pave the way for a more inclusive, respectful and caring society,” she said.
The Chinatown Storytelling Center officially opens to visitors on November 6.
“Evil alcohol lover. Twitter junkie. Future teen idol. Reader. Food aficionado. Introvert. Coffee evangelist. Typical bacon enthusiast.”