Canada’s first Chinese Canadian Museum established in B.C. (flickr.com)

Media Contacts

Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public
Engagement
778 676-0615

Monica Cheng

Outreach Co-ordinator
Chinese Canadian Museum
monica.cheng@chinesecanadianmuseum.ca
604 683-4295

Backgrounders

Chinese Canadian Museum facts
  • In 2017, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture was mandated to establish Canada’s first Chinese Canadian Museum in B.C.
  • The Province announced its commitment to establish a Chinese Canadian Museum in the 2019 throne speech and provided the City of Vancouver a $1-million grant to support museum planning and programming.
  • Through 2018 and 2019, the Province held tri-lingual public engagements regarding a Chinese Canadian Museum. The Province also signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Vancouver to jointly pursue UNESCO heritage site designation for Vancouver Chinatown.
  • In 2020, the Province provided an $8 million endowment to establish the Chinese Canadian Museum Society, and $2 million in funding to complete the planning and initial development, including identifying potential sites, for the museum’s home.
  • Also that year, the Canadian Chinese Museum Society’s first, award-winning temporary exhibition, A Seat at the Table, at the Hon Hsing was established, with more than 6,000 visitors to date.
  • The original owner of the Wing Sang Building, Yip Sang, was an influential Vancouver resident who helped create the Chinese Benevolent Association and the Chinese Board of Trade.
  • Sang started construction of the building in 1888 for his businesses and his family.
  • The Wing Sang Building reflects the racist policies directed toward Chinese Canadians by previous governments throughout B.C.’s history, and the resilience of Chinese Canadians. To obey the imposed curfew, the building was constructed with narrow passageways that residents used in secret after dark.
  • The Wing Sang Building is on the City of Vancouver Heritage Registry.
  • Board members of the Chinese Canadian Museum are:
    • Grace Wong, retired, former senior adviser international, office of provost, and vice-president academic, University of British Columbia;
    • Randall Wong, retired, former B.C. Supreme court judge, first Chinese Canadian judge appointed to provincial and federal jurisdiction;
    • Sonny Wong, president and creative director, Hamazaki Wong Marketing Group;
    • John Adams, owner and operator, Discover the Past;
    • Claire Avison, assistant deputy minister, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, Government of British Columbia;
    • Tung Chan, retired, former executive, TD Bank Financial Group; former city councillor, City of Vancouver;
    • Christina Chang, president, Hanyin Education Group; president, Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in B.C.;
    • Guo Ding, journalist, producer of Mandarin news program at Omni BC;
    • Brian Jonker, executive director, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, Government of British Columbia;
    • Burton Lee, senior consultant, Aon;
    • Ted Lee, chief financial officer and director of destination development, Tourism Vancouver;
    • Imogene Lim, professor of anthropology, Vancouver Island University;
    • Raymond Louie, chief operating officer, Coromandel Properties; strategic advisor, R. P. Louie Consulting Ltd;
    • Alan Lowe, architect, Alan Lowe Architect Inc; former mayor of Victoria (1999-2008);
    • William Ma, business owner and community supporter;
    • Fred Mah, retired, former federal civil servant;
    • Brian McBay, executive director, 221A; 
    • Sandra Singh, general manager of arts, culture and community services, City of Vancouver; and
    • Henry Yu, professor, history, University of British Columbia.