VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Chinatown is the oldest in Canada, and the second oldest in North America. Chinese immigrants have contributed to the land for over 240 years, predating both the province and the country of Canada, yet there is no established museum to preserve their history.
That is going to change.
The province is seeking to establish Chinese Canadian Museums across the province in a B次元官网网址渉ub and spokeB次元官网网址� model, with a main museum in VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Chinatown, and smaller ones in cities across B.C., including one in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to see that there is a presence in Victoria as well,B次元官网网址� said Alan Lowe, committee member of the Chinese Canadian Museum Working Group. B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檝e got Fan Tan Alley, various buildings which have associate halls, the Chinese templeB次元官网网址� there is a lot of history in Victoria and a lot of people donB次元官网网址檛 know it.B次元官网网址�
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The move comes four years after the province formally apologized to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Chinese Canadian community for historical wrong-doings. The apology include=ed a report with recommended next steps, where the idea for the museums emerged.
The establishment of a museum network couldnB次元官网网址檛 come soon enough, Lowe said.
B次元官网网址淢any of the veterans and seniors that have been here a long, long time are getting quite elderly, and they may have content and stories that would benefit a museum,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥ur forefathers have gone through a lot and I think it needs to be documented.B次元官网网址�
For Victoria City Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe, a museum is something sheB次元官网网址檚 been hoping for for 20 years.
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B次元官网网址淭hrough the years I have been collecting documents, pictures, costumes, dishes from families that I hoped would one day be in a museum here,B次元官网网址� Thornton-Joe said in an email.
B次元官网网址淚 would like to see a Museum that documents the Chinese arrival in Canada, their struggles, their contributions and the paths they paved for individuals like myself who unlike my grandparents and parents saw times when they were not allowed to swim in the Crystal Pool, were not given the right to vote even if they were born here and the right to run for elected officeB次元官网网址�
The province is now in the consultation process and is looking for public feedback , which can be submitted online at until Jan. 4 in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
There will also be a public hearing in Victoria on Jan. 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Ambrosia Conference and Event Centre at 638 Fisgard St.
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