Head over to 51 East Pender Street in Vancouver’s Chinatown and you’ll find the historic Wing Sang Building—home of Canada’s first Chinese Canadian Museum. While it may look unassuming from the streets, the inside features three floors of contemporary gallery space shrouded in period brick, a call from the past.

“Families, friends, students, seniors and anyone exploring the city will find a transformative experience at our museum,” says Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee, CEO of the Chinese Canadian Museum. “This is a new cultural destination in Vancouver, bringing stories and journeys of Chinese Canadians to visitors from all backgrounds, while engaging with and sharing stories from the community.”

History on Display

Be sure to catch the current exhibitions before they switch over later in 2024 and early 2025. The first floor features “Odysseys and Migration”, a never-before seen look at some of the journeys which Chinese Canadians have taken from the 18^th century to the present day. Visitors can log their personal journeys on an interactive world map and explore unique displays of the Chinese diaspora through migration.

A commissioned mural called “The Journeys Here” by Marlene Yuen is a bright and colourful mosaic of Chinese cultural symbolism and storytelling.

On the second floor, “The Paper Trail to the 1923 Exclusion Act” showcases a community-sourced exhibition marking a century since the Chinese Exclusion Act. Hundreds of certificates of identity (C.I. documents) and personal stories are displayed thoughtfully in the largest-ever public exhibition of these documents.

Step back in time on the third floor to a recreated 1930s living room, and also one of the oldest school rooms in Vancouver. Visitors can immerse themselves in the lives of the Yip Family—the building’s original residents.

Asian Heritage Month

Observed and celebrated since the 1990s, Asian Heritage Month is the perfect time to reflect on and recognize the many contributions that people of Asian origin have made and continue to make in Canada.

“The museum is a great way to interact with and learn more about the Chinese Canadian experience,” Lee says. “It is an opportunity to support the Chinese Canadian Community as we continue to highlight past and current stories, while amplifying voices for Chinese Canadians.”

Stop by the gift kiosk (slated for expansion into a full gift shop later in 2024), which showcases Chinese Canadian creators and small businesses, and top off a day of cultural exploration with a bite to eat in one of the Chinatown neighbourhood’s incredible eateries featuring a diverse range of cuisine.

Plan your visit today by getting tickets and annual passes to the Chinese Canadian Museum at chinesecanadianmuseum.ca or onsite.

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