I have always felt optimistic about Chinatown. This has consistently been my message to everyone, whether I’m guiding visitors around the historic neighbourhood, giving presentations at conferences, or discussing the topic with friends and colleagues. I am pleased that Royce Chwin, the President and CEO of Destination Vancouver, shares my optimism. This month, Mr. Chwin was featured on the Greater Vancouver’s Business Podcast with Bridgitte Anderson, the CEO for the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, where he had very positive comments to make about the revitalization efforts in Vancouver’s Chinatown. I invite you to listen to this episode (his comments about Chinatown start at ~10:20 mins.)

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/making-vancouver-the-top-tourism-destinationhosting/id1590434976?i=1000653478718

The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation is spearheading improvements in the neighbourhood, with financial support from every level of government. I see people cleaning up the sidewalks daily, the streets are much cleaner, there is less graffiti, and I see the Vancouver City Police regularly driving by and walking through the neighbourhood. In my 20 years of community involvement, I have never seen this kind of support:

What else is the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation doing?

The annual Ching Ming Festival was celebrated earlier this month. The festival marks the middle of Spring and above all, is a sacred day of the dead. According to Chinese traditional culture, it is customary to visit the graves of ancestors, relatives, and close friends during the Ching Ming Festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice (early April).

The special occasion, which dates back over one thousand years, also celebrates the rebirth of nature. Ching Ming is also known as the Clear Brightness Festival, the Festival for Tending Graves, Grave Sweeping Day, and Tomb Sweeping Day. Whatever name is given to the day, it is a time to remember and honour one’s ancestors by making offerings to the spirits of deceased family members and close friends, and to celebrate the return of nature.

A Ching Ming ceremony was held at the Mountain View Cemetery on 13th of April 2024.
https://www.chinesecanadianmuseum.ca/programs/here-and-forever-after-qingming-ceremony-and-tour-at-mountain-view-cemetery

And in Victoria, it was held at Harling Point on 7th of April 2024.
https://www.chinesecanadianmuseum.ca/programs/here-and-forever-after-qingming-tour-of-the-chinese-cemetery-at-harling

A producer of The Globe & Mail and the CBC recently contacted me for a tour of Vancouver’s Chinatown. I gave Kate Helmore a 5-hour tour of the iconic neighbourhood, and she expressed that she was impressed with how much she learned and experienced. I introduced her to a fabulous coffee shop (Propaganda Coffee), I took her to visit the interiors of heritage buildings (the Yee, Chin, and Lee Societies), she visited Treasure Green Tea, she spoke to Michelin restaurant owners at Fiorino (Mitch & Josh), and much more. The podcast online included interviews with Carol Lee (Chair, Vancouver Chinatown Foundation), Prof. Henry Yu (UBC), Henry Tsang (author of White Riot), Ross Lam (multi-generational family owner of Forum Appliances), and myself.

The podcast focused on racism, discrimination, inequity (high-end restaurants and speakeasies that “most people” cannot afford), and the troubled people in the downtown east side. We do have our challenges being close to the DTES, but I do not share the pessimism reflected in the podcast. Listen to it and let me know what you think. Listen to it and let me know what you think.

One of my short-term goals as a Chinatown entrepreneur is to facilitate economic growth opportunities and to create collaborative tourism experiences that also benefit Vancouver. That is one reason why I created the Chinatown Spotlight series on my social media platforms. This month, I would like to spotlight the SALT Tasting Room, owned by Sean and Erin Heather. I am grateful for the B2B relationship that I have recently developed with the fabulous team at SALT.

SALT is a 25-seat wine bar and charcuterie restaurant which opened last fall in Chinatown.
SALT offers a wide assortment of artisan cheeses, cured meats, and exceptional wines. Besides the minimalist interior décor and affordable menu, I love that many of the meats, wines, and condiments are locally produced and organic.
The Irish Heather, owned by the same husband-and-wife business couple, SALT relocated to Chinatown from near-by Gastown.

SALT is not only a unique dining experience, but it complements Chinatown’s superb restaurant scene and promising nightlife.

Destination Vancouver

Vancouver Residents’ Perceptions
of Tourism Industry Survey

Destination Vancouver released results from the Residents’ Perceptions of Vancouver’s Tourism Industry 2023 survey. The findings show that most residents overwhelmingly value the contribution that visitors make to the local economy.

Key results from the survey are:

80% of residents value the contribution visitors make to the local economy.
81% of residents agree that the tourism industry supports local businesses in their community.
74% of residents agree that the positive impacts of tourism in their community outweigh the negative.
76% of residents take pride in making visitors feel welcome in their community.

To learn more, download the summary report here.

Masterclass Dumplings for Team-Building

Interested in fun and interactive ways to enhance your workplace culture? Look no further! My traditional dumpling-making classes are great for promoting team-building and social interaction. My Masterclass Dumplings is a cultural learning experience that is healthy and fun. Best of all, I can deliver this fun learning experience to your office! Contact me to learn more: judy@chinatowngirl.ca

April 15-19

Tourism is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy and a great way to showcase our ethnic, culinary, and architectural heritage to the world. The rising demand for novel tourism experiences is what motivates me. As a culinary-heritage tourism operator, I work hard to ensure my clients have the best memories about Chinatown. That is why I am so pleased to receive complementary reviews like the ones below.

An Insider’s Tour of Chinatown

“I thoroughly enjoyed this tour! At the beginning, Judy explained Vancouver's Chinatown's history in detail, laying the foundation for what was to come. Walking around the neighborhood, we learned about the past, the present, and what the future holds for the neighborhood. We visited places you wouldn't even know existed. The tour ended with the grand finale: the best Dim Sum I've ever had. 500-star review from me!”

Date Night

“Had so much fun with Judy on a date night with my husband. We learned a lot about Chinatowns around the world, the one we know and love and met a group of residents and merchants who fleshed out the faces of a beautiful community. Judy prepped two delicious dumpling fillings and helped us make a bunch of yummy dumplings and cooked them up right there for us. Highly recommend!”

Manhattan

Construction of the world’s tallest jail is soon to begin in Manhattan’s Chinatown.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/01/nyregion/jail-construction-chinatown-manhattan.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hE0.AgKj.fsyiTvgstb4D&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&ugrp=m

Melbourne

Urban planners in Melbourne, Australia are making great efforts to revitalize their Chinatown community. Melbourne’s Chinatown faces many of the same challenges that Vancouver's Chinatown is experiencing.
https://www.cbdnews.com.au/traders-renew-calls-to-bring-chinatown-back-to-its-former-glory/

Philadelphia

Did you know that Philadelphia’s Chinatown is also under threat? The Sixers basketball team wants to build a 18,500-arena.
https://6abc.com/new-area-chinatown-philadelphia-76ers/14360362/

Portland

Last summer, I participated in conference in Portland, Oregon organized by APANO (Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon) and National CAPACD. APANO is one of Portland’s longest standing grassroots advocacy organizations and National CAPACD is a coalition of more than 100 community-based organizations, spanning over 21 states. I met fantastic, committed activists and made many new friends.

Ottawa

One of Ottawa’s largest and most popular Chinese dining establishments, Yangtze Restaurant and property, has reportedly been put up for sale. Since opening in 1982 on Somerset Street, this restaurant has been a local gathering place for milestone celebrations and community events. Across the street, another popular Chinese restaurant, Oriental Chu Shing, closed in 2022.

Chinatown Elders return to
the Chinatown Plaza for Tai Chi

One year after being denied access, dozens of Chinatown elders have returned to the Chinatown Plaza -- owned by the City of Vancouver and managed by Easy Park -- to practice tai chi. Thanks to the advocacy of Melody Ma and Chinatown Together, an agreement was negotiated with the City of Vancouver and as a result, Chinatown elders can now engage in healthy activity in safe spaces, which are a critical part of Chinatown’s rejuvenation.
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/reclaiming-our-space-chinatown-seniors-return-to-mall-for-tai-chi-a-year-after-staffkicked-them-out-1.6801621

The Resilience of Chinatown, May 21

The Mon Keang School, on the second floor of the Wong Benevolent Association, was established in Vancouver’s Chinatown in 1925 at the peak of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Mon Keang is one of the finalists in the NEXT GREAT SAVE by National Trust Canada, an independent charity that empowers communities to save and renew heritage places. You can vote everyday until May 6th
https://nextgreatsave.nationaltrustcanada.ca/2024/entry/59

New Book by Denise Chong and Speaking Engagement

Everyone has heard of or read Denise Chong’s book The Concubine’s Children, but did you know that she recently published a new book? Out of Darkness was recently launched at the Vancouver Public Library at the end of April.