Absolutely amazing! Judy and her colleague, Stephen have done it again! I took my grade 4/5 class last January for a historical tour of Chinatown and Chinese immigration. That was a hit! This year I went back to Judy with an even younger group, grades 3/4. Judy and Stephen took us through historic buildings, weaving information in and out, chatting up the members in the clan associations and on the street. Seeing with our very own eyes, the people who make up the culture of Chinatown and learning of their struggles and successes to make this place home. Judy and Stephen were so great with this young group, being patient and feeding their curiosities. And of course accompanying us to dim sum. Thank you again and I look forward to seeing you again soon!
My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Judy! I often come to Chinatown for the many excellent restaurants and great stores but the tour was eye-opening for me. It was so great to go into the tong buildings and to see how warmly Judy was greeted by community members. The interior of the building Sai Woo is housed in is about 5 stories of awesome with some very cool architectural features.Judy's degree in Chinese history coupled with her connection to the community gave us an insight into a unique part of Vancouver that deserves to be recognized and treasured.Making the dumplings was a lot of fun, they were delicious!
This past April, I took my Grade Five class on a field trip to Chinatown with Ms. Lam as our guide. She was a great presenter, and was able to make her presentation very accessible to my group of nine- and ten-year old children. She shared a wealth of knowledge and information that made the experience meaningful and interesting for the children and adult chaperones. I'm happy to recommend her tour to teachers, tourists, and interested locals!
August We were only in Vancouver for a few days before our Alaska cruise which boarded at noon ,so we arranged with Judy to meet her at 9 with all our bags.We then proceeded to have a marvelous tour of Chinatown. We would have loved to spend days with herShe was brilliant so informative it was a pleasure.
The best tour I have taken ever! Judy is so knowledgeable and she was able to show me a Chinatown no one else knew because she knows everybody here. We were able to go into heritage buildings that are not opened to the public. I not only learned about Chinatown in Vancouver but also around the world, and I now understand why this place grows to be the way it is. Very informative and engaging! Thank you Judy.
Judy is the best Chinatown guide around. She is very knowledgeable and gives you an insiders view of the neighbourhood. She is very connected to the people and places and offers a unique perspective. She gets you into places you would never have access to and introduces you to the people who make up the past and present of this very vibrant community. Her passion is evident when she shares the history and culture of the area. I would highly recommend taking one of Judy's tours whether you are a visitor or local. It is a very memorable and unique experience!
Wonderful guide! Amazing time in Chinatown!If you are looking for an exciting non-touristic activity, don’t hesitate to book a Chinatown tour with the Chinatown girl AKA Judy Lam Maxwell. You won’t be disappointed. You’ll have a personal visit of Chinatown. You’ll not only learn about the historical of this area, but you’ll also have the privilege to enter the buildings and meet the Chinatown people. You can consider your experience like an underground one! Needless to say, your guide is brilliant, super nice and knows almost everything about the history of many Chinatowns around the world. I've had a fantastic 2 hours with Judy, Thank you so much!
A great tour for locals and visitors alike.Judy's tours are made very special by her relationship with the societies and businesses of Chinatown. Our party of six included four visitors from Norway who had no idea of Chinese history in North America. In short order Judy set the context and then led us into some of the best historic interiors in Vancouver's Chinatown. We met the people who use the buildings. For our Norwegian visitors the importance of taking care of historic Chinatown was quickly made apparent. This is a great tour for locals as well as visitors to Vancouver.
What a find! We often use walking tours to get acquainted with new cities but sometimes the information and places become a blur. Not so with Judy’s tour. It is unique and one of the most enjoyable and memorable we’ve ever taken. For one thing, its personalized so she tailors some of her information and tour around your own interests and schedule; no large groups to contend with, difficulty hearing the guide, etc. Second, she is extremely knowledgeable – drawing on both academic, local and family sources. By starting with a sit-down overview to the history and neighborhood, our walk was all the more meaningful and interesting. Finally, Judy takes you behind the scenes to places you would never see otherwise – like visiting a cultural center or restaurant. It’s clear that residents know and trust her and that she cares about them. For all this, you’d think the tour would cost much more than others – but it didn’t. Judy is also generous with her time and suggestions – before, during and after our tour. For us, Chinatown is now a vivid part of our overall experience with Vancouver. Thanks!
I am a local high school teacher. I took my grade 9-11 students on a field trip with Judy. This is my 4th year doing a field trip in Vancouver's Chinatown, and Judy's program is by far the best! Some students also commented that it's their favorite field trip! Judy's program is very unique and informative. Judy has a Masters in Chinese Canadian history and is very passionate about what she does. I'd highly recommend her program to any teachers and anyone interested in learning more about Vancouver's Chinatown.
I was impressed with the access to the Association and Freemason buildings for a behind the scenes look. The history is evident in the structures and furnishings as well as the elaborate décor. Judy has incorporated several guest speakers from the Chinatown community who are very informative about how things have become as they are today. They are readily available for questions and the direct contact with the community members themselves is an added highlight I have never experienced on a tour before.
Judy is a national treasure and her tour is awe inspiring. Judy is knowledgeable not only of Vancouver's Chinatown, but the Chinese diaspora throughout the world. Her intimate knowledge and close connections give her (and her tours) access to places others just don't get to see. She is funny, bright, smart, and personable. I have taken her tour twice and would not hesitate to take it again (and again) given the opportunity. Truly one of the great highlights of Vancouver is a Chinatown tour by Chinatown girl!
Judy is the most knowledgeable Chinatown Guide you will find. With her years of background studying history of Chinatowns and its people and being a member of Chinatown Associations around the world she can give you the insights others will not be able to. She is very friendly and charming, you can tell she has a great respect and rapport within the Chinatown community. I have been working as a Hotel Concierge for many years and I would not hesitate to send any of my guests to do the walking tour. Highly recommended !
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Julia K02:10 25 Jan 20Absolutely amazing! Judy and her colleague, Stephen have done it again! I took my grade 4/5 class last January for a historical tour of Chinatown and Chinese immigration. That was a hit! This year I went back to Judy with an even younger group, grades 3/4. Judy and Stephen took us through historic buildings, weaving information in and out, chatting up the members in the clan associations and on the street. Seeing with our very own eyes, the people who make up the culture of Chinatown and learning of their struggles and successes to make this place home. Judy and Stephen were so great with this young group, being patient and feeding their curiosities. And of course accompanying us to dim sum. Thank you again and I look forward to seeing you again soon!
