The oldest building in Vancouver’s Chinatown, the Wing Sang Building, will be the permanent site of the Chinese Canadian Museum that is scheduled to open next year.
The province is providing $27.5 million to the Chinese Canadian Museum Society of British Columbia to support continued planning and operations of the society, as well as the purchase of the historic Wing Sang Building at 51 East Pender St. Real estate marketer Bob Rennie will contribute another $7.5 million.
The building was built in 1889 and Mr. Rennie’s company purchased it in 2004, setting off a five-year heritage renovation project.
Premier John Horgan said in a statement, “The contributions of Chinese Canadians to this province have been invaluable. The Chinese Canadian Museum responds to the community’s long-standing desire for a place to share stories of achievement and shine a light on injustice.”
B/W photo: City of Vancouver Archives.
The building will be owned and operated by the Chinese Canadian Museum Society of British Columbia.
Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, said, “This new museum is a light in Vancouver’s Chinatown and a response to a call to action from our fellow British Columbians who have historically endured poor treatment. It is an important legacy for British Columbians for generations to come.”
The Chinese Canadian Museum will highlight places of historic significance and celebrate the heritage of Chinese Canadians through the province.
The Wing Sang Building will feature space for permanent and temporary exhibits, multi-purpose programs and events, and learning spaces for students.
Until it was destroyed in a wildfire in June 2021, the Lytton Chinese History Museum was the only Chinese Canadian museum in the country.
