Many visitors go to Chinatowns in search of Chinese cuisine and specialty shops. But beyond the building facades at street level, a visible yet commonly overlooked fabric lines the streets of most Chinatowns and their surrounding neighbourhoods across North America— voluntary associations that I will refer to hereafter as Chinese Societies. Chinese Societies played such an important role throughout the lives of new immigrants that the Societies’ names are often written on the tombstones of deceased Chinese buried in Canada. This article provides insights on their purpose and relevance, using my volunteer experience in Vancouver’s Chinatown as an entry point and invitation to others to begin their own learning journey.
In early 2023, a century after the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed, I began methodically walking the streets to find…
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British Columbia History (Digital) - 1 Issue, 57.4 Winter 2024