Great news for Chinatown and its vibrant history in Victoria!
A temporary museum exhibition in Chinatown’s Fan Tan Alley will now be a permanent museum.
In a media release, it was announced that the Board of Directors of the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society (VCMS) will take over operations for the Chinese Canadian Museum Society as of October 1st.
The now-permanent museum has been re-named the Victoria Chinatown Museum.
At a fundraising dinner for the VCMS, the Lieutenant Governor of BC, Janet Austin, OBC, announced that she’ll become an Honourary Patron of the society.
“I want to thank you for bringing to life history and culture of the Chinese Canadians through the stories of people, of families, of businesses and community organizations that have contributed so much for our prosperity and to the dynamism and vibrancy of culture in British Columbia and indeed this community,” she said.
Chair of the VCMS, Grace Wong Sneddon, shared that they’re thrilled to have her as the Honourary Patron. Together, they will continue to share Chinese Canadian stories and artifacts for the public to engage with and learn from.
“We believe that learning together helps to build stronger and more inclusive communities,” Sneddon said.
In 2020, the VCMS was registered and received charitable status in 2023. Victoria is the home of Canada’s oldest Chinatown, and the VCMS looks forward to carrying forward the legacy of Chinese Canadians—a rich history that will be available to both locals and visitors alike.
