HISTORIC STUDY OF THE SOCIETY BUILDINGS IN CHINATOWN Report of the Chinese Canadian Historical Society Contractor to the City of Vancouver July 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page i Acknowledgments Page iii 2005 Introduction July Page 1 The Mah Society of Canada Page 7 Lim Sai Hor (Kow Mock) Benevolent Association Page 15 The Chinese Benevolent Association Page 23 The Yue Shan Society Page 31 Shon Yee Benevolent Association Page 39 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ii APPENDIX 2005 Glossary July Page A2 Selected Bibliography Page A15 The Mah Society of Canada Appendix Page A21 The Lim Sai Hor (Kow Mock) Benevolent Association Appendix Page A43 The Chinese Benevolent Association Appendix Page A65 The Yue Shan Society Appendix Page A87 Shon Yee Benevolent Association Appendix Page A107 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Page iii This Report has been a collaborative efforts of many dedicated individuals who shared their knowledge, resources and expertise, read the many copies of manuscripts, etc.. Some of the organizations and individuals that deserve special mention include: 2005 City and Project Team Participants: ly Ju The City of Vancouver, particularly: Ms. Jessica Chen-Adams, Planner, Central Area Planning Ms. June Yoo Rifkin, Heritage Group The Steering Committee: Mr. Stephen Brouwers Mr. George Hui Mr. Fred Mah Dr. Sherry McKay Professor Edgar Wickberg Professor Henry Yu Societies and Clan Associations: The Chinese Benevolent Association, particularly: Mr. George Chow Mr. John Wong (interviewee) Lim Sai Hor Association, particularly: Mr. Ken Lim (interviewee) Mr. Hong Lim Mr. Orville Lim Mr. Lim Fa-Chi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Page iv The Mah Society of Canada, particularly: Mr. Fred Mah (interviewee) Mr. Huey Mah (interviewee) 2005 Mr. Jimmy Mah (interviewee) ly Mr. Joe Mah (interviewee) Ju Shon Yee Benevolent Association of Canada, particularly: Mr. Rick Lam, Chairman of Property Division (interviewee) Mr. Alex Louie (interviewee for May Wah Hotel) Mr. John Lum (interviewee) The Yue Shan Society, particularly: Mr. David Chee (interviewee) Mr. Young Yip (interviewee) General Community and Individual Participants: Asian Library, University of British Columbia. Chinese Community Library Services Association. Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver The City of Vancouver Archives, particularly: Mr. Clark Yung Ms. Megan Schlase Commonwealth Historic Resource Management Limited (the consultant who prepared the Statements of Significance) Ms. Meg Stanley ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Page v Mr. Sid Tan (for sharing his article “Chinatown Grannies”) 2005 University of British Columbia Library. Rare Books and Special Collections. ly Ju University of British Columbia Library. University Archives. Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association. Mr. Joe Wai Mr. Larry Wong (for sharing his personal experience at May Wah Hotel) Ms. Saintfield Wong INTRODUCTION Page 1 Vancouver Chinatown is unique. It is important to The family/clan societies and the county societies information that would lead to the restoration the City of Vancouver which would like to see it generally fulfill the more important roles in the of the architecture in Chinatown. Many of the vigorously maintained and revitalized. social life of Chinatown. Many of these societies buildings that were built during the early 1900’s 2005 eventually acquired their own buildings to carry have become dilapidated, shabby, a shadow of Vancouver Chinatown is unique in that its history on with their activities. And, over the years, as their former glory. Little has been done to repair July of close to 120 years has witnessed the growth of Canadian society evolved, the activities of these the effects of aging, or until recently, to revitalize the originally ghettorized Chinese community and societies have also changed. Nevertheless, these the community as a whole. This study is a step its gradual integration into mainstream Canadian societies have resiliently survived and are still towards showing that the larger society recognizes society. contributing to the social life of the community. Chinatown as an area that is a valuable and integral In the meantime, their buildings have aged and part of the city and its history. The early Chinese community felt more “at most of them are around 100 years old. Yet these home” within the confines of Chinatown. In it, buildings still collectively add up to a significant These buildings exemplify the endurance that the Chinese community organized itself into the part of Chinatown. the Chinese have shown in their adopted home. following entities for mutual help, co-operation They symbolize the character and the tenacity with and general welfare purposes: The City of Vancouver would like to see these which the Chinese community has faced hardship buildings better maintained and/or upgraded over many years. We can now all recognize the a) The family/clan societies (zongqinhui, to support the City’s Chinatown Revitalization contributions made and the significance that the tongsuo or gongsuo) with membership Program. To this end, the City needs to better Chinese Canadian community has had to Vancouver open to persons of the same clan --- that understand Chinatown and the Chinese Canadians, and by extension, the cultural fabric of Canada. It is of the same surname-lineage; and has commissioned the Chinese Canadian is time to recognise that preserving our past is a b) The county (xian) associations/societies Historical Society (CCHS) to conduct a short term valuable instrument in thanking and paying our (a county being similar to its opposite in research project on the social and architectural respects to those who sacrificed so that others may the UK): membership open to persons history of several society buildings in Chinatown. benefit. The Chinese community still actively uses originating from the same county such as A research team was assembled to conduct the these buildings to this day. But the architecture Zhongshan, Panyu, Kaiping; study. of Chinatown is also a monument to the past. If c) Association embracing the entire we show acceptance and respect towards this, we community --- the Chinese Benevolent From the beginning the assembled team felt a indicate that we are all part of a single society and Association; and sense of respect for the historical value about this in a way, part of an extended family. d) Other societies --- political, cultural, study. We hoped that the historically significant athletic, hobbies. buildings in Vancouver’s Chinatown would yield INTRODUCTION Page 2 Purpose of the Steering Committee, Jessica Chen-Adams. and analysis, and by interviews of association A team of five researchers and two project leaders members. This report will present research results The purpose of this study is to provide historical, was assembled by the Chinese Canadian Historical in three general categories: historical context and 2005 sociological and architectural data for five Society. The team consisted of architects and value of the buildings; the social history of the historically significant buildings in Vancouver social historical researchers with appropriate buildings’ principal and current owners and users; July Chinatown. It is hoped that the project will allow language and research skills. All are either of and the buildings’ important architectural features. historically significant buildings in Chinatown to Chinese or Chinese Canadian background. The In this Introduction we will begin with an historical be, in the near future, restored or architecturally team was led by a retired architect and active overview of the Chinese in Vancouver. That upgraded from their current condition. The member in the Chinese community, Colin Sihoe, will be followed by a brief history of Vancouver process of this research is also to be an outreach and assisted by a retired Head of the UBC Asian Chinatown’s architecture and an overview of the to the clan associations and benevolent societies Library, Linda Joe. The researchers were Amy Sit, a nature and the activities of the kinds of Chinatown in Chinatown for further discussions of visions practicing architect, Cindy Lee, a graduate student associations we discuss in this report. for the aging buildings in Chinatown. Lastly, the in architecture, and historical researchers Joanne report is for members of the societies to tell their Mei-chu Poon, Wilfred Wing Foo Lim and Phoebe own stories of their buildings. Sung Lok Chow. Edgar Wickberg and Jennifer Lau provided backup research support. Method The buildings chosen by the Steering Committee The City of Vancouver created a Steering Committee were (1) The Mah Society of Canada at 137 East to determine policy for this project. Included on Pender St., (2) The Lim Sai Hor Kow Mock that committee are two members of the Chinese Benevolent Association at 525 Carrall St., and (3) Canadian Historical Society, the body that has been The Chinese Benevolent Association at 104 East awarded the contract for this research. The two Pender St. Subsequently, two other buildings were CCHS members, Henry Yu and Edgar Wickberg, added: the Yue Shan Society at 33-47 East Pender were joined on the Committee by architectural St. and the May Wah Hotel, at 258 East Pender St. historian Dr. Sherry McKay and architect Steve so that the finished project includes five buildings, Brouwers, the latter representing – along with Fred all of them of heritage value. Mah - the Chinatown Revitalization Committee, and two representatives of the Vancouver City The research was to be accomplished by library Planning Department, George