Chinatown Storytelling Centre Opens New Exhibit: Neighbours: From Pender to Hastings

Chinatown Storytelling Centre Opens New Exhibit: Neighbours: From Pender to Hastings

The new exhibit opens June 23 and celebrates the rich heritage of Hastings Street

Chinatown Storytelling Centre, an initiative by the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, is opening a new exhibit titled Neighbours: From Pender to Hastings. The exhibit coincides with the opening of the Foundation’s innovative community housing development Bob & Michael’s Place(formerly known as 58 West Hastings), and celebrates the rich heritage of Hastings Street and its close ties to Chinatown. The exhibit will be held in the lobby of the Chinatown Storytelling Centre from June 23, 2024 to March 2025.

Neighbours: From Pender to Hastings features inspiring stories and rare archival photographs showcasing the unique intercultural relationships and resilient community spirit that once thrived between Pender and Hastings Streets. Iconic businesses such as Woodwards, Army & Navy, M. Furuya Company, Odeon Hastings Theatre, and Wosk’s will be highlighted, along with their role in welcoming their "Chinese friends."

“The exhibit is a celebration of the launch of Bob & Michael’s Place. We wanted an exhibit that situated this project within the rich history of the neighbourhood, with a particular focus on the community’s resilient spirit and diversity,” said Carol Lee, Chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. “The goal of the exhibit is to shine a light on the important cultural legacy of Hastings Street and to envision its bright future, especially with the opening of Bob & Michael’s Place as a transformative moment for the neighbourhood.”

Visitors will get an exclusive look at Bob & Michael’s Place, which provides 231 new affordable housing units and brings together multiple levels of government support, including BC Housing, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the City of Vancouver. It will also house the Lily Lee Community Health Centre, a 50,000-square-foot integrated health centre operated by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) that will provide critical resources and accessible health care to support the unique needs of Chinatown and DTES residents.

The exhibit will also feature celebrated Vancouver artist Stan Douglas’ Every Building on 100 West Hastings. Douglas photographed each building on the 100 block of West Hastings Street and composited the individual prints to merge the perspectives into one monumental panorama. The piece retains the memory of the vibrant and diverse neighbourhood surrounding Bob & Michael’s Place, informing the artist’s decision to donate this work to the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation’s 58WH Art Project to support the groundbreaking housing project.

Neighbours: From Pender to Hastings is lovingly supported by Lily Lee and Yoshi Karasawa, the wives of Bob & Michael.

For more information on Neighbours: From Pender to Hastings, visit www.chinatownstorytellingcentre.org

About Vancouver Chinatown Foundation:

The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to the revitalization of Chinatown, one of Canada’s most iconic neighbourhoods. The Foundation aims to build resilient and inclusive communities by promoting the well-being of those in need while preserving Chinatown’s irreplaceable cultural heritage. Learn more at chinatownfoundation.org.

About the Chinatown Storytelling Centre:

The Chinatown Storytelling Centre, a project of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, celebrates the power of stories in building community and understanding. Through storytelling, the Centre honours the sacrifices made by previous generations and encourages intergenerational dialogue to inspire resolve in current and future challenges.

Call for Exhibit Sponsorship:

The Chinatown Storytelling Centre is seeking a presenting sponsor for this unique exhibition. For a contribution of $35,000, the sponsor will receive name/logo recognition on the exhibit wall and all marketing materials, as well as a few minutes to provide remarks at the opening event.

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