The Wing Sang building, the oldest in Vancouver’s Chinatown, will soon be home to the Chinese Canadian Museum, the B.C. government announced..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, and purchase the building for the museum..“Museums connect us to the past and the present. For years, the Chinese Canadian communities in B.C. have been calling on government to share the rich history of Chinese Canadians — both the challenges and contributions,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. .“This new museum is a light in Vancouver 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.”.Premier John Horgan also welcomed the announcement..“The contributions of Chinese Canadians to this province have been invaluable,” Horgan said..“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. The museum will be an important place for all British Columbians, connecting the past to the present and future generations.”.The Wing Sang Building will be owned and operated by the society, with the museum opening in 2023. The building will feature space for permanent and temporary exhibits, multi-purpose programs and events, and learning spaces for students. .George Chow, Minister of State for Trade said the museum was years in the making..“Canada’s first Chinese Canadian Museum is the result of many passionate, knowledgeable people in the community working together over several years to build a bridge between the past and present,” said Chow..“I am honoured to have been part of that process and am looking forward to sharing the results of our vision with all British Columbians.”.First constructed in 1889 for Mr. Yip Sang’s business, the Wing Sang Company, then expanded to provide a home for his family. Grace Wong, chair of the Chinese Canadian Museum Society of BC, believes it’s an ideal location..“This is a historic moment for Chinese Canadians across the province. This is the first such museum in Canada and will widely share the history, contributions and heritage of Chinese Canadians and their lived experiences. Having the home in the Wing Sang Building, one of the most historic buildings of Vancouver Chinatown, is particularly meaningful.”.In 2004, real estate entrepreneur Bob Rennie acquired the building and funded an extensive five-year heritage renovation and restoration. It is currently home to Rennie’s corporate headquarters and the Rennie Museum, which draws on the Rennie art collection..“Our family’s duty to 51 East Pender has always been to be a good custodian and we are honoured and excited to have Vancouver Chinatown’s oldest structure now celebrated as home to the Chinese Canadian Museum,” Rennie said..“We intend to have the Rennie Foundation make a gift of $7.5 million to the Chinese Canadian Museum Society in the near future.”.The Rennie Museum opened in October 2009 in historic Wing Sang, the oldest structure in Vancouver’s Chinatown, to feature dynamic exhibitions of art drawn exclusively from Rennie collection. The art of Palestinian Mona Hatoum, Rodney Graham, Barkley L. Hendricks, Kerry James Marshall, Yoko Ono, and Ian Wallace have been showcased there, free to the public..The Rennie Museum will present two final exhibitions before it concludes its 13-year journey in the Wing Sang at the end of the year. The Rennie collection will find a new location in the region to continue to offer workshops, support artists and loan art to museums around the world..Lee Harding is a contributor to Western Standard based in Saskatchewan.
