Our lives began to change drastically back in March 2020. As we approach the 1 year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vancouver, Canada, you likely remember vividly where you were.
As this event began to take a foothold, our new realities began to sink in and we grappled with the challenge of how to adapt. Like other cultural organizations based in Chinatown, the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC had to quickly pivot. We turned our attention towards finding ways to support the neighbourhood. A number of groups across the community came together, creating invaluable collaborations and connections to the ongoing recovery of Chinatown.
Photographer Larry Chin of CCHSBC Board of Directors captured images during the spring to early summer of 2020, documenting images and life on the streets in Chinatown. Join us for a photographic retrospective of the past year and moderated conversation with members of the Chinatown community.
Presenter: Larry Chin is an active volunteer for cultural organizations and initiatives in Vancouver’s Chinatown. He is an avid photographer in the neighborhood and enjoys capturing landscape, architecture, and candid photography. He is a member of the Hakka (Tsung Tsin) Association and co-founder of Chinatown Wonders. Born in Malaysia, he immigrated with his family to Fort McMurray, northern Alberta. Larry joined the CCHSBC board in 2020 and chairs the publications committee. He is the founder of Telicam Technology, a company specializing in camera technology for transportation to address risk management. He serves as a governor for the board of Stratford Hall School.
Moderator: John Atkin is a civic historian and author who conducts many walking tours around the city and province. His tours offer interesting and offbeat insight to the city's architecture, history, and neighbourhoods. John has been a CCHSBC board member since 2012, and has served as Co-Chair, President and Co-Vice-President. He is currently the President of the Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Panelist: Olivia Chan is a tea master and the owner of Treasure Green Tea. In this transitioning community, Olivia is a rare example of a second generation Chinese merchant in Chinatown. Her father, Mr. Kwok Sun Cheung, opened the shop over thirty years ago, and brought his passion for tea. Training under her father, Olivia went on buying trips to China and learned the traditions of the tea business, from self-sourcing premium quality teas to mastering the tea ceremony. Treasure Green Tea Company offers the most exclusive and diverse collection of tea, such as pu-erh tea cakes and Treasure Green's Emerald Silver green tea, that are ethically sourced from the most famous regions in China. Olivia always tells her customers, “Don’t be loyal to tea. Be loyal to your tea merchant.” To this day, she stills serves some of her Father’s loyal customers as well as captivating a new generation of tea lovers who are drawn into the taste and health benefits.
As this event began to take a foothold, our new realities began to sink in and we grappled with the challenge of how to adapt. Like other cultural organizations based in Chinatown, the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC had to quickly pivot. We turned our attention towards finding ways to support the neighbourhood. A number of groups across the community came together, creating invaluable collaborations and connections to the ongoing recovery of Chinatown.
Photographer Larry Chin of CCHSBC Board of Directors captured images during the spring to early summer of 2020, documenting images and life on the streets in Chinatown. Join us for a photographic retrospective of the past year and moderated conversation with members of the Chinatown community.
Presenter: Larry Chin is an active volunteer for cultural organizations and initiatives in Vancouver’s Chinatown. He is an avid photographer in the neighborhood and enjoys capturing landscape, architecture, and candid photography. He is a member of the Hakka (Tsung Tsin) Association and co-founder of Chinatown Wonders. Born in Malaysia, he immigrated with his family to Fort McMurray, northern Alberta. Larry joined the CCHSBC board in 2020 and chairs the publications committee. He is the founder of Telicam Technology, a company specializing in camera technology for transportation to address risk management. He serves as a governor for the board of Stratford Hall School.
Moderator: John Atkin is a civic historian and author who conducts many walking tours around the city and province. His tours offer interesting and offbeat insight to the city's architecture, history, and neighbourhoods. John has been a CCHSBC board member since 2012, and has served as Co-Chair, President and Co-Vice-President. He is currently the President of the Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Panelist: Olivia Chan is a tea master and the owner of Treasure Green Tea. In this transitioning community, Olivia is a rare example of a second generation Chinese merchant in Chinatown. Her father, Mr. Kwok Sun Cheung, opened the shop over thirty years ago, and brought his passion for tea. Training under her father, Olivia went on buying trips to China and learned the traditions of the tea business, from self-sourcing premium quality teas to mastering the tea ceremony. Treasure Green Tea Company offers the most exclusive and diverse collection of tea, such as pu-erh tea cakes and Treasure Green's Emerald Silver green tea, that are ethically sourced from the most famous regions in China. Olivia always tells her customers, “Don’t be loyal to tea. Be loyal to your tea merchant.” To this day, she stills serves some of her Father’s loyal customers as well as captivating a new generation of tea lovers who are drawn into the taste and health benefits.