Stuart McNish, for KCTS9, on February 16, 2017
Settled in the late 19th century, Vancouver’s Chinatown — then known as Shanghai Alley — grew to become second in size only to San Francisco’s Chinatown, and by the mid-1970s, had become incredibly valuable real estate.
Its streets were abuzz around the clock, with people patronizing restaurants, nightclubs, theaters and grocery shops specializing in Chinese delicacies. Chinatown was the place to be; and it was the only place Chinese residents of Vancouver were allowed to live for more than 80 years.
Then, suddenly, if you were Chinese you no longer had to live within the close and closed community. The laws changed and immigration from Asia soared. Following unrest in Hong Kong in the 1960s, a flood of people jumped on ships seeking safer harbors and Vancouver was a preferred destination.
As 1997 loomed and the British prepared to hand control of Hong Kong over to China, a wave of uncertainty swept through the colony. Families with money fled to Vancouver, but not to Chinatown, as they no longer were required or needed to live in the tight-knit self-segregated community.
At the same time, third- and fourth-generation Chinese Canadians moved out of Chinatown. Most were highly educated and successful professionals looking to enjoy the benefits of full participation in the Canadian experience. Slowly the nature of Chinatown began to change.
The city lost touch with Chinatown, as City Hall focused on condo development to the south and the rampant drug and alcohol problems in the ghetto just one block north of Chinatown.
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