As the province is putting together plans to build a Chinese Canadian museum in Vancouver Chinatown, Coun. Chak Au has asked the government to consider building a similar museum in Richmond.
Au expressed his opinion to George Chow, Minister of State for Trade in the B.C. government, at a consultation session on the museum in Richmond earlier this month.
“It’s only logical for Richmond to have a role to play in this Chinese Canadian Museum, because there is a long history of Chinese Canadians in our city,” Au told the Richmond News on Friday.
He said Richmond in contrast to many other cities has kept many artefacts that can tell a story about Chinese Canadian history.
“We still have the Chinese bunkhouse, the cannery, so the history still lives on in Richmond," said Au.
"That’s why I think it’s important for the provincial government not to overlook Richmond."
Au believes there shouldn’t just be one Chinese Canadian museum in Vancouver Chinatown, but instead, have multiple ones in different cities differentiated by themes.
“Because Chinese people who come to Richmond are different from those who go to Kamloops – those who went to Kamloops were more for the gold rush, but in Richmond, they were here for a long time for farming,” said Au.
Chow didn’t respond to Au’s suggestion directly during the meeting, but said he would include it in the feedback report handed to the province regarding the museum.
The proposed Chinese Canadian Museum is part of a bigger project created by the province and the City of Vancouver, which aims to have Vancouver’s Chinatown designated as a World Heritage site under the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Public feedback collected in the past two months will be summarized and be used as input on how to establish the museum. The summary of feedback received will be posted in Spring 2019, according to the government.
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