Chinese Cultural Centre Museum

Great curated experience of the history of Chinese Canadians in British Columbia

Recently, I toured both the Chinese Cultural Center museum and the Chinese story telling Center. I thought the Chinese Cultural Center was very good for a free museum. While both museums showed life of the early Chinese pioneers in Canada, neither addressed my curiosity of WHAT was happening in China and WHY they wanted to stay in Canada and continued to come , where there was so much discrimination and hardship. Why didn’t they choose to return to China as men were separated from their families, especially during Chinese Exclusion years 1923-1947? I believe the pioneer stories are richer and more complete if they start from the originating country. For example, other stories do not start with “Between x year and y year, 20,000 Jews came to Canada from Europe”, but include the story of the rise of Hitler and anti-semitism. Knowing what hardships and conditions that immigrant groups endured in their originating countries, gives a better picture and appreciation of the lives and sacrifices of the brave pioneers Also, as these museums have Canadian government funding, it would be nice to document what it is that Canada offered , that the originating country didn’t ,which somewhat balances out the museum’s well-documented early Canadian racist policies.

This cultural center is very informative and well done if you are a historian new to Vancouver or just wanting to learn more about Vancouver history from a Chinese Canadian Pioneer's perspective this is a must see. If those things are of no interest to you I would skip this. Other than that I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Very nice place to visit and learn about Chinese culture. The people are friendly and professional. You should enjoy your time here. Have fun!

Very interestings Museum, just wished if they had a Gallery Attendant to guide and tour the museum will be great and explore stories of its artifacts etc. Hoping that will happen soon! Great museum for actual chinese collections.

Excellent pictorial exhibit of early Chinese in Vancouver and Canada. There are some old artifacts and items but wish there were more artifacts from local Chinatown. On the second floor is the Chinese Canadian Military Museum. Items were donated to the museum. Although the museum is small but it’s a good start. Lots of room for improvement. Wish more people would donate to the museum to improve its exhibits.

So grateful for the centre to provide a space to share the Yucho Chow Photography Exhibit. History has been captured on film. A nice moment for my mother-in-law . She shared this experience and provided stories of her Uncle Yucho and their families to her children and grandchildren. A nice day for my wife share with her mother, sister and nieces. Hopefully more Chows will be able to see this exhibit if and when it runs again.