B.C. residents and tourists can experience post-war Chinatown in a new, immersive 4,000-square-foot space. The Learning Lab at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre (168 East Pender Street) features historic facades, digital displays, artifacts, a presentation theatre, a media studio, and workshop space to support firsthand learning.
The Learning Lab opens on Saturday (May 23). It shares stories of individual success and conveys how the historic neighbourhood thrived from the 1950s to 1980s.
“The Chinatown Storytelling Centre and Learning Lab are a bridge connecting generations to inspire hope in the community,” Carol Lee, chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, says in a news release. “These spaces showcase how Chinese Canadians built community after overcoming the many barriers they faced, offering a powerful reminder of what Chinatown can become again.”
In those days, the neighbourhood was buzzing with activity day and night. Restaurants, cabarets, herbal shops, general stores, and bountiful produce stores attracted customers from across the region.
The news release notes that visitors to the centre can interact with a full-wall screen to learn the significance of individual objects in Chinese Canadian history. Moreover, people can open drawers in a re-imagined apothecary cabinet to discover how immigrants built new lives in Canada through ingenuity and hard work.
Admission by donation on opening weekend
The opening of the Learning Lab coincides with the Chinatown Storytelling Centre’s fifth anniversary. It has already preserved more than 200 community stories, making it a popular destination for school groups.
The Chinatown Storytelling Centre’s permanent collection has more than 10,000 artefacts. This has proven helpful for historians hoping to gain greater insight into the neighbourhood’s storied past.
On the opening weekend, admission is by donation, with a minimum entrance fee of $5.
“Members of the public are always welcome to host their next event, school visit, or group experience at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre and Learning Lab,” the news release states. “The space is open for tours, rentals, and school programming. From hands-on student programs to customized tours for all ages, the spaces offer flexible booking and rental options.”
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