Whose roots, whose heritage? : investigating the generational difference in the interpretation of cultural heritage and identity of Vancouver Chinatown, Canada

Abstract

Vancouver’s Chinatown was first established in the late 1800s, and it is culturally significant as the largest Chinatown in Canada and one of the oldest. The Vancouver Chinatown symbolizes the contribution of the early Chinese immigrants and the evolving culture of the Chinese-Canadian Community In 2018, the City of Vancouver made an official apology for historical discrimination against the Chinese Canadian people and declared the city as the City of Reconciliation. This event was also meant as the launching point of the city’s goal to inscribe Vancouver Chinatown on the World Heritage List. However, its public engagement process has only begun the initial preparation work to rally public support among all Vancouver citizens. This process reveals a generational divide between the younger and older generations in what cultural heritage elements are valued and remembered. The cultural mapping and interpretation recommendation will provide a valuable basis for future interpretation plans and conservation strategies which are essential for the World Heritage inscription process. The topic of my dissertation is on heritage interpretation of Vancouver Chinatown, and the focus is on the site, Vancouver Chinatown, which locates in downtown Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada. The scope of the study is twofold: the general scope is to map the cultural heritage elements that give the place its distinct character and proposing interpretation recommendations for these cultural heritage elements. Based on this general mapping, a more detailed examination is made to better understand whether there is a generational difference in how Chinese-Canadians perceive Vancouver Chinatown’s cultural heritage, and in so doing, help to establish the basis of cultural identity for this ethnic group.