"The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation provides vital programs for our community, making them a pillar in the Chinatown neighbourhood," said Francesco Aquilini. "We are grateful for their commitment and proud to provide them with this donation to support their positive impact in the community."
"We are so grateful to the Canucks for Kids Fund and the entire Canucks organization for supporting the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation," said Carol Lee, board chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. "This generous donation to celebrate Lunar New Year will be used to support our ongoing efforts to revitalize and strengthen our beloved neighbourhood."
The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to building a more resilient and inclusive community by promoting the wellbeing of those in need while preserving Chinatown's irreplaceable cultural heritage. Through the efforts of highly involved community stakeholders and mobilization of resources the Foundation organizes projects focused on physical, cultural, and economic revitalization of Vancouver's Chinatown neighbourhood.
Funds such as those donated by the Canucks for Kids Fund will help contribute to ongoing and future projects for the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, including those dedicated to creating affordable housing, combatting anti-Asian racism in the community, and preserving Chinese Canadian culture through storytelling.
58 West Hastings Social Housing
58 West Hastings is the largest social project of its kind in Vancouver, led by the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation in close coordination with all three levels of government. It is aimed at providing 230 new homes across a 10-storey building to a variety of low-income residents in addition to a 50,000 square foot integrated health centre serving the entire community.
Economic Recovery Program
Launched in response to the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19 on Vancouver's Chinatown neighbourhood as a result of decreased tourism and an increase in Anti-Asian sentiment, the Economic Recovery Program has enabled the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation to support businesses in their applications for government relief programs and in attracting new and returning visitors through new initiatives and marketing strategies.
Chinatown Storytelling Centre
Opened on November 5, 2021, the Chinatown Storytelling Centre (CSC) is Canada's first permanent space dedicated to documenting and sharing the Chinese Canadian journey. The CSC shares more than 150 stories from Chinatown's past, present, and future through various programming, exhibits and interactive kiosks, and provides a space for new dialogues to be shared.
The Vancouver Canucks recently celebrated their fourth annual Lunar New Year game, presented by TD, on January 25 vs the Edmonton Oilers, featuring Lunar New Year traditions and imagery, along with cultural music and performances, and special Lunar New Year merchandise designed by artist Trevor Lai.
For more information on the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, please visit
chinatownfoundation.org
.
