Scope and Contents

Chinatown News was Vancouver's first Chinese News magazine published in English for the Chinese Canadian community. The entire Chinatown News series was published from its establishment in 1948 to 1996. The bulk of the collection consists of 796 paper magazines published between 1954 and 1992.

Abstract Ni Biying talks about her experiences growing up in China and her experience with food over the years as she survives the Japanese invasion from an early age and moves to the US to find work during her adulthood. She imparts interesting knowledge about the regional cuisine from Fujian, China (Fujianese food) and gives insight into the types of food eaten from her rural roots in China. She describes food eaten during times of poverty as well as the difficulties she experiences while trying to...

Abstract Recently appointed the Acting Assistant Principal of the Princeton High School, Cecilia Birge has also had extensive experience working in local politics, once serving as the mayor of Montgomery township, After emigrating from Beijing, China many years ago, Cecilia currently sees herself as being a Chinese-American as well as a proud democrat. Cecilia has long stay connected with the Chinese communities, citing that she could not have won her former mayorship with just the Chinese support,...

Abstract In this interview, Chun Wai "Billy" Wong discusses his arrival to America and living in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn as compared to his birthplace of Hong Kong, China. He cites reasons why he likes living in New York. Wong describes the culture and lifestyle of the working Chinese community; the differences between Mainland Chinese people and Chinese people from Hong Kong, the means in which the Chinese travel back and forth from the neighborhoods, shopping at food stores, and...

Abstract Doniyar Sobitov was raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and moved to Brooklyn, NY. He opened his Halal, Uzbek, Asian fusion restaurant called Café Kashkar. The restaurant is run by his family. Sobitov worked as a cook in China and learned techniques to bring back to his own restaurant. He is considering attending culinary school in China for the future. Café Kashkar’s food is based on the region Kashgar, which is located in China. He explains the importance of food to him and is family as a way...

Abstract In this interview, husband and wife, George and Ruth Wong, talk about how they were both performers at the China Doll Night Club. George Wong describes how he was born in China and trained in acrobatics there. When he was 9, he was in an acrobatic troupe that toured Europe. Ruth Wong was born in the United States but was sent back to China with her mother and siblings to get an education during the Depression Era. She talks about growing up in a neighborhood where she was picked on for being...

Abstract Jeff Gao was born in 1976 in Shandong, China. He grew up during the end of the cultural revolution and thus did not have an abundant amount of food to eat or experience. He was fond of hand pulled noodles and eventually followed a chef for two weeks to learn the dish. He learned the importance of broth. This inspired him to study in Beijing, where he had the opportunity to try food from all over the world. His perspective on food changed from its survival purposes to its role as a social...

Abstract Juliann Wang sits down with MOCA to discuss her experience as a Chinese artist during the COVID-19 pandemic. She talks about her experience participating in the online art show “Slaysian” as well as her hopes and goals for her art, before explaining how the pandemic has impacted her world and her view of art’s role in one’s daily life. She then goes on to discuss the impact of COVID on US-China relations and the rise of AAPI racism. She also elaborates on her personal journey from Anhui to...

Abstract

Leonard Liao was born and raised in Chinatown and Flushing, New York during the 1970s and 1980s. Given that his paternal grandfather and father once lived in Cuba, Liao grew up eating both Chinese and Latino Cuisine. Given that he was influenced by both Chinese and Latino culture, Liao understands what it is to retain loyal customers from the Latino community. The legacy Liao hopes to leave is to inform everyone to do whatever one is passionate to do.