When the Chinese Canadian Museum (CCM) opened its doors in Vancouver’s historic Wing Sang Building in July 2023, it marked a milestone moment in Canada’s cultural landscape: the country’s first national museum dedicated to the stories, struggles, and achievements of Chinese Canadians. In just over a year since opening, CCM has been honoured with one of Canada’s most prestigious recognitions — the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Museums — a testament to the Museum’s vision, ambition, and impact on the country’s understanding of its own history.
Situating the Museum in Historical Context
The Chinese presence in Canada dates to 1788, when Chinese shipwrights were contracted to work in Yuquot, a village in Nootka Sound, British Columbia. Over the next two centuries, Chinese Canadians would contribute to nation-building projects including the Canadian Pacific Railway, agriculture, and small business development, even as they faced legislated discrimination — most notably the head tax (1885–1923) and the Chinese Exclusion Act (1923–1947). CCM’s mission — “Connecting to the Chinese Canadian story – addressing inclusion for all” — reflects an intentional curatorial framework of redress, equity, and inclusion, aligning with Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation and anti-racism initiatives. Its aim is not simply to present artefacts, but to spark dialogue about identity, resilience, and the meaning of belonging in Canada today.
The Making of a National Museum
The museum’s creation was the result of sustained advocacy by Chinese Canadian community leaders and heritage activists. The Province of British Columbia invested $48 million CAD to acquire and restore the Wing Sang Building, working in partnership with federal and municipal governments. Philanthropic leadership from diverse Chinese Canadian communities further anchored the project, underscoring its national scope. This broad base of support reflects a shared conviction: that the stories of Chinese Canadians — their exclusion, perseverance, and contributions — are Canadian stories that must be remembered and celebrated.
The Wing Sang Building itself is emblematic of this vision. Built in 1889 by merchant Yip Sang, it is the oldest standing building in Vancouver’s Chinatown, once serving as a family home, business headquarters, and community space. Today, after extensive restoration and adaptation, it is a dynamic cultural hub that honours its layered history while looking to the future.
Curatorial Approach and Innovation
CCM’s curatorial practice combines rigorous historical research with contemporary artistic interventions. Exhibitions such as The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act and Dream Factory: Cantopop, Mandopop 1980s–2000 mobilize archival photographs, multimedia installations, and avant-garde visual culture to engage audiences in critical reflection. This methodology positions museums as spaces of dialogue and co-creation rather than passive repositories.
Within its first year, CCM mounted six major exhibitions, hosted 60+ school groups (impacting over 3,000 students), and produced 15+ public programs and artist talks, many of which reached full capacity. These numbers demonstrate CCM’s ability to translate curatorial vision into measurable cultural participation.
Distinction and Jury Recognition
The Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Museums recognized CCM’s capacity to synthesize rigorous scholarship, community engagement, and innovative exhibition design. The museum’s approach foregrounds historically marginalized voices, transforming what was once a site of exclusion into a forum for intercultural dialogue. CCM is not only a repository of history but an active site of dialogue — a place where contemporary issues such as migration, racism, and representation are explored through the lens of history. Its approach is deeply collaborative, involving artists, scholars, and community members in co-creating content that resonates locally and nationally.
What makes CCM distinct is its integration of contemporary culture and historical interpretation. Rather than presenting Chinese Canadian history as static, the museum shows how it continues to shape and be shaped by Canada’s evolving identity. This fresh approach has made CCM a cultural destination for both tourists and locals, attracting more than 50,000 visitors in its first two years of operation.
Building a Team, Building Capacity
Behind the scenes, CCM operates with a small but passionate team of curators, educators, exhibition designers, and visitor services staff, supported by a network of volunteers and community advisors. The brand new museum has been an intensive exercise in capacity-building — developing new operational systems, training staff in visitor engagement, and learning how to balance the demands of a high-profile cultural institution with the intimacy and responsiveness that community-based heritage requires. The project demanded a high degree of institutional agility, as the team navigated the simultaneous challenges of capital renovations, exhibition production, and public program delivery. Staff capacity-building was integral to the process, with training in visitor engagement, collections care, and digital interpretation.
While the work has been demanding, it has also been deeply rewarding. Staff describe the opening year as a crash course in project management, fundraising, community relations, and public engagement — one that has strengthened the museum’s foundation for future growth.
Challenges, Learnings, and Future Trajectories
One of the biggest challenges has been timing: launching a new national museum amid the tail end of a pandemic, while simultaneously completing capital renovations, required flexibility and determination. The most significant challenges were logistical: coordinating construction timelines with exhibition openings, meeting high audience demand, and developing operational systems for a new national institution. These challenges ultimately strengthened internal workflows and underscored the need for scalable programming and enhanced digital outreach.
Looking ahead, CCM is already touring select exhibitions nationally, expanding educational programming, and deepening its use of digital storytelling platforms to reach remote and underrepresented audiences. These initiatives will further the museum’s strategic goal of raising its profile nationally and positioning Vancouver’s Chinatown as a locus of cultural tourism.
Professional Excellence and Advice
Professional excellence, for CCM, has meant creating a museum that is both historically rigorous and emotionally resonant, combining critical historiography with compelling visitor experiences. — one that honours community voices, fosters a sense of pride, and invites all Canadians to engage with the Chinese Canadian story.
A Museum for the Future
Receiving the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Museums is not an endpoint but a catalyst for further growth. CCM’s first year has demonstrated that museums can be agents of social transformation — reframing historical narratives, revitalizing urban spaces, and catalyzing dialogue across generations and cultures. In doing so, CCM is not only preserving the Chinese Canadian story but actively reshaping Canada’s understanding of itself.