With deep roots in Vancouver’s Chinatown, the Chan sisters are cultivating spaces, online and in person, that connect individuals and help them thrive. Cold Tea Collective recently interviewed all three sisters to learn about their experiences building up their individual communities.
Anita, Alyce, and Amy Chan grew up in Vancouver’s Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Canada. Their father owned a grocery store business on Pender Street, where the legendary New Town Bakery still stands today.
“Community was huge in Chinatown back in the day,” said Anita Chan, the eldest of the three. “It was like an extended family.”
The three sisters were born in the United States and immigrated to Canada at a young age with their parents. When they arrived, they struggled as a family to settle into Vancouver, but were able to open their business with help from their grandparents. As the daughter of a merchant, Anita described Chinatown as a close-knit neighbourhood, where everyone knew each other and looked out for one another.
“It was a safe place,” said Anita, the founder of We Trash Talk, a company focused on zero-waste living. “It was basically our playground.”
With a constant influx of migration during the 1970s and 1980s, Chinatown was a vibrant culture and entertainment centre. Hong Kong investors revitalized Chinatown in the 1970s through various beautification projects throughout the 1980’s, including the construction of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Garden in 1986 and the reinstallation of the Chinese arch from Expo 86 in front of the Chinese Cultural Centre.
Growing up in Vancouver’s Chinatown
The sister’s parents were immigrants from China that dedicated most of their time to running their business. So, as children, the sisters learned to be self-sufficient at a young age. Anita, as the eldest sister, also took on the responsibility of caring for her siblings.
“We didn’t really have a childhood. Alyce…
Read the full article here
