NYC Mayor Speaks Mandarin!

Mamdani makes a video announcement in Mandarin

A few hours ago, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a video -- in Mandarin -- and makes a damn good effort.

He starts off by introducing himself and says he doesn't know how to speak Mandarin, but he wants to try.

Then Mamdani announces the city is giving away over 2,000 free tickets to high school students on August 17 to watch Broadway shows. 

While some criticise his staccato delivery, fans are thrilled that he even attempted to pronounce the tonal language relatively well for a beginner.

As one person said online: "Is there anything this man can't do?"

We also have to give kudos to his language coaches, as Mandarin pronunciation along with the tones aren't easy.

Maybe there will be a BTS or behind-the-scenes video of how Mamdani had his crash course in Mandarin?

In the meantime, this video throws the gauntlet down for Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim to try to woo the Chinese vote by speaking Cantonese in time for the October 17 municipal election... 

Vancouver Will Have One Night of Fireworks

The city will have a fireworks show this year

What does $2 million (US$1.46 million) buy you in Vancouver?

A two or three bedroom condo in Kitsilano or downtown, or perhaps a detached house in East Vancouver.

The $2 million could be used to keep libraries open seven days a week, or give to food banks to ensure people have food to eat, fix potholes, or fund arts groups so they can hold their annual events.

But no, Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC Vancouver majority have voted to spend $2 million on fireworks for an hour this summer.

The three-day Celebration of Light, a fireworks competition that was held for three decades was cancelled indefinitely last year because of the lack of federal funding, and Sim felt it was necessary to bring it back -- kind of.

He said it was a "deeply personal" issue, claiming his family had "struggled financially" when he was young, and really looked forward to free events like the fireworks.

Sim added the city had "never pulled our support" from the fireworks, and "had already committed $1.4 million to the event", so the increase is actually $600,000.

Sounds like someone is trying to massage the numbers.

His opponents on city council were not impressed, smelling smoke.

Green councillor Pete Fry, who has also announced he will run for mayor later this year, said that the event was not financially viable.

"The reality is that it was a business model that was not sustainable," he said. "They couldn't make it work, for a variety of reasons, including the lack of federal funding. We need to recognise that we are in this austerity budget. ... We're talking about the allocation of $2 million at a time when this city has talked about a zero means zero austerity budget."

In November City Council voted for a zero percent increase in property taxes, but that meant 400 jobs cut, while utility fees for water, garbage and sewer will go up 4 percent.

Meanwhile COPE councillor Sean Orr also questioned if it was worth spending $2 million on a one-hour fireworks show.

We also wondered that too. The fireworks show would be literally burning money in the sky for an hour. And then what?

While there are complaints that Vancouver is a "no-fun city", now isn't the time to put on something so frivolous. 

It's Sim's attempt at getting in voters' good books before the upcoming civic election later this year. Will voters return the favour?

Museum Celebrates Cantopop with Fundraiser

Museum CEO Melissa Lee addressed attendees

The Chinese Canadian Museum will celebrate its second anniversary on Tuesday, and the other day I attended Spark Community Dinner fundraising gala at Floata Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown. 

Seven hundred and fifty people were in attendance, and it was quite the struggle to meet and greet people as tables and chairs were close together. The numbered tables were randomly placed all over the room which made it hard for me to find where I was sitting!

Nevertheless, it was good to see a handful of familiar faces and meet new ones, and some politicians who came out in force, including Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, Hong Kong-born Prince George Mayor Simon Yu, federal, provincial and municipal politicians too.

My friend sitting next to me remarked how it was only in Chinese gatherings were politicians given a lot of time to speak on stage (while everyone else in the room chatted); I suggested perhaps because the hosts were reliant on them for donations and handouts?

A lot of speeches were made before the evening finally kicked off, and perhaps the highlight was Lawrence Mok, who won a karaoke competition, sang two songs that brought everyone back to 1980s Cantopop with Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing's Monica. Everyone remarked how laser discs, reminders of karaoke machines, were suspended from the ceiling. 

Wish Mok could have sang a few more songs to keep the lively atmosphere going, because the tone shifted to how there were 750 people in the room and we all had to chip in to keep the museum going.

First was a live auction that was not particularly exciting partly because the prizes didn't quite match the crowd, and the starting bids were stratospheric. Oh and every single person had their own personal paddle too. Luckily these were all sold. 

Then if that wasn't enough, the emcee Fred Lee suggested that it was time that people start matching donations. MLA George Chow wasn't able to make the dinner, but pledged CA$10,000 and challenged others to do the same. Eventually four others raised their hands and gave $10K each.

That wasn't all -- Lee began soliciting for $5,000 donations, then $2,500, $1,000, and $500. When he got to the last amount of $250, two people at my table shot their paddles up, and I followed suit. 

But there needs to be an incentive to get people to donate -- just promising a tax receipt isn't a good reason. How about offering two free admission tickets, T-shirts, a sneak preview to something or an exclusive event? 

In the end the museum managed to raise over $300,000, but is that enough to keep this cultural institution going? We don't want to see it shutter either...

Vancouver Mayor's Personal Gym is No More

Sim in the meeting room turned personal gym space last year

A year ago there was a big uproar about Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim converting a boardroom next to his office into his personal gym.

But 365 days later this personal workout space is apparently gone.

Wearing white sneakers at Remembrance Day

Following the by-election in early April when his ABC Party was completely trounced by Cope's Sean Orr and OneCity Vancouver's Lucy Maloney, it seems Sim has seen the writing on the wall.

"He's not wearing athletic wear to council anymore... but I don't know that it necessarily addresses some of the underlying faults," observes councillor Pete Fry.

Before a few months ago, Sim was still refusing to wear blazers and proper shoes to council meetings and formal events, opting for T-shirts or polo shirts; many noticed when he wore a hoodie and white sneakers to a Remembrance Day ceremony.

However, since the Lapu Lapu Day incident, when a drive allegedly killed 11 people at a Filipino event, Sim has been wearing collared shirts and jackets and taking things much more seriously.

Will this new look help change people's perceptions of Sim? 

Sim's new serious mayoral look these days

Probably not, as residents remember him chugging beer on stage, and making flippant remarks about how hosting next year's World Cup is worth 30-40 Super Bowls. He claimed he would find cost savings to cut bureaucracy in City Hall, but in fact added more staff and increased his own office budget...

Vancouver Sign to be Permanent

Looking forward to having a sign like this in this spot?

Vancouver is going to get... a Vancouver sign placed at Coal Harbour in a bid to get visitors to take selfies and post them on social media.

Earlier this week city council voted 10 to one for the giant sign that could cost a total of C$1 million to produce and install, and then around $50,000 in operating costs. The sign would be placed in between the convention centre and Canada Place... a scenic space featuring mountains and the water that already screams "Vancouver" without spelling it out.

"This is a no-brainer," said Mayor Ken Sim, in that the sign will be a vehicle in promoting the city. "It plays a huge role in making Vancouver even cooler... there will be a buzz."

Mayor Sim says the sign is a "no-brainer"

In the winter of 2023 to early 2024 there was a temporary "Vancouver" sign in that spot that was red and lit up with light bulbs and attracted a lot of attention. The sign was part of a campaign called "Liven UP Coal Harbour" and was paid for by the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association in partnership with the Vancouver Convention Centre and the Port of Vancouver.

At the time the media reported on the sign, asking people how they felt about it, with mostly positive comments, which probably led city council to think about installing a permanent one.

"People will flock to this sign for photos, for video," said Councillor Peter Meiszner. "Tourists... sharing those photos and videos on social media around the world helps promote Vancouver as well as it really being a point of civic pride for locals."

The sign will be around 13.5 metres in length, 1.8 metres high and 1 metre wide, according to the city report.

Not everyone enthused by the sign downtown

Destination Vancouver has already promised C$200,000 to the project, as has the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association.

Where did the old sign go? Was it turned into scrap already?

But not everyone is onboard with the sign.

Councillor Sean Orr said that with many Vancouver residents struggling with the cost of living, spending money on a giant sign should not be a priority, and could even be seen as excessive.

"I am just unfortunately concerned about the optics, the cost also," he said. "Some of the talk about the safety issues, as well as where it's located in front of the mountains, to me, kind of seems like Paris putting up a sign that says, 'Paris' in front of the Eiffel tower.

"It maybe cheapens the view a little bit."

Some online commenters agree, saying it's not the best way to spend taxpayer money, and would rather use the money to clean up the streets instead.

Now that could be an attraction.

Man Charged with 8 Counts of Murder for Festival Tragedy

Rai addressing the media with Sim (left) this afternoon

Overnight news of the horrific tragedy of the vehicle that plowed into people attending a Filipino street party in Vancouver spread around the world. 

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he was "shattered to hear about the terrible incident."

Even King Charles sent condolences via a social media post.

The damaged SUV at the scene of attack

"Our hearts and prayers go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by such a desperate tragedy and we send our deepest possible sympathy at a most agonising time for so many in Canada," he wrote.

Some people in Vancouver woke up to the news this morning, and the shock, sadness and disbelief happened all over again.

Finally there were some numbers -- in the morning it was reported nine people had died, over a dozen injured.

Then at 2pm there was another press conference, this time with Mayor Ken Sim -- dressed in a black suit -- giving a heartfelt speech conveying his sadness and anger over what happened last night and has asked for a full investigation.

It was good to see him step up and finally act like a mayor. Following the by-election a few weeks ago when his ABC party was hammered, Sim realises he needs to actually do his job. If he takes this opportunity to show that he is performing his mayoral duties properly, residents may actually cut him some slack; but he's going to have to work really hard for forgiveness.

At that same press conference Interim Police Chief Steve Rai disclosed only a sliver more of information, that the now 11 deceased ranged in age from five to 65, and that 17 people are still in hospital.

Rai also confirmed the driver of the vehicle was very well known to police and mental health workers.

Lo charged this afternoon, appeared in court

Later in the afternoon news broke that 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo was charged with eight counts of second-degree murder in relation to the crash at the Lapu Lapu Festival. There are still a lot of questions around security of the festival, though Rai said a risk assessment was made with festival organisers that it didn't require more security like other events.

However, following this tragedy, the police will have to re-examine how they conduct these risk assessments and if police need to attend every single event held in the city. There are also questions why someone with mental health issues and well-known to police, did not get the help he needed, and why he was still able to drive a car. In this case an SUV.

Witnesses came out in the media to give first-hand accounts of what they saw and heard last night. It sounds absolutely horrific, some hearing boom, boom, boom, and later realising it was the sound of the car hitting people, others who had set up stalls at the festival, were cleaning up and leaving when they saw bodies on the ground. They are completely traumatised.

One admitted that whenever he sees groups of people he is terrified and hears the sounds and remember the images he saw.

But Lo, the driver who is charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, has a troubled past. Last year his older brother was murdered and turned to the public for money to pay for the funeral. And then his mother tried to commit suicide and she spent a month in hospital.

Today Lo appeared briefly in court, did not request bail and will remain in custody until his next court appearance on May 26 in Vancouver provincial court. 

Vancouver Mayor Reflects on By-Election Results

Will Sim take the office of the Mayor more seriously now?

Today Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim gave the impression of swallowing some humble pie, saying he and his party would reflect on the results of Sunday's by-election when two progressive candidates were elected by 15 percent of the city's population.

"Regardless if it's a by-election of not... the reality is we listen to the residents of Vancouver every single day," he said. "There are enough of them that said they're not necessarily happy with everything that's going on. We're going to take a really hard look at ourselves."

Sean Orr of COPE received 34,448 votes, while OneCity's Lucy Maloney got 33,732. A total of 67,962 votes were cast.

Orr (left) and Maloney were elected yesterday

When Orr and Maloney are sworn in on April 9, there will be six ABC councillors, former ABC-turned-independent Rebecca Bligh, and Green Party's Pete Fry.

Maloney, an environmental lawyer and transportation activist, said voters sent a strong message to the incumbent party.

"I think that ABC have lost touch with what ordinary Vancouverites are concerned about," she said, adding housing and affordability are the top priority of residents.

COPE's Orr is a housing activist, landscaper and dishwasher. He believes US politics may have influenced Vancouver voters.

"People are very upset," he said. "People are scared, and people are starting to kind of connect the dots with what's going on down south. You're seeing what Elon Musk and Donald Trump are doing there. They're kind of seeing how the rich buy their way into office."

Meanwhile city manager Paul Mochrie apologised to voters for having to wait over an hour to exercise their right to vote.

Mochrie apologised for way by-election was run

"I want to acknowledge that voting wait times that many electors experienced yesterday were unacceptable," he said in a statement.

"The extended wait times at many voting places reflected flawed planning assumptions for this by-election that informed staff decisions and the plan presented to Council. Recognising the effort by the City's elections team to promote and execute this plan, it was clearly insufficient to accommodate the electorate in accessing an efficient voting process.

"These shortcomings are deeply regrettable and I apologise to all voters impacted by delays, as well as to candidates and civic parties. I, along with City staff, are committed to ensure that lessons from yesterday's by-election inform the planning and execution of the 2026 general municipal election and all future City of Vancouver election efforts."

This afternoon Mochrie went on CBC Radio Vancouver's afternoon show to apologise again and explain that the plan was formally adopted in January and there was not enough time to alter it when they saw how many people showed up for advance voting and for mail-in ballots. 

People are more civically engaged than ever, and realise how important it is to make their voices heard through the ballot box. And this by-election in particular was their way of showing the mayor how they felt about his two years in office. 

More residents would have turned out if they had known about the election -- some thought that because they hadn't received a voting card they were not eligible! And there was not enough information about priority lines, and how the disabled could vote. Quite a messy affair. At least Mochrie owned up to it.

Watch out for 2026. It's going to be a a good turnout for sure.

Vancouver By-Election Voting Chaos

Where I started lining up at 12.20pm today to vote

Today Vancouver held a by-election for two seats on City Council. One was vacated by Christine Boyle, who successfully jumped into provincial politics, and the other by Adriane Carr, who retired after many years in political office.

There were already signs that voter turnout would be big just from advance voting and the number of mail-in ballots requested.

I went during lunchtime (wolfed down a sandwich beforehand) and was shocked -- shocked -- to see a massive line outside the Dunbar Community centre. A woman who was helping to run the election explained that yes this was the line to vote and that the wait would be 50 minutes -- 5-0 she reiterated. 

However, if you were elderly and could not stand long, or you had a ferry to catch, then by all means come to the priority line. Some followed her in, the rest of us waited, luckily in the sunshine.

An hour later, I exercised my right

The line kept moving, but snaked around the atrium before moving towards a very long corridor. Eventually I got to the front of the line, got registered, was given a ballot, and after choosing the two candidates, had to line up again to submit my ballot.

It took just over an hour to complete from start to finish.

Apparently at other polling stations the wait was over an hour, up to three hours.

Part of the reason can be faulted on city staff for anticipating (wrongly) that hardly anyone votes in by-elections. But surely from reading the news and the advance voting turnout they should know that only opening 25 polling stations compared the 50 in the 2017 by-election is going to result in long lines.

The other issue was that many elderly people did not know they could bypass the long line and walk right in. I advised my parents to do this and they were done in less than 15 minutes, while other seniors bravely stood in line not knowing about this priority line. Again this is city staff's fault for not making people aware of this option. 

Why did so many people turn out for this by-election?

It was a chance for them to take part in a referendum on Mayor Ken Sim and his administration's performance so far.

And the results show it is a complete repudiation of Sim and his ABC party.

Of the 13 candidates running, two won by a wide margin: Sean Orr of COPE (over 34,000 votes), and OneCity's Lucy Maloney (over 33,000).

Although this does not change ABC's majority on council, Orr and Maloney will put more pressure on Sim and ABC to be more accountable for their actions.

"While the results tonight didn't go the way that we hoped for... we look forward to working with the two elected officials," Sim told ABC supporters this evening.

City council meetings are going to be more interesting from now on...

Celebrating the Museum's First Birthday

Did tonight's event spark serious donations for the museum?

This evening the Chinese Canadian Museum held a low-key fundraising dinner at Floata Seafood Restaurant in Vancouver's Chinatown. The event marks the one-year anniversary of the museum's opening, which also coincided with the 100th anniversary of the 1923 Exclusion Act, when the Canadian government refused the entry of ethnic Chinese people into the country until 1947.

Tonight's event was called Spark Community Dinner and it had all the trappings of a big gala -- the invitation encouraged people to wear Chinese outfits, and some 800 people turned out including politicians from all three levels of government. Interesting to note Premier David Eby was not available, nor was Mayor Ken Sim... was he at the Missy Elliott concert tonight?

We were all starving by the time dinner started; two people at our table didn't show up and then two more people left half way -- Elenore Sturko who is a provincial-level politician and her aide -- so only six of us had food for 10 people. 

The museum needed to raise money to keep itself going, but a raffle where C$50 for three tickets isn't going to raise a lot of cash. The museum was too shy to ask for more money beyond the raffle and individual donations.

But then Bob Rennie stepped up. He is the real estate marketer who bought the Yip Sang building, spent C$22 million to renovate it and then the provincial government shelled out C$25.5 million to purchase the building, the oldest one in Chinatown.

Rennie came on stage and immediately got down to business. He spontaneously asked the biggest sponsor of the dinner, Onni Group onto the stage and said that if he himself donated C$10,000, would Onni do the same? 

They immediately had C$20,000 and now could 40 individuals donate C$500 each? or each person in the room donate C$25?

Rennie pointed out that the infighting in Chinatown had to stop, "or Hastings is going to win," he said, referring to the Downtown Eastside which is filled with homeless people and drug addicts.

That got a lot of applause. Then Rennie added he was running for mayor, which got him more applause but then he said he was just joking.

Nevertheless it took a gweilo, a non-Chinese to tell a room full of Chinese people to put their differences aside and get their act together to fight for Chinatown. Part of it is generational, but mostly it's political. He's right, but will they listen? 

And did the museum get C$40,000 by the end of the evening? 

The Mayor's Private Mojo Dojo

Councillor Fry's picture of Sim's gym space

There are a lot of questions about what Vancouver's mayor is doing at City Hall these days. 

Ken Sim, the city's first Chinese-Canadian mayor seems more interested in working out than actually running the city.

Green Party Councillor Pete Fry took a picture of what used to be a meeting room next to the mayor's office that was used for meetings and now seems to be Sims' personal gym space.

Sim riding on the Peloton bike for the cameras

There's a Peloton stationary bike, a chin-up apparatus, weights, resistance bands, and an exercise mat in the 300 sq ft space that used to be a board room.

Fry posted the picture on X, formerly known as Twitter and wrote: "The deeply unserious and absolute absurdity of a civic asset being repurposed as Ken's mojo dojo casa house belies a very real problem with process, transparency and good governance that we continue to get stonewalled on."

In a radio interview this morning Fry explained council had received a memo in January from the city manager explaining the meeting room was now being used by the mayor and would not be used for meetings.

So when Fry saw it unlocked and open, he took a picture as evidence of how the room was being used.

Fry said he had tried to ask about the mayor taking over the space during council meetings on Tuesday, but was shut down by other ABC councillors.

Then the mayor invited the media to come look at the space and spun the opportunity as his way of being transparent. He rode the stationary bike for the cameras.

"It allows me to actually get to promote health, including my own health -- the hours are pretty long here," Sim said Wednesday. "If you don't have your health, you can't help your family out and you can't help your organisation."

Sim accused Fry of playing politics, but it should be pointed out there is an existing gym in City Hall for people to use... there is no need for this extra gym next to the mayor's office. Taxpayers are fuming to see their mayor more concerned about his physical health than the city's fiscal outlook...

Learning about Abandoned Spaces Part 2

Molson brewery has been vacant since 2016

Another space we visited during the photo walk was the former Molson Brewery on 1550 Burrard Street.

It's a place I have passed by in the car so I have never looked at it up close before. Many of us on the tour hadn't either. So we looked through the large windows to see the giant steel vats and walls tiled with shades of indigo blue to aquamarine. It also looked very dusty inside and sadly deserted.

Giant containers that used to store beer!

We were told by museum staff that this was the original site of 6 Capilano Brewery that was established in 1953 by a Sikh family from Alberta. They had first opened on 1445 Powell Street before they relocated to the foot of the Burrard Street Bridge.

It previously had a number 6 neon sign that also gave the weather, much like the Molson sign that came later.

After five years, the brewery was sold to Molson, which at its heyday had 260 employees. Molson operated here for 60 years and then in 2016 the 7.4-acre site was sold to a developer for a whopping C$190 million.

The developer had plans to build a high density, mixed-use building that also generated employment (ie shops and offices on the ground floor), but the site has been left idling ever since because developers are still waiting for its rezoning application to get the green light from City Hall. Hello Mayor Ken Sim???

Large vats and pipes inside

Museum staff point out that even though Vancouver is short of land for housing, space for industrial use is even smaller. Ideally for a city of Vancouver's size the ratio should be around 4 percent, but in reality it's only 0.16 percent... is it any wonder there is no industry in this city?

For example, goods shipped to Vancouver need to be stored in Alberta because there is no space, and then delivered back to Vancouver. What a waste...

How Much Will the 2026 FIFA World Cup Cost?

Vancouver is one of 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup

Vancouver will be one of the cohosts of the FIFA 2026 men's World Cup, but taxpayers have no idea how much money they will be on the hook for the global football event.

Toronto released its estimation of some C$380 million, up from C$300 million, and Vancouver is expected to be in that ballpark as well.

However, while Toronto Mayor Oliva Chow has been transparent with what has fallen into her lap, Vancouver City Hall has refused to follow suit, same with the provincial government.

Toronto Mayor Chow estimates C$380M

Reporters have tried many times to request a copy of the contract or the amount of money budgeted, but they have either been rebuffed or given stacks of redacted papers that are practically blank.

Finally Lana Popham, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport says the amount will be revealed in a "few weeks".

"As soon as we are able to we will be releasing everything we are able to legally," Popham said Thursday.

The football games during the World Cup will be held in 16 cities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Vancouver will host seven of the 104 tournament games at BC Place Stadium starting in June 2026.

Originally Vancouver was expected to host five games at an estimated cost of C$230 million over a year ago.

"We have a significant increase in opportunity, with that comes an increase in cost. So with seven games we have more security costs. So we have to redo some of the numbers from the initial estimates," said Popham.

Sim "super pumped" but no released figure yet

A big chunk of the budget will be for security, and fulfilling FIFA's requirements that real grass be installed at BC Place, with specific instructions on how the grass be watered and cared for.

However the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is frustrated that the final figure is still not known and tried to force Vancouver into revealing numbers by releasing Toronto's budget. 

"Taxpayers have every right to know how much we're paying to host seven soccer games," said Carson Binda, BC director with the CFT. "The city and province must be transparent with taxpayers instead of hiding the details."

Binda said other host cities like Toronto and Seattle have already released their contracts with FIFA to the public, and that Vancouver Mayor sim should "stop the secrecy" and "release the unredacted contracts."

While Sim is "super pumped" about Vancouver hosting seven games, it does cost money. Indeed, we are waiting...

Lighting up Chinatown

There will be 16 of these neon signs installed

Vancouver's Chinatown looks brighter in the run-up to the Lunar New Year on February 10. Mayor Ken Sim unveiled a neon sign featuring a dragon that are being installed on the street lamp posts on East Pender Street between Main and Carrall streets.

In total there will be 16 of these neon signs just in time for the Year of the Dragon.

Mayor Sim unveiled the design for CNY

The initiative was from the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Association, which began planning this idea two years ago. 

"Chinatown used to be famous for its neon signs and its unique designs. And it really is an homage to the past. Even though it took all that time to get here, it's appropriate that it comes out at the start of the new Year of the Dragon," said Jordan Eng, president of the Vancouver Chinatown BIA.

He hopes the signs will stay up for at least six months, and possibly remain a permanent fixture.

"It'd be nice to have something on a more permanent basis, just because of the amount of time it takes to produce and go through the process to get it certified, and all the engineering effort that goes into it to get it to where we finally installed it," Eng said.

The Lunar New Year will be celebrated in Chinatown on Sunday, February 11 with a multicultural parade through the area. Places like the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Classical Chinese Garden and the Chinese Canadian Museum will have various workshops and demonstrations, from lion dances and calligraphy lessons, wood block prints and street food.

East Pender Street with neon dragon signs

Here's to hoping these new light fixtures not only hark back to Chinatown's glory days, but also inspire people to come back to the neighbourhood more often.

Housing Funding Doesn't Add Up

Trudeau in Vancouver with Sim and Fraser on housing

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim had a show of force with him today -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser, and BC Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon standing at a construction site in the city.

They proudly announced that the federal government would kick in C$115 million to help build 40,000 homes in a decade.

Critics on social media quickly pointed that $115 million divided into 40,000 homes means $2,875 per home and made comments suggesting that would only pay for windows, or perhaps MEC [Mountain Equipment Co-Op] will have a sale on tents...

Vancouverites are disillusioned with Sim these days after he announced he would do away with the Parks Board, and just a few days ago, after over 150 people spoke at City Hall, mostly against, the motion passed on party lines, as Sim's ABC Vancouver party has a majority.

Many are shocked that he fired three of his ABC Parks Board commissioners who were elected into these positions last November. No one saw this coming.

The motion passed meant the political hot potato of disbanding the Parks Board fell on Premier David Eby, who promptly threw it back to Sims to come up with a detailed transition plan... perhaps Eby doesn't want anything to do with this hot mess.

Meanwhile Vancouver residents are also terrified of the prospect of parks that are deemed "temporary" will be developed with condo towers as the Mayor has said the city needs to densify asap, and getting rid of the Parks Board is the quickest way to do this.

Those against the move say the Parks Board is the only grassroots political layer that is directly in touch with residents, as the body looks after not only parks but also community centres and public pools that are sadly crumbling due to not enough funding.

As one has remarked, "You can never have too many parks." 

This is the terrible tussle Vancouver is in -- there is not enough (affordable) housing, but residents aren't ready to give up their single-family homes yet. Sim seems determined to drag the city into densification whether it is ready or not...

Chinatown Festival Ends with Stabbings

The stabbings occurred near this stage at Keefer and Columbia

"Light Up Chinatown" was meant to be an open invitation for people to come to the neighbourhood and patronise the shops and restaurants in the run up to the Mid-Autumn Festival at the end of this month.

However, just as the two-day event was wrapping up, before 6pm, a 64-year-old man suddenly stabbed three people near the stage at the intersection of Keefer and Columbia streets.

The victims, a couple in their 60s and a young woman in her 20s were given immediate care and sent to hospital, while the police -- who were providing security for the event -- interviewed witnesses for a description of the assailant and soon after arrested the man, Blair Evan Donnelly nearby in the Downtown Eastside.

Police arrested the attacker, no known motive

It turns out he was on a day pass from a local psychiatric facility. In 2006 he had killed his 16-year-old daughter in Kitimat. He was charged with second-degree murder, but was found not guilty in January 2008 because of a mental disorder and was sent to Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam.

Yesterday he was charged with three counts of aggravated assault.

It was shocking to hear the news and that the perpetrator has a mental illness. 

Carol Lee, the chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation was around 20 feet away from where the attacks happened and was devastated by the horrific incident.

"I think if you were close by, it's a traumatic thing to see somebody at a community event, just an innocent bystander, getting stabbed," she said.

Lee broke down during the press conference, describing the attacks as feeling "very personal. We've worked very hard to put this festival and the community together to celebrate all the progress that we have made."

Lee in tears during press conference

Revitalising and making Chinatown safe has been a priority for Mayor Ken Sim, who said in a press release that the "senseless violence is heartbreaking."

"We will not allow this senseless act of violence to disrupt celebrations of all that makes our city great, and we will work each and every day to ensure Vancouver is a place where people can live, work, and thrive in a safe environment."

To that end it was a surprise to see a lot of police officers in Chinatown today. At lunchtime, four of them patronised the same cha chaan teng as us, with two police cars parked in front. Afterwards we saw two cops patrolling the streets.

It was reassuring to see them around to give a sense of security... though they need to be around more often to really give people peace of mind and feel safe in the area.

Divided Over Chinatown's Revitalisation

Lions kick off "Light Up Chinatown" in Vancouver

Today was the start of the two-day "Light Up Chinatown", an initiative from the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation in a bid to revitalise the neighbourhood leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival. The lions were out in force prancing on stage, while politicians trotted out, like BC Premier David Eby and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, encouraging people to come to the area more often.

Other entertainment on the main stage included girls performing traditional Chinese dances, singers exercising their vocal abilities, hip hop dancers strutting their stuff, and even magic tricks to impress the crowd. 

A Western-style bun stuffed with char siu 

And there was lots of food on offer, from bubble tea to poke bowls and burgers, to special collaborations like a European-style bun stuffed with char siu, and another group offering five grilled skewers from five different chefs paired with wines.

Interestingly, one of the sponsors of the event is Beedie Living, the developer of the controversial site 105 Keefer Street. Beedie plans to build condos on the vacant lot, which will be beyond the reach of the elderly residents in the area, and is right next to a monument commemorating the Chinese railway workers in the 1880s and the soldiers who fought in World War II. 

Several years ago many in Chinatown were against it when Beedie made its presentation at City Hall, but then earlier this year many people and businesses in the area did a 180-degree turn and fully supported the plan, believing construction is better than letting the site remain empty.

Those who still do not support the development and would rather social housing be built on the plot of land held their own event in an alleyway. They marked the first anniversary of the fire that destroyed Gain Wah, a legacy business in Chinatown that not only served cheap Chinese food, but also had inexpensive housing upstairs for seniors and restaurant staff.

Gain Wah Restaurant following the fire last year

This grassroots group held an event to bring attention to the issue of food insecurity in Chinatown, as it was not really a fundraiser for Gain Wah.

Nevertheless, it shows that not everyone in Chinatown is united behind one cause, that the differences in the community fall along political lines. Either one supports the corporate elites who believe money is going to revitalise the area, or grassroots, who are trying to help the residents in the area have a safe environment to live in and support local businesses to keep the ecosystem going.

One side has vastly more resources than the other, but the smaller group is scrappy and determined to continue voicing its opinions.

As someone watching on the sidelines, there's never a dull moment in Chinatown. 

A New Landmark in Chinatown

Eight lions ready to open the museum

Today was a momentous occasion -- the opening of the first national Chinese-Canadian museum in Vancouver's Chinatown. 

Some 300 guests assembled on East Pender Street where the museum is, across from the Chinese Cultural Centre. The street was blocked off for the event, with police cars and officers making sure the riff raff were kept out.

Eby speaking at the opening ceremony

Numerous dignitaries were there, from federal, provincial and municipal, all having played some role in helping launch the museum, along with wealthy donors, and who's who of Chinatown.

For the politicians who spoke, it was an opportunity to recount their political role in getting the museum off the ground, with much gratitude to former BC premier John Horgan who supported it with lots of funding to purchase the building, renovate and keep it going.

Mayor Ken Sim swaggered on stage and challenged people in the audience not to be moved by the inaugural exhibit, which marks the 100th anniversary of the 1923 Exclusion Act, a dark period in Canadian history when the Chinese were singled out for excessive documentation.

The show features hundreds of CIs or Chinese Immigration certificates that have black and white photographs of people, men, women and children who not only came from China but also born in Canada. In total just under 60,000 Chinese were registered with the Canadian government.

Mel Yip lived at Wing Sang building

The building the museum is housed in is also full of meaning. It is the Wing Sang building, the oldest in Chinatown. It was owned by Yip Sang, a young man from southern China who first tried to make his fortune in California, and then went up north to British Columbia and eventually settled in Vancouver's Chinatown.

Yip was considered the unofficial mayor of the neighbourhood and was so successful that he had three wives and 23 children. They all lived together in the back of the Wing Sang building and one of Yip's grandsons, Mel Yip remembers being there for the first 15 years of his life.

He talks fondly of never not having playmates around, rollerskating down Columbia Street and going to the movies with his numerous cousins.

Yip Sang died in 1927 just as the Great Depression was coming. While the rest of the family continued to live there, they vacated the building in the early 2000s due to disrepair.

Condo marketer supremo Bob Rennie bought the Wing Sang building in 2004 and many feared he would tear it down, but he poured money into it to fix it up structurally and to make it almost museum quality to showcase his massive art collection. Upstairs he kept one room intact -- the small schoolroom where the Yip children were educated by tutors hired from Hong Kong.

Catherine Clement gives media a tour of the show

He then sold the building to the museum for less than what he paid to renovate it and even donated money too, which is why Mayor Sim joked Rennie made the worst business decision when he sold the building. Har har...

Hopefully the new museum will not only be a new landmark in Chinatown, but also be a place to exchange ideas and discuss what it means to be Chinese-Canadian today, not just in the past.

Chinese Canadian Museum

51 East Pender Street

Vancouver, BC

(604) 262 0990

105 Keefer Gets Development Approval

This vacant lot will have a nine-storey condo building

Six years after its proposal was rejected, developer Beedie Holdings Ltd's controversial plans to build a nine-storey building with luxury condos in Chinatown were approved this afternoon.

The decision on 105 Keefer Street by Vancouver's development permit board was unanimous -- but with some conditions, including adjustments to the building's facade, and improving the building's relationship to nearby "cultural significant" features, such as the Chinatown Memorial Monument, and the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

Architect's rendering of 105 Keefer development

Rob Fiorvento, managing partner of Beedie, said the company was "obviously pleased" with the decision and "we look forward to working with city staff and community groups to move this project forward."

However, to say those who were vehemently opposed to the project were upset would be an understatement.

When the announcement was made, Melody Ma of #savechinatownyvr tweeted "The @cityofvancouver is on the wrong side of history".

Jade Ho is an organiser with the Vancouver Tenants Union that opposed the condo project, and said the decision marks a "singularly appalling moment" in a city that continues to prioritize "profit over people."

"The decision that they made today is going to exacerbate displacement and it's going to accelerate gentrification in a neighbourhood that is already increasingly unliveable for low-income seniors and residents," she said.

More than 140 people went to City Hall to voice their opposition to the project, a hearing that took three days to complete. Many complained the condo building's design was not cultural sensitive, that it was right next to a memorial square, and the neighbourhood's residents would be unable to afford any of the units there.

Many elderly seniors strongly opposed the project

However, several business groups in Chinatown supported the development of the land, now a parking lot, a move that has polarised the neighbourhood, with groups like Vancouver Chinatown Foundation and Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Association, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, and Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver for the condo development.

Ironically back in 2017 these groups opposed Beedie's proposal, but now -- despite no changes to the plans -- they have changed their minds and are keen for any kind of development in the belief that it will help revitalise the neighbourhood.

But while the city has approved this project in the hopes of increasing its housing stock, it could be years before these condos will be built -- if ever. There are still many hurdles ahead, not to mention getting enough capital to start digging up the parking lot. 

Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC Vancouver majority in City Hall are sympathetic to developers and 105 Keefer is proof of it, along with other concessions to these firms in the hopes that they will build more housing. But more checks and balances need to be made to ensure completion of these buildings otherwise nothing will have been achieved.

Vancouver Moves Forward on Chinatown Action Plan

Chinatown tries hard to fight back against graffiti to no avail

When Ken Sim was overwhelmingly voted as Mayor of Vancouver, one of his campaign promises was to fix up the situation in Chinatown. 

The neighbourhood is in a sad state, with homeless people and drug addicts sprawled on sidewalks, and numerous cases of petty theft, vandalism and graffiti. It's not just visually unappealing but also the putrid smells of garbage littered everywhere along with feces and urine.

Today Vancouver City Council unanimously approved the "Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan" which is an extensive list of things that will be done to literally clean up the area.

Mayor Sim promises action to clean up the area

"Chinatown is an invaluable part of our city -- a much beloved community that celebrates Vancouver's diversity and cultural heritage," says Sim. 

"Chinatown holds an important place in the hearts of many. Today, with the passage of the Uplifting Chinatown Plan, we are excited to be taking the next step towards the revitalisation and renewal of this vital part of our city," Sim is quoted as saying in the press release.

It does not mention a price tag, but the media reports it could cost around CAD$2.1 million.

The long list of actions are pretty impressive, made to look like a marked improvement from the previous municipal administration.

Initiatives include a "safewalk program" for seniors and residents in Chinatown to get home safely; 24/7 access to a public washroom at Main and Hastings streets; 15 new larger-capacity public waste bins; continuation of CAD$500,000 in graffiti prevention and abatement grants to business improvement associations; additional funding for free paint and graffiti removal on upper facades and heritage buildings; and funding for the Chinese Community Policing Centre.

What about tackling the issue on Hastings Street?

There's also the "proactive feces collection" five days a week -- what does "proactive" mean? The press release points out it was only once a week before -- but why not seven? Do people not defecate the other two days?

While we really appreciate all these actions, they are just keeping Chinatown much cleaner. What about tackling the actual problem of drugs and homelessness a block away on Hastings Street? What is the action plan there? 

Business owners say the report break-ins and vandalism to the police, but they say the officers don't do much about it. 

If nothing is done to really deal with these problems, then the "Uplifting Chinatown Plan" will be a Sisyphean task.

Chinatown Ally Retires

Mayor Sim poses with Johnson and his wife Brandy

On Monday I went to Chinatown and was eating lunch in The Boss cha chaan teng when I spotted Harold Johnson walking in and saying hello to a few people.

He's a security guard who has been a fixture in the neighbourhood for decades.

I only found out today that he retired, and the new mayor Ken Sim gave him a nice send off at City Hall with a cake.

Moments after he was attacked in August 

The 64-year-old Johnson was in the news this past summer when he was assaulted by a stranger at the Chinese Cultural Centre near East Pender and Columbia streets on August 12. 

The incident not only left the senior with a concussion and a broken nose and cheekbone, but he was also traumatised by the incident.

"I'm still having nightmares and headaches," he said recently in a media interview. "When I get a headache, it gets nasty."

Johnson had originally planned to retire next year, but the assault left him shaken and wants to prioritise his health and safety.

During his two decades of patrolling Chinatown, he has gotten to know the business owners in the area who will miss him dearly.

A sweet farewell for Johnson in City Hall

"Harold's been around forever. He knows everyone around here and everyone knows him," said pharmacist and Corning Drugs Chinatown owner David Wong. 

"He's always there for us, backing us up."

"He comes in a makes me smile everyday," added Tracy To of Forum Appliances.

"Everybody in Chinatown's family, we all work together," Johnson said.

His wife Brandy LaRocque Johnson says it's time for her husband to get out of Chinatown, which is a sad reality of the area, as homeless drug addicts nearby turn to petty crime and attacks on people to get cash.

Two Chinatown businesses managed to fundraise a total of CA$30,000 to pay for his medical costs.

Who will be the next Harold to help look over Chinatown? The neighbourhood badly needs any allies it can get.