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. 

Grocery CEOs Raking it in, while Food Banks Struggling

Weston in casual clothes, trying to relate to the everyman

As people are shelling out more than 10 percent more for their food at supermarkets because of rising inflation, the CEO of a Canadian grocery chain got a C$1.2 million raise to take home C$11.8 million.

Galen Weston Jr is the scion of one of Canada's richest families that runs Loblaws, and as president and chairman of the grocery chain he received C$8.4 million -- but consultants felt he was underpaid.

Weston is president and chairman of Loblaws

According to Catherine Thomas, spokesperson for Loblaws Cos Ltd, it is misleading to characterise his compensation plan as a raise, since he only took over the title of president and chairman in May 2021. Prior to that he was executive chairman of Loblaws.

Weston is not the only one to take home a massive paycheque. 

Eric La Fleche, CEO of the grocery chain Metro Inc, received CA$5.3 million in compensation last year, up from C$5,018,907 from the year before.

And Michael Medline, CEO of Nova Scotia-based Empire Company that owns Sobey's, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland and other grocery brands, took in C$8,651,285 last year, up from C$7.4 million the year before.

Nevertheless, the optics of getting over $1 million in these tight times do not look good.

Medline of Empire Co.

Food banks are seeing an unprecedented number of people accessing their services because they cannot afford to put food on the table. 

In Toronto, Daily Bread Food Bank which has 128 locations in the city, saw about 65,000 clients per month before the Covid-19 pandemic. In March the number quadrupled to 270,000.

Some people are resorting to eating only one meal a day, two if they have enough food. One woman interviewed on TV said she tried to become vegetarian to cut costs, but it didn't help much.

PROOF is a research program looking into policy interventions that can help reduce food insecurity in Canada.

However, food inflation is worsening the severity of food insecurity people are facing, resulting in them turning to food banks.

Daily Bread seeing quadruple the clients pre 2020

The most recent PROOF food insecurity report in 2021 found 5.8 million Canadians are food insecure in all 10 provinces, with one in four ending up at food banks.

The number is probably higher now.

Canada is fast becoming country with haves and have nots, with the gap widening faster by the day.