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Chinese Canadian Cultural Association

Chinese Canadian Cultural Association sign

A Bridge to Chinese-Canadian Friendship

The headquarters of the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association is located at 535 Fisgard Street on the ground floor of the Lee Chong Building, constructed in 1901 (Photo by Robert Amos)

The headquarters of the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association is located at 535 Fisgard Street on the ground floor of the Lee Chong Building, constructed in 1901 (Photo by Robert Amos)

After the Chinese Communist Party drove the Nationalist Party to Taiwan and established the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Canada did not maintain relations with mainland China until Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau established diplomatic relations in October 1970. The next fall, the People’s Republic of China replaced the Nationalist Government in Taiwan as a member of the United Nations and its Security Council. This thaw in international relations enabled Fred Choo, G.K. Chow and Tommy Ma to found the Chinese Canadian Friendship Society (CCFS) in Victoria in May 1971. The CCFS helps new immigrants adapt to Canadian society, and it has maintained ties between new Canadians from China and their home country by hosting Chinese government visitors and arranging visas and pension payments for Chinese residents in Victoria. To avoid confusion with another association organized by Westerners in Victoria with a similar name, the China-Canada Friendship Association, the CCFS changed its name to the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association (CCCA) in 1982.

Interview by Zhongping Chen and Charles Yang.

This is the meeting room of the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association. The name of the association is stated on the top of the back wall in black. Below this, the green board contains the statement,

This is the meeting room of the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association. The name of the association is stated on the top of the back wall in black. Below this, the green board contains the statement, "Celebrating National Day 1949-2011." To the left stands Mr. Nan Hing Ho with Dr. Zhongping Chen beside him, and Mr. Frank Wong is standing to the right (Photo by Charles Yang, June 2011).

This board at the back of the meeting hall of the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association states on the left: “Love the country, love the people and love peace. Befriend China, unite the overseas Chinese, gathering together as a friendship association.” The central part of the board states: “Celebrating National Day, 1949-2011, held on September 22” (Photo by Charles Yang, June 2011).

This board at the back of the meeting hall of the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association states on the left: “Love the country, love the people and love peace. Befriend China, unite the overseas Chinese, gathering together as a friendship association.” The central part of the board states: “Celebrating National Day, 1949-2011, held on September 22” (Photo by Charles Yang, June 2011).

A bulletin board at the back of the meeting hall contains information and photos relating to the Victoria Chinese New Horizons (Photo by Charles Yang, June 2011).

A bulletin board at the back of the meeting hall contains information and photos relating to the Victoria Chinese New Horizons (Photo by Charles Yang, June 2011).

Zhang Aiping, Chinese defense minister from 1982 to 1988 (shown in the inset photo), wrote this calligraphy while visiting the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association. Zhang’s calligraphy states: “Strengthen China-Canada friendship, and participate in motherland development.” (Photos by Charles Yang, June 2011).
Zhang Aiping, Chinese defense minister from 1982 to 1988 (shown in the inset photo), wrote this calligraphy while visiting the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association. Zhang’s calligraphy states: “Strengthen China-Canada friendship, and participate in motherland development.” (Photos by Charles Yang, June 2011).

Zhang Aiping, Chinese defense minister from 1982 to 1988 (shown in the inset photo), wrote this calligraphy while visiting the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association. Zhang’s calligraphy states: “Strengthen China-Canada friendship, and participate in motherland development.” (Photos by Charles Yang, June 2011).

This photo shows the former Chinese president Hu Jintao visiting Vancouver in September 2005. Three local Chinese community leaders, including Frank Wong of the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association, were accorded a reception by President Hu, as this picture shows (Photo by Charles Yang, June 2011).

This photo shows the former Chinese president Hu Jintao visiting Vancouver in September 2005. Three local Chinese community leaders, including Frank Wong of the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association, were accorded a reception by President Hu, as this picture shows (Photo by Charles Yang, June 2011).

This is a certificate of incorporation for the Chinese Canadian Friendship Association as a society on 26 February 1971 (BC Registry Services, Society files no. S9134).

This is a certificate of incorporation for the Chinese Canadian Friendship Association as a society on 26 February 1971 (BC Registry Services, Society files no. S9134).

This constitution outlines the purposes of the club and the location of its headquarters (BC Registry Services, Society files no. S9134).

This constitution outlines the purposes of the club and the location of its headquarters (BC Registry Services, Society files no. S9134).

This document explains the regulations of the association and lists the founding members in 1971 (BC Registry Services, Society files no. S9134).

This document explains the regulations of the association and lists the founding members in 1971 (BC Registry Services, Society files no. S9134).

This document is a resolution to change the name of the Chinese Canadian Friendship Association to the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association on 17 July 1982 (BC Registry Services, Society files no. S9134).

This document is a resolution to change the name of the Chinese Canadian Friendship Association to the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association on 17 July 1982 (BC Registry Services, Society files no. S9134).

Interview with the Chinese Canadian Cultural Association

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Sources

Amos, Robert and Kileasa Wong. Inside Chinatown: Ancient Culture in a New World. Victoria: TouchWood Editions, 2009.

Lai, David Chuenyan. Chinatowns: Towns within Cities in Canada. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1988.

Lai, David Chuenyan. Chinese Community Leadership: Case Study of Victoria in Canada. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co., 2010.

Lai, David Chuenyan. The Forbidden City within Victoria: Myth, Symbol and Streetscape of Canada’s Earliest Chinatown. Victoria, BC: Orca Book Publishers, 1991.