Welcome to “First Steps: Chinese Canadian Journeys in Victoria”, a new temporary exhibition that highlights important starting points for Chinese Canadians in Victoria. Examples of intergenerational resilience and agency are shared through stories of community support, entrepreneurship, and personal accomplishment. 

“First Steps: Chinese Canadian Journeys in Victoria” is produced by Chinese Canadian Museum, in cooperation with Victoria Chinatown Museum Society.

Continue your visit with “Gold Mountain Dream!”, an exhibition which examines the personal stories and sacrifices of early Chinese migrant workers who came to British Columbia in search for prosperity during the Fraser Valley Gold Rush in the 1850s. The fascinating tales of early Chinese migrants during the Gold Rush detailed through photographs shed light on the adventure, heartbreak, and social upheaval which would impact the development of British Columbia and China. This exhibition is produced by Royal BC Museum in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of History.

Inquire about your visit to “First Steps: Chinese Canadian Journeys in Victoria” / “Gold Mountain Dream!” by email or phone (250) 382-9883

Staff at Victoria Exhibition:

We are located on the unceded land of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations in Victoria. The Chinese Canadian Museum values the interconnected histories and experiences of Indigenous peoples and Chinese Canadians, and it is our hope to share, reflect, and expand on these stories. 

Welcome to A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia, the inaugural project of the Chinese Canadian Museum. This temporary exhibition explores historical and contemporary stories of Chinese Canadians in BC and their struggles for belonging. It looks to food and restaurant culture as an entry point and features stories that reveal the great diversity of immigrant experience and of the communities that immigrants develop.

Located at the Hon Hsing building in Vancouver Chinatown, the building itself is a historic icon built in 1910.

A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia is produced in collaboration with the Museum of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia, supported by the Province of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver.

The exhibition features interactive story panels, videos, and audio to provide snapshots from the lives of Chinese Canadians. The innovative and unique quality of this living exhibit is that it continues to grow with every visitor.  You will also have opportunities to record and add your personal stories to the collection.