Your Voice: Kelowna's lost Chinatown should remind us to protect our heritage

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Dear Editor,

I am very concerned that the blanket housing regulations related to single family homes (Bill 44) will have a major impact on the Abbott Street and Marshall Street Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs). In this era of rapid expansion, it holds significant meaning to reflect on the lost legacy of Chinatown and not have the same thing happen to Kelowna's heritage conservation areas.

So, please take some moment to read this paragraph I wrote below:

It's snowing heavily this January 2024, reminiscent of the winter 130 years ago. Amidst the flurries, Wung Kim diligently tended to his laundry in bustling Chinatown. Across the street, the Lee Bon General store and Mar Ye Restaurant buzzed with activity.

In the early 19th century, after the Chinese completed the construction of the railway, some settled in Kelowna. By 1892, the preliminary construction of Chinatown began, stretching from Abbott Street to Water Street and from Harvey Avenue to Leon Avenue. Notable establishments like Jung Hung Shoe Repair, the Wong Bat Store and the Japanese United Church dotted the landscape. At its zenith, 400-500 Chinese residents, constituting 10 per cent of the total population, called this place home, a place attracting European immigrants for various activities.

In 1914, a two-storey brick commercial structure, originally L.D. Cafe and later the Keg restaurant, was erected. Fast forward to 2020, and the developer left a vacant lot and protected wall following its demolition. The makeshift Chinese hospital played a crucial role during the 1918 Spanish Flu, and was demolished in 1979 while the wooden Chinese store, founded in 1920, is now reconstructed in the Kelowna Museum. Tun Wong, a descendant of the owner, later became the City of Kelowna's deputy treasurer.

Despite facing adversity, the Chinese community in Kelowna thrived and contributed significantly. Figures like Ben Lee, who spent 23 years in city council, and Mark Joe, a generous land donor, played pivotal roles in shaping Kelowna's development.

Regrettably, in the fall of 1972, during the baby boom construction period, Chinatown lost several buildings. Despite the city's slow progress in protecting heritage buildings, notable structures like the preserved wooden Chinese store and the partially ruined L.D. Coffee site stands testament to Kelowna's intricate history.

Today, with nearly 4,500 Chinese residents in the Okanagan area, the struggle to reconnect with their roots persists. Rapid urban development has erased the history, culture and traditions that once thrived. It is crucial to recognize that these buildings are not mere structures but carriers of culture and tradition, vessels for dissemination and integration.

As Kelowna's Chinatown exists now in memories, murals, and museum artifacts, there's a poignant reminder that such loss should not reoccur. In the face of rapid expansion, it becomes imperative to reflect on Chinatown's lost legacy in this era.

Presently, the city's efforts to safeguard heritage conservation areas are advancing at a sluggish pace. Unfortunately, the provincial government's Bill 44 does not encompass provisions for the protection of historical and cultural areas—a regrettable oversight. Kelowna's Chinatown now exists as a mere memory, a mural and a red-brick artifact confined within a museum. The transformation of such vibrant cultural spaces into relics should not be repeated, as it risks leaving our future generations disconnected from their roots.

Hence, in this era of rapid expansion, it holds significant meaning to reflect on the lost legacy of Chinatown and not have the same thing happen to Kelowna's heritage conservation areas.

The Abbott Street HCA, a small area of less than 0.5 km2, representing 0.5 per cent of the city of Kelowna, was designated through the Local Government Act in 1998. (The Marshall Street Heritage Conservation Area is much smaller).These are our tiny historical areas that are important to the community, tourism and to environmental and social sustainability. They are important for the preservation of Kelowna’s history. We want to protect and conserve them for the present and future.

Thanks for your time.

Best regards,