Cultural Life of the Chinese Community in Montreal

Cultural Life of the Chinese Community in Montreal Macy Zheng East Asian Studies Librarian McGill University Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

1880-85 The construction of the western section of the Canadian Pacific Railway employed thousands of Chinese workers. 1885 The Canadian Pacific Railway was completed. After the completion of the railway, some Chinese people started small service-oriented businesses. Many moved east to cities such as Toronto and Montreal in search of other job opportunities. A Brief History of Chinese Immigrants in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Many Taishan Chinese settled in Montreal area after they worked for the railways. In recent decades, Hong Kong Chinese and ethnic Chinese refugees from Vietnam arrived in the area. In recent years, Montreal is also the home of many new immigrants from mainland China. A Brief History of Chinese Immigrants in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Today, Montreal has Canada's third largest ethnic Chinese community (next to Toronto and Vancouver) According to the 2006 Census of Canada, there were 1,346,510 people with Chinese origin in Canada, and 91,900 people with Chinese origin in Quebec. About 80,000 people with Chinese origin are living in Montreal. A Brief History of Chinese Immigrants in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

With the increase of Chinese immigrants, cultural exchanges and co-operations between Montreal and Chinese cities and organizations also increased. Montreal and Shanghai became sister cities in 1985 and have engaged in cultural exchanges throughout the years. Cultural Life of Chinese Communityin Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

On April 6, 2005, the mayors of Montréal and Shanghai celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the two sister cities. To mark this occasion, the city of Shanghai donated more than 500 books to the Montréal Public Libraries Network. Sister Cities: Montreal and Shanghai Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

“Window of Shanghai” at McGill Library A ceremony to unveil the “Window of Shanghai” at McGill University Library was held October 25, 2006 in the McLennan Library Building. Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Chinatown in Montreal dates back to the 1860s when Chinese immigrants came to Canada to build the railroads. Montreal’s Chinatown today is delimited by four monumental gates, hand made by Chinese workers in the nineties. Montreal’s Chinatown Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Today, Chinatown is still the center of cultural, commercial and entertainment activities for Chinese immigrants. French, English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese are commonly heard in stores in Chinatown. Montreal’s Chinatown Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

With increasing demand for having a good place for cultural activities, Montreal Chinese Cultural Palace(滿地可中華文化宮)was built in 2004. Various activities and events are held here whole year round. Cultural organizations and buildings of Chinese Community in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Montreal Chinese Cultural Palace houses a library with Chinese books, newspapers and magazines, published in China or overseas. Cultural organizations and buildings of Chinese Community in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Cultural organizations and buildings of Chinese Community in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Zhongshan Park (中山公园) A place for people to enjoy Chinese performances, to play games and to shop for Chinese art crafts. Cultural organizations and buildings of Chinese Community in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Quebec Chinese Poetry Study Association 魁北克中華詩詞研究會 - Established in 1999 in Montreal - Only traditional shi and ci are collected - More than 10,000 poems have been published in HuaqiaoXinbao (Chinese weekly newspaper). Cultural organizations of Chinese Community in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Cultural organizations of Chinese Community in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Lu Yin (pen name, Baimo白墨), a poet and organizer of the Chinese Poetry Association, attended the World Congress of Poets held in Taipei in December, 2010, and received honorary doctorate degree at the congress. An anthology of his poems was published in December, 2010. Poets in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Poets in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Quebec Chinese Writers Association Quebec Chinese Writers Association 魁北克华人作家协会 was established in 1996. Annual meetings have been held by the association each year. The association has organized various lectures for research on writing. Members’ literary works are published in Chinese newspapers. Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Cultural organizations of Chinese Community in Montreal Art Saving Life Foundation 艺术拯救生命基金会 - The foundation was established by Liu Jian, a breast cancer survivor. - It assists in the recovery of breast cancer survivors - They have been offering Art Therapy orientation workshops and seminars for patients and other people. - Charity performances have been organized for fundraising. Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Entertainments of Chinese Community Phoenix Art Troupe - Founded in 2000, it has given more than 100 shows. Art organization of professional level. performances of different kinds including singing, musical instrument playing, fashion show, martial arts. Characterized by traditional Chinese styles. Composed of over 50 members. Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Montreal Center of Chinese Culture and Arts (MCCCA) • Founded in Montreal in 1996. • The first and largest organization of its kind in Greater Montreal. • It consists of folk dances, folk music, vocal group, waist drums, lion dances, art school and cultural services. • MCCCA has staged over hundreds of impressive performances to the Chinese, Canadian and American communities. Entertainments of Chinese Community Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Entertainments of Chinese Community Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Entertainments of Chinese Community Dream Lake Garden 梦湖园 An authentic Chinese garden inspired by the private gardens popular in the southern Yangzi River region during the Ming dynasty. Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Entertainments of Chinese Community Festival Bateau Dragon(Dragon Boat Festival) Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

佳华学校 Jiahua School of Montreal 蒙城中华语文学校 Montreal Chinese School 枫叶学院 Montreal Fengye College Chinese Schools in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Luby Newspaper 路比華訊 Published every Friday, more than 100,000 people with Asian origin read the newspaper every week. Chinese News 華僑新報 Weekly newspaper, over 1000 issues published SinoQuebec蒙成華人報 Weekly newspaper, since 2001; electronic version also available since 2008 Seven Days 七天Weekly newspaper, over 230 issues published Chinese Newspapers in Montreal Genealogy and East Asian Diaspora Group

Chinese Garden Website. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/chine/gardiens.htm Yee, Paul. 2005. Chinatown: an illustrated history of the Chinese communities of Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. Toronto: J. Lorimer. Images for Chinatown Montreal photos website. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.google.ca/search?q=Images+for+Chinatown+Montreal+photos&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&redir_esc=&ei=b_F7Tfe6H4eBrQHMppXMBQ Jiahua School website. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.jiahuaschoolmtl.ca/jiahua_album2008/jiahua_album_08/Album_index/Album_index.html Multicultural Canada Web site. Retrieved March 5, 2011, from http://multiculturalcanada.ca/ Phoenix Art Troupe Website. Retrieved March 6, 2011, from http://www.huayuntroupe.com/cnHome.html Statistics Canada Website. Retrieved March 11, 2011 from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/ References

Cultural Life of the Chinese Community in Montreal