Victoria’s ‘Awakening Chinatown’ returns, offers preview performance ahead of community celebration

Victoria's "Awakening Chinatown" event will return for its fourth year this weekend.

Chinese-Canadian culture, heritage and community is being celebrated in Canada’s oldest Chinatown Sunday. Awakening Chinatown is returning to Victoria for its fourth event.

“It’s going to be a day full of fun, of great food, super fun entertainment and lots of activities for the kids,” says Victoria Chinatown Museum Society chair Grace Wong Sneddon.

The museum hosted a launch party outlining the event on Tuesday, which included performances from members of the Victoria Chinese Opera Club. The group is among a dozen performers at the festival from noon to 5:30 p.m. on May 25.

Festival-goers are encouraged to shop the neighbourhood, try their hand at calligraphy and explore cultural exhibits.

Wong Sneddon says the event was designed to help businesses and combat a resurgence in “Asian hate” that was felt by the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We really believe that communities do better when we learn together,” she says. “Share perspective. Share the way we do things. Share the way we learn. You know, we’re all different. We’re not one story. No one is, right? And so having people come and be part of this is so meaningful.”

The free celebration marks the last Sunday of Asian Heritage Month.