Chinatown Memorial Monument

Vancouver, British Columbia
Type
Monuments

The Chinatown Memorial Monument is the creation of sculpture Arthur Shu-ren Cheng. It was funded by the City of Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada under the Vancouver Agreement and unveiled on November 2, 2003.

The first bronze figure, a railway worker, recognizes the thousands of Chinese Canadians who lived and died building the Trans-Canadian railway system. The second bronze figure, a Chinese Canadian Second World War solider, represents some six hundred Chinese Canadians who volunteered in the War efforts, proving their patriotism which later earned them the right to vote. The main column is a stylized form of the Chinese character zhong  (English translation center) which symbolizes moderation and harmony.

 

Inscription

[left plaque/plaque de gauche]

THIS CHINATOWN MEMORIAL MONUMENT IS THE CREATION OF SCULPTOR MR. ARTHUR
SHU-REN CHENG. THE BRONZE STATUES OF THE RAILWAY WORKER AND THE WORLD
WAR II VETERAN REPRESENT THE SACRIFICES MADE BY CHINESE CANADIANS IN
BUILDING A UNITED AND PROSPEROUS CANADA. THE MAIN COLUMN IS A STYLIZED
FORM OF THE CHINESE CHARACTER "CENTRE" WHICH SYMBOLIZES CHINESE CULTURE.
THE CHINESE COUPLET INSCRIBED ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE COLUMN READS:

"RICH LAGACIES OF CHINESE PIONEERS SHINING BRIGHT AS THE SUN AND MOON
GREAT DEEDS OF NOBLE FORBEARS ZEAL ENTRENCHED AS MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS".

THE CHINATOWN MEMORIAL SQUARE COMMITTEE

(text in Chinese/texte en chinois)

[right plaque/plaque de droite]

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF CHINESE
CANADIANS TO THE GROWTH, VITALITY AND PROSPERITY OF VANCOUVER,
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND CANADA.

THE CHINATOWN MEMORIAL MONUMENT IS FUNDED BY THE CITY OF
VANCOUVER, PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, AND GOVERNMENT OF
CANADA UNDER THE VANCOUVER AGREEMENT

UNVEILED ON THE 2ND NOVEMBER 2003

(text in Chinese/texte en chinois)

Location
Chinatown Memorial Monument

Keefer and Columbia Streets
Vancouver
British Columbia
GPS Coordinates
Lat. 49.2794786
Long. -123.1022561

Chinatown Memorial Monument

Julie Clements
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back

Julie Clements
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statue

Julie Clements
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left plaque inscription

Submitted by Colin Schatz to ReadThePlaque.com, a project of 99% Invisible/Soumis par Colin Schatz à ReadThePlaque.com, un projet de 99% Invisible
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right plaque inscription

Submitted by Colin Schatz to ReadThePlaque.com, a project of 99% Invisible/Soumis par Colin Schatz à ReadThePlaque.com, un projet de 99% Invisible
1 of 5 images
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