When I first immigrated to Canada back in the 70’s, Chinatown was a bustling, vibrant area where pretty much all the Chinese converged for Asian groceries, wonton noodles and dim sum. With the influx of Chinese immigrants over the years settling in different areas around the city, there slowly become little need to visit Chinatown. Once penned as one of the biggest Chinatowns in North America, it had becom a shell of its former self.

I have very fond memories of Chinatown. The first church my family attended upon immigration was across Strathcona Elementary School. The Chinese school I attended as a child every Saturday morning had been torn down and made way for condos. There were a couple of stores I’d frequent for my Hong Kong pop records. My oldest brother had a subscription of Hong Kong comics that I’d help him pick up from a second level bookstore on Pender St. Mings, a dim sum restaurant by day and night club by night, was where during a friend’s sister’s wedding, my friends and I managed to sneak out a few bottles of Crown Royal for our high school grad party.

Although you are going through a slow rebirth, it will never be like it was before. Chinatown, you will be missed.