Vancouver, BC; June 8, 2022 –  The following is a statement from Mayor Stewart following the approval of the Chinatown Transformation Report:

“Tonight, after a long debate and hearing from many passionate speakers, Council moved forward with a plan to support Chinatown, including submitting a bid for a UNESCO Heritage Designation.

While not a unanimous decision, Council did approve the Chinatown Cultural Heritage Assets Management Plan (CHAMP) Strategic Framework, co-created with the Council-appointed Legacy Stewardship Group (LSG) and committed to continuing to engage the community in the planning process. 

We all know the difficulties Chinatown has been going through over the past few years and this decision marks a major step forward to a new future with firm roots in this community’s strong history.

A big thank you to the Councillors who approved this landmark victory for the Chinatown community and to the volunteer members of the LSG who stewarded this project.

I will immediately inform the federal Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez to  update him on this great result and seek his government’s support for the UNESCO designation.”