Clan Association Needs Assessment

Although they originated in China, today clan associations are found in almost every Chinese community around the world. Historically, clan associations were formed to connect a Chinese community by kinship, dialect, home village, territory or occupation. Clan associations continue to play an integral role in connecting and supporting Chinese communities by assisting in the social, political and financial needs of Chinese Canadians.

A key service of modern clan associations is the provision of affordable social housing for seniors, as well as continuing as a cultural centre in the lives of many Chinese Canadians, particularly seniors. To acknowledge and honour the historic role of Clan Associations, the Province of British Columbia committed to a Clan Association Needs Assessment, which includes four separate projects:

• Clan Association Building Inventory​ (Prepared by University of Victoria’s Department of History)

The B.C. Government funded a research project led by the University of Victoria’s Department of History to carry out an inventory of existing historic buildings owned by Chinese Canadian clan associations and societies throughout the province. The creation of an inventory of these historic buildings is part of addressing the Chinese Historical Wrongs Consultation Final Report recommendation to recognize the significance of the role of clan associations in the social, political and financial needs of early Chinese Canadians. This project also addresses the Final Report recommendation to identify historical and culturally important sites.

View Clan Association Historic Sites

• Victoria Chinatown – Seniors Services and Housing Needs Assessment for Chinese Canadian Seniors in Victoria​ (Prepared by M. Thomson Consulting)

The B.C. Government funded a needs assessment study completed by M. Thomson Consulting to identify options and opportunities for affordable housing and seniors' services in the historic Chinatown of Victoria. This project is in response to the Chinese Historical Wrongs Consultation Final Report recommendation to recognize the significance of the role of clan associations by examining the relationship between existing historic clan association buildings in British Columbia and the need for affordable housing.

​Report

• Vancouver Chinatown – Chinatown Senior Housing Feasibility Study​ (Prepared by JTW Consulting, Take Root Studio, Wabi Sabi Planning Lab)

The B.C. Government worked with the City of Vancouver to complete a Vancouver Chinatown Seniors Housing Feasibility Study, an important component of the Vancouver Chinatown Society Legacy Project. This study explores the business case for seniors housing and inter-generational programming as part of the City of Vancouver’s Chinatown Revitalization Strategy. The project is in response to the Chinese Historical Wrongs Consultation Final Report recommendation to recognize the significance of the role of clan associations by examining the relationship between existing historic clan association buildings in British Columbia and the need for affordable housing.

​Report

• Vancouver Chinatown – Vancouver Chinatown Intangible Heritage Values Report​ (Prepared by Heritage BC)

Heritage BC, on behalf of the B.C. Government, collected information from the public concerning the intangible heritage values of Vancouver’s Chinatown and the places and spaces in Chinatown that embody those values. This report presents all the comments received through a workshop, open house, and online form.

​Report