Edmonton Chinatown Stories CJSR 88.5 FM

The Mah Society's Jessica Mah talks about the surprising early days of the organization, and how it's changed over the years.

President of the Edmonton Chinese Computer Society Patrick Tso discusses his first experience with the society: a Chinese character typing competition. Patrick was intrigued by a tablet, which allowed contestants to handwrite Chinese characters and transmit them to a computer.

Retired architect Ching Tse is responsible for designing many buildings in Edmonton's Chinatown. He discusses his intention to inject traditional Chinese architecture into his designs. One of the ways Ching achieved this aesthetic was through the use of Chinese roof tiles. He talks about the significance of the roof and its colour, and recalls the struggles he encountered along the way.

When local playwright Marty Chan married his wife Michelle, they decided to pay tribute to their heritage. Marty’s parents choose their favourite Chinatown restaurant to host the Chinese wedding banquet. He talks about one dish in particular that he remembers.

Maria Wong has lived in Edmonton since 1977. She remembers visiting a burger restaurant owned by a Korean couple. Maria was drawn to the friendliness of the owners, their son, and the delicious seasoning salt.

Tin Yip speaks about his integration into Canadian society. Tin explains how both learning and playing Canadian sports when he first arrived were essential in his smooth integration into society. He also talks about the importance of cultural exchange and how racial discrimination is a two-way street, requiring both sides to meet in the middle with understanding.