Honouring the history and culture of Chinese Canadians
May is Asian Heritage Month and host Lucky Budd welcomes Dr. Grace Wong Sneddon, board chair of the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society, to the Vital Victoria Podcast. Dr. Wong Sneddon shares her story of how her family came to Vancouver Island and touches on the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act. They talk about the need to preserve, teach and inform about the culture of Chinese Canadians and how Victoria’s Chinatown is a living museum, engaging the community. Dr. Wong Sneddon reflects on the importance of cultural events and storytelling, how reclaiming identities and pride can help foster belonging in the community, and more.
Vital Signs Issue Area
Sustainable Cities make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable for all. In Greater Victoria’s 2022 Vital Signs Report, survey participants gave ‘Belonging and Engagement’ a B- grade (see pages 12 & 13). This issue is connected to Sustainable Development Goals: Reduced Inequalities and Sustainable Cities and Communities.
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Episode 13 Guest
Dr. Grace Wong Sneddon – Grace has an Interdisciplinary PhD in Anthropology and Pacific and Asian Studies from the University of Victoria. Her areas of research include: race and gender in popular culture, Asian North American identity and the Chinese diasporic culture. As past Adviser to the Provost on Equity and Diversity for fifteen years, her research has informed her extensive experience in the area of educational and employment equity. She is an adjunct professor in the Department of Art History and Visual Studies and an associate fellow in the Centre for the Studies of Religion and Societies at the University of Victoria. Committed to her community, she is President of the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation, Director of the Hoy Sun Ning Yung Association and past Chair of the Victoria Foundation and current Honorary Governors President at the Foundation.
Episode 13 Resources
- Victoria Chinatown Museum Society
- Times Colonist – Remembering Chinese-Canadian students’ year-long boycott of Victoria schools
- Global News – Victoria B.C. march honours Chinese 1922 student strike
- Awakening Chinatown 2023