Vancouver’s new satellite office opens in Chinatown

The new satellite office for Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim in Chinatown opened Friday, which he says will help link the city and the neighbourhood together.

The Won Alexander Cumyow Civic Office is named after Won Alexander Cumyow, a Chinese-Canadian activist, and is located at 112 Keefer Street.

Some business owners say they hope having the new office will help improve safety in the area, and also bring in more customers.

Lorraine Lowe, the executive director of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, says having an office is a step toward further accessibility.

“It’s great for all the organizations, the businesses, and the residents to have more access to voice their concerns, to go there and have a meeting space – it’s actually very practical for us,” Lowe said. 

One bakery owner in the area adds she’s pleased that the office is in Chinatown.

“It’s a great idea, I really like this — to know the mayor’s office is here and they have confidence in Chinatown,” Susanna Ng, the owner of the New Town Bakery, said.

The move to have the Chinatown office is part of the city’s Uplifting Chinatown Action plan, and also an ABC party campaign promise.

“I’m very happy that they have kept their promise…it just puts them more on the ground to see what we’re seeing every single day,” Tracy To, the director of operations, forum appliances, and director of the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association, said.

The area is supposed to be for more than just meetings, as it is slated to be a hub for revitalization efforts like graffiti removal, and the cleaning and sanitizing of the neighbourhood’s streets.

Sim spoke at the opening ceremony on Friday and notes the community will also be able to access city support at the office in both Cantonese and Mandarin.

“It’s not that we have a physical office here. We’re sending a message that this neighbourhood is super important, and we want to welcome everyone in here to have a voice and let us know what’s going on in the neighborhood,” he said.

He adds that the office will “provide an integral link between the City of Vancouver and Chinatown.”

“The office will play an important role in making city service more accessible to members of the community.”

Ng says that she has already seen changes happen in terms of safety in the area.

“We can see lots of police walking on the streets and also the police cars patrolling the streets,” she said.

To adds she has also seen positive feedback with the changes, and is encouraging more people to stop and shop in the neighbourhood.

“Everyone that’s coming in is saying, ‘Oh gosh, I haven’t been in Chinatown for so long,’ and I’m asking them, ‘Come back often.’ That’s what we need in Chinatown — we need people to shop and eat and patronize us.”

Sim adds that the city is still working to revitalize the area, and says the office is a “testament to all those who have worked to restore and revitalize” the neighbourhood.

“We are fully committed to seeing Chinatown become a safe, prosperous, and vibrant neighbourhood for generations to come,” he said.

With files from Emily Marsten