CHINATOWN BIA

The Toronto Chinatown Business Improvement Area (CBIA) is a not-for-profit community based City of Toronto agency established in 2007. CBIA was formed by the area’s commercial property owners and tenants, along with Trinity-Spadina’s City Councillor Ceta Ramkhalawansingh. In addition, CBIA works closely with all three levels of the government, area residents, community groups, other BIAs, and the private sector to build a strong Chinatown community.

The key purposes of CBIA are to preserve the Chinese heritage and culture, improve on Chinatown’s streetscape, health and safety, and to create exciting community events and projects to promote the area and draw visitors and locals to eat, shop, and explore the neighbourhood. CBIA also acts as an unified voice for Chinatown Businesses, to address issues and advocate for collective benefits. As a result, more employment opportunities and new businesses will be continually attracted to the area to enhance the existing vibrancy and tenancy mix.

Chinatown BIA Boundary and Management

CBIA geographic boundaries run from north to south on Spadina Avenue between College Street and Sullivan Street and from east to west on Dundas Street West between Augusta Avenue to Beverly Street; Huron Street between D’Arcy Street and Dundas Street West.

The funding of CBIA comes strictly from the area’s commercial property owners (who pay a special levy to the City of Toronto), sponsorships, and donations. It is run by an Honorary Board consisting of member-elected Board of Directors (BOD), that has been approved by the City Council.

HISTORY OF CHINATOWN

Toronto Chinatown is vibrant and multicultural. Many of the area members and residents are descendants or immigrants from Asia: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and other Southeast Asian countries.

The history of Toronto’s Chinatown stems back to the late 1870s, with the opening of the first Chinese business, owned by Sam Ching. His laundry wash was located at 9 Adelaide Street East. Many Chinese people who had come to Toronto for a better quality of living were surprised to see the inequality in jobs, living and overall treatment of the Chinese. When the Chinese emigrated from their homelands to Toronto, many of them were not able to find jobs because of systemic discrimination and used what skills they had to earn an income. The growth of the Chinese population was sluggish and by 1881, there were only 10 Chinese people residing in Toronto.

The First Chinatown Location

The number of stores in old Chinatown grew over the years of the late 1800s-early 1900s, forming a little enclave on Elizabeth Street, from Queen Street West north to Dundas Street West. The variety of businesses in the area was limited, consisting primarily of laundry washes, restaurants, and dried goods shops. Settlement by the Chinese developed in the 1920s and was firmly established at this location for several decades. This was done after the relocation of the Jewish residents to Kensington Market. The Chinese residents had developed their shops, associations, political groups, media networks, theatres, and opera houses in the area of Elizabeth St, and along the smaller streets adjacent. By the 1940s, the population in Toronto’s Chinatown was the third largest, after cities Victoria and Vancouver, both located in British Columbia.

The stable and developed Elizabeth Street faced abolishment when a discussion of a new City Hall arose. This new building for city officials and councilors was to be built at Louisa and Elizabeth Streets. This meant many Chinese businesses and residences would be demolished to make way for a brand new building. A committee, dedicated to the preservation of shops and residences along this area was founded in March 1968 and led by Jean Lumb. Ms. Lumb later won the Order of Canada for her dedication and commitment to this project. Demolition decreased the area of Chinatown by two thirds and this space was used for the new City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square.

Moving to Dundas Street. W.

After the erection of the new City building, the prices for the land in this area skyrocketed and there were not many people that could afford to live in the same area they once had. Thus, they moved from Elizabeth Street, onto Dundas Street West, from the intersection of Elizabeth Streets all the way to Bay and Dundas. Nowadays, there are still many signs on these old buildings, although many of the associations have vacated the area.

Today, the West Chinatown (中區唐人街/中區華埠/中國城) is a portion of Old Chinatown that has been relocated to Spadina Avenue and Dundas StreetWest and is one of five Chinatown ‘hubs’ of the GTA (the other 4 being East Chinatown, Markham/Richmond Hill, Scarborough, and Mississauga). If you take a walk through Old Chinatown, along Elizabeth Street, up to Dundas Street West, there are still many signs that remain on their old buildings and while vacated, are remnants and indicators of Toronto’s history and the challenges the Chinese faced when developing in this city.

Source for information: Chan, Arlene. The Chinese in Toronto from 1878: From Outside to Inside the Circle. Toronto: National Heritage, 1987. Online.

以中文閱讀

BOARD & STAFF

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tonny Louie 雷普信

Chair

Business Address: 377 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 2G3

Robert Mok 莫禮業

Vice-Chair, Chair of Governance & Standards Committee
Chair of Streetscape & Safety Committee

Business Address: 405 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 2G8

Tony Kong 鄺志文

Treasurer

Business Name: Scotiabank
Business Address: 292 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 2E7

Eddy Chen

Secretary and Chair of Camera Committee

Business Address: 369 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 2G3

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chang Toy 蔡家暢

Chair of Marketing & Promotion Committee

Business Name: A & C Games
Business Address: 452 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2G8

Vi Yung (Steven) Pho 傅偉勇

Chair of Event Committee

Business Name: Sunlight Trading Co. Ltd.
Business Address: 248 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2C2

Jingxiang Yang 楊景祥

Chair of the Cleanliness & Standard Committee

Business Name: A & A Department Store
Business Address: 251 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2Z2

Christina Louie

Vice-Chair of Governance & Standards Committee

Business Name: Grossman’s Tavern
Business Address: 379 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2G3

Johnny Walker (Wai Kwong) Kwok

Vice-Chair of Streetscape & Safety Committee

Property Address: 421 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G6

Jenny Jiang

Vice-Chair of the Cleanliness & Standard Committee

Business Name: Win’s Flower
Business Address: 564 Dundas Street W., Toronto, ON M5T 1H5

David Chen

Business Name: Lucky Moose Food Mart
Business Address: 393 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G6

Polly Yam

Business Address: 384 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2G5

Kai Ming Hung

Business Name: In Fashion
Business Address: 395 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2G6

Wai Ling Choo

Business Name: Taste of Asia
Business Address: 338 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2G2

Raymond Yam 任寶宏

Business Name: Ray’s Printing Company (華威印刷)
Business Address: 397 Dundas St W, Toronto ON M5T 1G6

STAFF

Beryl Sher 佘愛華

Administrative Director

Ellen Siu 蕭雅倫

Project Coordinator