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 Downtown (Gastown/Chinatown) |
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Chinatown
In 1880s a community, fostered by many Chinese immigrants, earlier before Vancouver 's incorporation in 1886, emerged on the edges of False Creek on the intersection of Carrall and Pender Streets. This little community of Chinese who worked as laborers and factory workers in local industries noq have grown into what is now known as Chinatown.
It is said that the first Chinese immigrants to British Columbia arrived in 1858, were they worked for the construction of the railways of the Canadian Pacific Railways. After the completion of the railways, hundreds of Chinese were out of work, leaving their employment options to vegetable vending, laundry services and domestic work.
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Chinatown is known as one of the city s earliest commercial and residential districts. Through rough and tumble years, the town has overcome racial discrimination, economic hardships and the decay of its surrounding areas, to become one of the most exciting communities in the city.
Sometime in the 1950s, a highway was proposed to cut through Chinatown area, but the public strongly opposed the idea prompting the government to abandon the project. Twenty years later, the people s opposition to the proposed highway was vindicated when the government designated Chinatown along with Gastown as historic districts.
Although there are a number of Chinese communities in Vancouver , Chinatown had been identified as home to Chinese Cultural Centre, Museum and Archives . The town has fostered a strong identity that remains evident to this day of the community s aspirations.
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Gastown is the birthplace of Vancouver . After all, Vancouver started to carve its name in the sun from this Gassytown , a name taken from its first settler, a retired pilot named Captain John Gassy Jack Deighton sometime in 1867. Mr. Deighton put up a saloon in the place to reciprocate the establishment of the first of a series of sawmills on the shores of Burrard Inlet .
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Indeed, Mr. Deighton s place became a familiar spot for workers wanting to wind up after a hard day s work at the lumber yard. Perhaps, one way of entertaining and keeping his customers, Mr. Deighton had always a story to tell. Thus, the garrulous old man got the moniker Gassy which ultimately became the name of his saloon and finally the place itself. However, as more folks came to settle nearby, the name Gassy Town was invented and adopted. Not so long then, old folks and new settlers had to invent a short for Gassy Town. Thus, Gastown became appropriately adopted as an ideal replacement for the shady Gassy town label. Nineteen years later, in 1886, Gastown and its neighboring areas were incorporated as the City of Vancouver In 1971, the province of British Columbia had identified Chinatown and Gastown as historic districts. Since then, efforts were being made to restore the cobble-stoned, weathered road between the lumber yards and Gassy Jack s saloon to retrace early settlers footprints. In fact, Gastown is now a popular destination among tourists in the area.
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