Why the City kicked us out of the Chinatown Memorial Plaza earlier this month
Who's public space actually for?
Earlier this month, the City of Vancouver kicked us out of the Chinatown Memorial Plaza a week before we were going to host the Chinatown Variety Show on July 7th.
We persisted and had a blast at the Chinatown Variety Show at the Sun Yat-Sen Courtyard featuring over 28 talented community performers and a new food corner where we incubated new businesses like Cindy’s Ho Yummy wonton stand and Dou Lok Fong tofu dessert stand (which, by the way, will be making a comeback with Amy’s San Lee groceries at the Chinatown Mini Night Market and Film Night this Sunday, July 28).
But you’re probably asking: What the heck happened? Why were we kicked out?
Well, we followed all the rules and got a permit from the City of Vancouver’s Film and Special Events department to use the Chinatown Memorial Plaza, a public space, for the Chinatown Variety Show, a month ahead of the event date.
About a week prior, we got a call from the City saying we can’t use the Memorial Plaza due to their "mistake" in double booking us with a film production in the same space. In fact, the Chinatown BIA had to remind them there was a production.
We asked for the City for a filming notice. They couldn’t produce one.
We asked who the production company was and what the film was. They said it was a super secretive production, but a *massive* one.
What?
When we asked more questions, the City pushed back and said that they’re letting us host the event on public space for “free.” They added that they could kick us out at any time now or in the future, regardless of when we apply for a permit. They said the production will bring millions to the economy and the Chinatown BIA may get a kickback from the production company and that will benefit Chinatown.
Does this imply our free-to-access, but definitely not free-to-produce event that directly puts money in the hands of Chinatown businesses, community vendors, artists, community members, and elders, is less valuable to the neighbourhood?
So after we:
refused to move our event date to a weekday as we’ve already lined up dozens of performers months ahead,
refused to move our event to the patch of grass on Union and Gore where they want to put in the new temporary firehall no one wants,
refused to use any other Downtown public space that’s not in Chinatown, and
refused to pay additional fees or deal with Park Board’s two-month timeline to use the Sun Yat-Sen Courtyard,
seriously considered cancelling the event,
the City finally negotiated with the Park Board to fast-track our access to the Sun Yat-Sen Courtyard, with minutes to spare on Friday before the close of business a week before the event, leaving us scrambling to let people know at the last minute.
This incident raises the question: Who is public space really for?
In communities like Chinatown with a disproportionate number of elders and low-income residents, communication about events happens in-person at food lineups and community centres.
Displacing grassroots organizations from public spaces causes significant disruptions and adversely affects community vendors.
Performers and vendors remarked that they observed noticeably less traffic than otherwise. Event vendors told us they had informed their friends and neighbours they’d be at the old location, but didn’t know or have enough time to tell them about the new one, leading to less sales than they expected.
You might be wondering: Well, do you get compensated for these types of disruptions like any other business or residence?
No, community organizations don't get compensated if they're displaced by film productions or City "errors". In fact, we're told to be thankful that we can even host anything in the first place for "free". Apparently, film production companies are now allegedly blackmailing organizations if they don't cooperate with their demands on the use of space.
To add salt to the wound, on the day of the event, the film production company didn’t even use the Chinatown Memorial Plaza, the public space we were originally permitted for, during our planned event hours!
Public spaces should be community living rooms where people can gather to socialize and play. Instead, the City of Vancouver prioritizes the private use of public spaces — a city that would rather be a movie set for the dead, than to allow its living communities to thrive.
This isn’t the first time either. Just a few years ago, the Binners’ Project got bumped from Victory Square because of Netflix’s Jennifer Lopez film. Last year, Yarrow Society got booted out of the Sun Yat-Sen Courtyard for a disability-oriented lion dance workshop for seniors with less than 24 hours to spare due to a booking for a wedding. The message is clear from this pattern: Private uses of public space will always take priority in Vancouver.
This is why Chinatown Together occupies public space to host arts and culture events. In a city where public amenities are increasingly privatized from public mountain views to public spaces, occupying public space for community joy and cultural celebration is an act of resistance.
If you want to have a word with the City of Vancouver about this, email Specialevents@vancouver.ca and City Manager paul.mochrie@vancouver.ca.
Let’s keep occupying public space together, this time at the Chinatown Memorial Plaza on Sunday, July 28th with the Chinatown Mini Night Market and Film Night featuring the cult classic Shaolin Soccer!
Get ready for an evening filled with vibrant community spirit and entertainment as we come together for a yeet lau 熱鬧 celebration of community fun!
WHEN: Sunday, July 28 2024, 4:00PM to 9:00PM
WHERE: Chinatown Memorial Plaza - 135-137 Keefer St
Come on down and enjoy a lineup of entertainment made by community for community!
Sip and Stretch with Swallow (Today at 1pm)
Chinatown Together is taking over Gastown!
Long-time Chinatown elder Swallow is teaching baduanjin and qigong several afternoons this summer as part of the City of Vancouver’s Gastown pedestrian zone project.
Take a break from work, sip on a delicious drink from a local Gastown business, and stretch with Swallow, starting this afternoon at 1pm.