About the project

Stories, memories and hopes are created every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every month and every year in Chinatown. This photo storytelling project, Made in Chinatown, shares and celebrates some of these stories, memories and hopes that otherwise might never be recognized. Over forty people affirm their sense of belonging to Chinatown and reimagine what Chinatown could be for future generations.

Years of encroachment with urban projects that are not connected with Chinatown’s history and its people has contributed to its gradual decline. Since the successful community mobilization that led to the heritage designation of Montréal’s Chinatown in 2021, the JIA Foundation has organized the Chinatown Reimagined Forum and numerous cultural events through its Chinatown House programs to protect Chinatown’s cultural heritage and facilitate intergenerational dialogues. Made in Chinatown is a new JIA Foundation initiative that aims to (re)weave social ties, reclaim collective and personal spaces, reconcile with the territory and its Peoples to (re)create Chinatown’s vibrant and inclusive neighbourhood by shining a light on the stories and images of individuals who share a sense of connection to this place.  

Subverting a common stereotype about cheap and lesser-quality products that are “Made in China” and a neighbourhood’s image that is often associated with food and tourism in a superficial way, this project affirms not only the individual and collective humanity behind this cultural neighbourhood, but also the resiliency of the community and the sense of belonging many Montrealers have with Chinatown.

Made in Chinatown is part of a collective reimagining of Chinatown through place-keeping and place-making. The art installation starts on Clark Street, in an area of our community needing attention and support, and where the JIA Foundation will soon launch its Clark Street Reimagined Project with Chinatown Roundtable and many other community partners to explore equitable development models with a strong and inclusive community vision.