Research & Knowledge Initiatives

Transforming Memory into Neighbourhood Renewal

This presentation tells the story of the JIA Foundation, from its origins in community mobilization against speculative real estate development to an overview of its past and ongoing initiatives. 

The speakers—Karen Cho and Jessica Chen of JIA, along with Marian Scott—were all instrumental in securing official heritage designation for the historic core of Montreal’s Chinatown. It was presented as part of Atwater Library’s lunchtime series in February 2026.

Collective Real Estate Tools

At JIA, we envision collective real estate as a means to support equitable development in Chinatown. Collective real estate is an approach to real estate stewardship, management and development that centres community needs. Many Chinatown family associations have been practising the key principles of collective real estate for more than a century, demonstrating that Chinatown already has the capacity, experience, and resources necessary to build a neighbourhood for the community, by the community.

Chinatown’s strong community ecosystem constitutes a foundational element of the neighbourhood’s heritage. Our approach focuses on the preservation and stewardship of the community spaces and infrastructure that house the activities and people that give them meaning. 

The tools outlined in the following Research Summary aim to support community agency in the neighbourhood by empowering Chinatown’s community with increased knowledge and capacity to have more control over urban change and development.

Chinatown Reimagined Forum II

The Chinatown Reimagined Forum 2023 was a three-day event that took place in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal (and online) from September 28 to 30, 2023. The conference aimed to ‘Re-imagine a future for Chinatowns across North America’ and bring together community stakeholders, residents, urban planners, social housing professionals, policymakers, and community organizers from across North America/ Turtle Island to share innovation, best practices, and expertise.

Chinatown Reimagined was action and community-oriented, allowing for meaningful relationship-building and inclusive participation. A series of online forums spoke to overarching national concerns, while in-person activities, viewing parties, and workshops served to engage Montréal’s Chinatown communities in conversation around what kind of development model we want for the neighbourhood’s future.

Quebec City Learning Field Trip

In July of 2025, the JIA team travelled to Québec City on a learning field trip to explore the history of its lost Chinatown. Québec City once had a Chinatown that gradually disappeared due to factors like urban renewal and provincial policies. Today, Montréal’s Chinatown is the only remaining Chinatown in Québec, highlighting the urgency of sustaining it for future generations.

Through site visits, walking tours and conversations with community members, the team deepened their understanding of how community spaces, traditions and visibility sustain Chinatown life. The story of Québec City’s Chinatown and its disappearance offers lessons on the importance of safeguarding community spaces, voices and memory.