We Are Here – Photo Series

WAH is short for “We Are Here”. Wah is an interjection to express amazement, admiration. It is an exclamation used in many Asian languages, not limited to Toisan, Cantonese, Hokkien, Mandarin, as well as in Korea and India.

View the main website for the photo series located here.

Community Events

Association Events

The United Calgary Chinese Association (UCCA) was established in 1969 and officially registered with Alberta Consumer and Corporate Affairs in 1970. Its primary purpose was to prevent the demolition of Calgary’s Chinatown after the City of Calgary expressed interest in developing an expressway that would divide Chinatown along Centre Street. Recognizing the threat to their community, the Chinese population rallied against this plan at City Council, successfully defeating it. This pivotal event highlighted the need for collective action to safeguard common interests and rights.

The Calgary Indo-Chinese Ethnic Association (CICEA) has made significant strides to preserve the Chinese language through the development of the Chi Thanh School. While the Chi Thanh School is currently closed, the CICEA currently participates in several festivals and events hosted by the UCCA

The Calgary Mah Society, formerly known as the Calgary Mah Kim Chi Tong men’s association, came together in 1918 and was originally formed with the goal of supporting people in need. After renting a space on 4^th Avenue SW in 1919, the Mah Kim Chi Tong men’s association was officially established. In 1954, the association moved to a new location which was later renovated into a 5-story apartment complex. It was not until 1979 where the association officially took on the name of The Calgary Mah Society.     

The Calgary Vietnamese Chinese Association (CVCA) was established in 1992 and originally shared its headquarters with the Tsung Tsin Association. Since moving to their current location in Happiness Plaza, the CVCA has hosted various events and programs to foster a sense of community and promote and preserve Vietnamese culture in Canada.

The Fukienese Association of Calgary was established in 1986 following the arrival of Fukienese people in Canada. Currently, the association is located on 1 Street SE and holds multiple fundraising banquets throughout the year.

The Gee How Oak Tin Benevolent Association was officially established in 1962 and currently represents a multitude of families including the Chan, Woo, and Yuen families. After receiving donations from the North American Gee How Oak Tin Association, the group was able to purchase their current building located on 2^nd Avenue SE.

The Hoy Sun Association of Canada’s second national convention took place in Vancouver on November 10, 1974. This sparked the idea of connecting Taishanese people across Canada through local chapters. In October 1979, Victoria Association members, including Ying Kil Chan, Leonard S. Wong, Po Loi Lee, and David T.H. Lee, held discussions with Taishanese individuals in Calgary and Edmonton. A planning committee, led by Leonard S. Wong, Sen Mah, Peter L. Eng, and George Wong, was formed. By 1982, a Calgary chapter was established. From 1982 to 1985, the Association operated without an office, holding meetings at Peter Eng’s Garden Exchange Cafe. On April 5, 1986, the Association moved to its current location. Over the past decade, it has navigated various challenges, and the new Board, led by President Peter Eng, is ready to face future challenges with an amended constitution.

In the spring of 1985, Buddhist immigrants from Southeast Asia formed the Indo-Chinese Buddhist Association. The group was officially registered in 1986 and established a modest temple at 201 First Street SE Members gather for religious services on Sundays and on the first and fifteenth days of the Chinese lunar calendar month, observing important Buddhist festivals and worshiping Bodhisattva Guanyin. The Association also promotes the study of Buddhist teachings and provides funeral services. On April 27, 1991, the members voted to construct a new temple, launching a fundraising campaign in January 1992. Construction began in October 1992 at 2401 Centre Street NW and was completed by the end of 1993.

The Jing Wo Martial Arts and Athletic Association of Calgary was established in 1983 by volunteers and officially registered as a non-profit organization in January 1984. It is a cultural and athletic organization open to all Canadians, regardless of ethnic origin, and is affiliated with the global Chinese Jing Wo organization. The Association aims to promote Wushu as an Olympic sport and enhance mental and physical health through its practice.

The Lee Association of Calgary was founded in 1910 by members primarily from the Hoy Shan District of the Guangdong province. These new Canadians faced significant challenges due to cultural, linguistic, and customs differences. Upon their arrival in Canada, many worked in low-paying, labor-intensive jobs such as laundry work, domestic help, kitchen help, farming, mining, and railway work.

In response to rising discrimination, the group formed the “Tung-Shing-Fon” organization to promote Chinese solidarity and cooperation. While initially located on First Street at 17^th Avenue SW, The organization later moved to Chinatown’s 2^nd Avenue SE and was renamed “Lee-Lung-Xi Tong.” Several charities were established during this period. In 1928, members decided to establish a permanent base and formed the “Pa-Shih-Hui” to raise funds. Under the leadership of President Danny Lee and other board members, the association worked hard to achieve its goals. In 1980, they reached a milestone with the construction of “Bowside Manor,” a non-profit apartment complex, with the Association as one of the three landlords, alongside the Chinese Public School and the Chinatown Development Foundation.

The Lung Kong Association is composed of members from the Lau, Kwan, Cheung, and Chiu clans. The association’s origins date back to the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280 A.D.), where historical figures Lau Pei, Kwan Yu, and Cheung Fei united to support the Han Dynasty. The name “Lung Kong” became known during the reign of Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty and is associated with the Lung Kong Old Temple in Kaiping District, Guangdong Province, where the four clans’ ancestral halls were worshipped.

A legend tells of a mountain in Shan Cao Bu village, believed to be spiritually significant, where the Lau, Kwan, Cheung, and Chiu clans built the Lung Kong Old Temple to preserve this spiritual site. Over time, Lung Kong organizations expanded globally, with the first Lung Kong temple built in San Francisco in 1876. Other societies followed in cities like Victoria, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and internationally in Mexico, Cuba, Peru, and Australia.

The Seto Association was officially established on August 11, 1984. The organization hosts a multitude of activities each year including an annual meeting banquet, a Christmas banquet, the Chinese Spring Festival, and picnics. The Association is fully supported by its own members and is a branch of the international Seto group.

The Sien Lok Society was established in January 1969 to advocate for the Chinese community at all levels of government. The Society played a crucial role in preventing a proposed east-west perimeter roadway that would have significantly impacted Chinatown. After successfully protecting the area, the Society continued to support the Chinese community through various initiatives.

In 1976, the City of Calgary allocated open space for parkland, and a core group of volunteers, including George Ho Lem, Mrs. Vi George, and Hugh Louis, lobbied for the creation of a park in Chinatown. This led to the establishment of Sien Lok Park, with a sod-turning ceremony in 1979 and the park’s completion on July 4, 1982. The Society raised $120,000 over six years for park improvements, including a pagoda, terraces, a tot lot, tables, benches, and pathways. The project was funded entirely through community efforts, with no grants or corporate donations involved.

The Typhoon Dragon Boat Club, originally known as the Draggin’ Dragons, has been active since 1992, coinciding with the first dragon boat races in Calgary. In its inaugural year, the Club won first place in the Chinese Heritage Class and second place overall.

In addition to racing, the Club organizes social events such as a New Year’s Eve party, comedy club nights, and downhill ski trips. Members also engage in other sports and activities, including white water rafting and parachuting, especially during the summer. The Club primarily consists of young professionals and students from the University of Calgary and is open to all skill levels. For more information, contact Alvin Wang at (403) 239-4149.

The Kung Har Hotel was established in 1910 at what is now 205 Centre Street, supported by the Wong Kung Har Tong. It served as a place for new immigrants to find accommodation and support. As more Wong family members immigrated to Calgary, the hotel could no longer meet everyone’s needs, leading to the establishment of the Wong Wu Sun Society in December 1927 to assist the Wong Kung Har Tong.

In 1967, the two Wong associations merged to form the Wong’s Affinity Association, aimed at uniting and effectively managing their property and financial interests for the benefit of their members. The Wong’s Affinity Association is actively involved in the community, with over 400 members. It sponsors autumn and spring memorial services, sends volunteers to visit nursing homes, organizes picnics, and serves the needs of the Chinese community in Calgary.

The Wu Yi Association is a non-profit and charitable organization formed in July 1991 by Chinese Canadian volunteers with similar social and cultural backgrounds. The association aims to assist its members and the general public. Members hail from five districts in China: Taishan (Hoy Shan), Xinhui, Kaiping, Enping, and Heshan. These regions, located on the coast west of the Pearl River, speak the Wu Yi dialect, related to the Hoy Shan dialect.

The association’s office is located in the Good Fortune Plaza in Chinatown. It promotes cultural and economic exchanges between China and Canada by organizing special events, activities, and tours. The association offers various services, including secretarial assistance to seniors and immigrants for filling out documents and job applications. It also organizes support and networking groups.

The Wu Yi Association collaborates with other groups on joint fundraising and co-sponsors activities. Some sponsored events include Canada’s 125th Celebration in May 1991, the Multicultural Festival in October 1991, a Chinese Arts and Cultural Exhibition and Chinese New Year’s celebration in February 1992, and a Chinese dance troupe tour in March 1992.

The Yee Fung Toy Society, one of Calgary’s oldest Chinese organizations, was established in 1920 by Mr. Sung Ho Yee, who started a laundry business in the city. The Society wasn’t officially registered until 1989, the same year it purchased its current premises. During World War II, the organization provided financial support to the Chinese government in its fight against the Japanese. In 1978, after a fire damaged its headquarters, the building was quickly rebuilt.

Members of the Society have been active in Canadian political campaigns, including Calgary’s 1980 civic election, the 1992 leadership election of the Progressive Conservative Party, and Alberta provincial elections. One member even ran as a candidate in the Calgary Centre constituency. In 1992, the Yee Fung Toy Society sponsored two major events: the 11th North American Yee Fung Toy Society convention and the 88th anniversary of the Calgary Chapter.