Cultural Revitalization
The Learning Lab at the
Chinatown Storytelling Centre
Overview
The Learning Lab is an immersive 4,000-square-foot expansion of the Chinatown Storytelling Centre that invites visitors to step into Vancouver Chinatown’s vibrant heyday from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Recreated storefronts, historic façades, community artifacts and wall-to-wall digital displays surround visitors with the sights, sounds and stories of the neighbourhood—bringing its restaurants, nightclubs, herbal shops, newspapers and community organizations vividly to life.
Interactive experiences transform everyday objects into powerful storytellers, revealing how Chinese Canadians built businesses, institutions and a thriving community against significant odds.
With a presentation theatre, media studio and flexible workshop spaces, the Learning Lab connects generations through hands-on learning, cultural programming and community gatherings—where the past speaks and the future listens.
To purchase tickets or learn more, visit the Chinatown Storytelling Centre website.
200+
Community Stories
collected from elders and community members connected to Chinatown, preserving and sharing of oral histories before they are lost forever
10,000+
Collected Artefacts
establishing the first permanent collection of artefacts, objects, photos and documents dedicated to Vancouver Chinatown’s heritage, stewarded by our professional archivist
1,000+
Students at School Programs
doubling student participation every year since the program launched, reaching 1,000+ students in 2024 from over 30 primary and secondary schools
Press