
Led by Elisa Yon and Janet Wang, this community-driven commemorative mural and storytelling project honours the unsung contributions and legacies of the women who have helped shape Vancouver’s Chinatown and the history of the Chinese Canadian community. Five years after Underwater Chinatown, the Suzhou Alley Women’s Mural project continues our creative exploration of “Chinatown” through undiscovered stories told by voices that too often go unheard. The project began in early 2020, with an in-depth artist and community engagement process. To ensure that the mural will reflect the diverse voices and stories of Vancouver’s Chinatown, the artist team reached out through online surveys and hosted a number of workshops, community conversations and participatory art activities. The project will culminate in the creation of a 100ft long x 12ft high commemorative multi-section mural in Suzhou Alley in Summer 2022, as well as the creation of an interactive website and online educational toolkit.