Chilliwack – Heritage Chilliwack is inviting the community to discover a lesser-known part of the city’s history at Uncovering Chinatown, a free Culture Days event taking place Saturday, October 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in historic downtown Chilliwack.
At the heart of the event will be Heritage Chilliwack’s four new Chinatown Heritage Plaques, installed on or near the sites of businesses once owned and operated by members of Chilliwack’s early Chinese-Canadian community.
The plaques focus on the area historically known as Chinatown North, centred around the present-day downtown, including Yale Road, Wellington Avenue and Mill Street. They are the result of approximately three years of research and planning and mark the first phase of Heritage Chilliwack’s efforts to make the city’s Chinese-Canadian history more visible in the downtown landscape.
Heritage Chilliwack hopes to explore opportunities in the future to similarly recognize Chinatown South, which developed in another part of the community.
The October 3 event will begin at 11:00 a.m. near the Chinatown plaques located by Paramount Alley adjacent to District 1881, with a welcome from Heritage Chilliwack and remarks recognizing the history behind the project and the organizations that helped make it possible.
Mayor Ken Popove and Councillor Jason Lum are confirmed to attend, along with representatives of the Chilliwack Foundation, whose grant support helped fund the plaque project.
Following the opening program, visitors will be invited to continue to Central Community Park, which will serve as the event hub for the remainder of the day.
Two free guided walking tours will offer different opportunities to explore downtown history. Merlin Bunt will lead the first tour at approximately 12:00 p.m., incorporating the District 1881 area and its history. Michael Berger will lead a second tour at approximately 2:00 p.m., with a broader focus on historic downtown Chilliwack and the places connected to the city’s former Chinatown.
Uncovering Chinatown – Culture Days 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026
11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Historic Downtown Chilliwack
Opening near District 1881, followed by activities at Central Community Park
Free admission – no registration required
For more information, visit heritagechilliwack.org.
