Chinatown

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Chinatown celebration

The revitalization focus in Chinatown creates a ripple effect. A Chinatown that’s a safe and welcoming place for businesses, residents, students and visitors allows each group to contribute to Edmonton’s overall vibrancy and economic success.

Chinatown Recovery Fund

The $1 million Chinatown Recovery Fund supported post-pandemic recovery projects in the Chinatown community. The fund has been fully expended and a report is underway. See the list of projects .

Chinatown Vibrancy Fund

The Chinatown Vibrancy Fund aims to support the implementation of the Chinatown Strategy by bringing visitors into the area through festivals, events, and cultural projects, building community cohesion, and empowering residents both housed and unhoused.

There is no minimum or maximum amount for individual projects. The $480,000 fund was open for applications from April 8 to May 31, 2024. The City hopes to make funding announcements regarding project applications in July 2024.

View the program guide. It is also available in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.

Chinatown Events

This events listing is a public service to share information about events and activities in Edmonton that celebrate Chinatown as a cultural destination.

Hosting an Event?

Promote your upcoming event or activity that celebrates the cultures and heritage of Chinatown.

Submit an Event

Note: Events submitted will be reviewed and may be accepted or denied if they do not meet the following criteria.

Festivals, events, workshops, art exhibits, town halls and forums
Open to the general public (free or paid)
Taking place in or near the Chinatown area and in support of Chinatown's cultures or heritage

To cancel or change information in an approved event submission, please email chinatown@edmonton.ca.

Chinatown Strategy

A Broad Economic Approach

The Chinatown Strategy (10.55 MB) is a broad economic development approach supported by placemaking and actionable community-led programming components. It was built from the Chinatown Urban Interface Plan (33.47 MB) and the Economic Development Plan (40.98 MB) for Chinatown.

Development Pillars

The Strategy is built around five development pillars with supporting actions, all of which contribute collectively to guide Edmonton's Chinatown into the future:

Improve sense of safety and security
Focused economic development
Celebrate Chinatown as a destination
Enhance built form and landmarks

The directions of each pillar were guided by Chinatown cultural organizations, the retail and business sector and community organizations.

While the City played a role in the development of the strategy, it is community-driven, and it will be collaborative community-based partnerships that drive the success of the strategy. The strategy is in the process of being revalidated by the City and its partners, and it will be re-released in 2024

Supporting the Strategy Pillars

One way the City is helping to support the five pillars of the Chinatown Strategy is through Edmonton’s Downtown Core and Transit System Safety Plan. The plan launched in 2022 outlines the various initiatives the City has activated to help build safety in the neighbourhood and to revitalize Chinatown.

The following actions are currently underway:

The Healthy Streets Operations Centre formally began its work in January 2023 and established a location for the Community Safety Teams in Chinatown in April 2023. This initiative offers a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing disorder and crime issues, contributing to revitalization efforts in Chinatown
Chinatown has free 3-hour parking to increase accessibility to the neighbourhood’s businesses and restaurants. EPark is free in zones 4001 to 4009, 4012 to 4014, 4017 to 4025 and 4032. A map of zones can be found on the EPark map
Neighbourhood Community Development has been strengthening community safety through relationship building at neighbourhood events
The City has provided $800,000 in grants to the Chinatown and Area Business Association to help fund private security resources in and throughout Chinatown
The City provided the $1 million Chinatown Recovery Fund for post-pandemic recovery projects

Chinatown Newsletter

Stay up to date with events, festivals, grants, engagement opportunities, and actions related to the Chinatown Strategy through the monthly Chinatown Newsletter.

Subscribe

History

Edmonton’s original Chinatown emerged more than 100 years ago in the area around Jasper Avenue and 97 Street, where a number of merchants established businesses to cater to the growing Chinese population.

With confirmation of the construction of Canada Place for Government of Canada offices, Chinatown began the movement to 102 Avenue, between 95 and 97 streets, in the 1980s. This area continues to be home to the community’s family associations, multi-culture centre and seniors residences. Businesses located north of this area, primarily along 97 Street. This gave way to a second concentration of Chinese commercial establishments commonly known today as Chinatown.

Over the years, retail trends have continued to evolve, and goods and services that had traditionally only been available in Chinatown, such as grocery, herbal medicines and specialty services can now easily be found across Edmonton. This has led to a fall in visitation, which combined with some of the disorder issues, has affected the area's vibrancy.

Regional and city-wide consumer demand for unique and exciting shopping, cultural and culinary destinations have grown, and Chinatown represents a significant opportunity to highlight its distinct identity as a destination within the City. Various initiatives have taken place to provide a broader investment strategy to help the area become prosperous and economically resilient.

Harbin Gate

The Harbin Gate was constructed to symbolize the sister-city relationship with the City of Harbin in China but was dismantled and put in storage in 2017 to enable the construction of the Valley Line LRT.

A new Harbin Gate will be built on 97 Street, just north of Jasper Avenue, and foundation footings and landscaping were installed as part of the Jasper Avenue new vision project. Throughout 2024 the City will work with the City of Harbin and Edmonton’s Chinese community on the design of the new gate. Construction of the new gate is anticipated to be complete in 2026.

Contact Us

Brett Latchford

Title	Director of Strategy and Emerging Economy
Email	brett.latchford@edmonton.ca