Embedded Files
October 15, 2026 -
Following an initial meeting held on August 29, a second preparatory meeting for the creation of the Chinatown Alliance took place on October 15 at Montreal City Hall with Mr. Claude Pinard. The PDUÉS (Urban, Economic, and Social Development Plan) planned by the City of Montreal for Chinatown will be gradually implemented by various municipal departments (economic development, social services, finance, human resources, etc.) starting in November. More details to come.
September 29, 2026 - Open Letter
Ending the Impasse: The Future of Chinatown Must Be Decided Here
Chinatown is a vibrant community, driven by its residents, business owners, property owners, and families, but its future is now at a critical turning point. The Association of Residents Of Chinatown (ARQC), as an organization dedicated to this neighbourhood, has witnessed external groups and influencers from outside the neighbourhood attempting to impose their vision, disregarding local voices.
Time and again, essential progress on safety, economic recovery, and quality of life has been stalled because city officials are forced to navigate the noise generated by outside organizations. These groups do not live here, do not operate any businesses here, and do not experience the daily reality of our streets. Despite this, they insist on dictating how our neighbourhood should be managed.
The ongoing chaos surrounding the uncoordinated distribution of food and clothing on Sundays on De la Gauchetière Street continues in front of the residences at the Guy-Favreau Complex, despite opposition from residents and business owners.
Similarly, the future of the old Davis & Sons cigar factory—a historic building—remains at an impasse. Although the Old Brewery Mission acquired the property in 2025 with the intention of converting it into housing for its clients, neighbourhood leaders have continued to vigorously oppose this project since last year’s submission of a petition with 1,500 signatures collected within the neighbourhood—a petition that has yet to receive a concrete response from the authorities.
When the City must consider requests from stakeholders influenced by external lobby groups who do not have to live with the consequences of their choices, the decision-making process becomes bogged down. This interference creates a dangerous impasse and hinders the safe and equitable development of the neighbourhood and the services provided to its residents.
We can no longer afford these delays driven by ideological movements disconnected from the real needs of the people here. Every month spent on academic exercises or political pilot projects imposed from outside is one more month that our community must go without the concrete, pragmatic solutions it needs to thrive.
Let’s be perfectly clear: Chinatown is our home, not a blank slate on which to implement outside agendas with impunity. We are fully prepared to work hand in hand with the municipal administration to advance the development of our neighbourhood. However, for the City to make the right decisions, it must tune out the background noise and listen to those who are truly rooted in this community.
It is time to put an end to this interference and let Chinatown shape its own future.
Signed by the members of the Board of Directors of the Association of Residents of Chinatown (ARQC):
Carman Tang (President), Christiane Jansen (Vice-President), Vincent Lupien (Treasurer), Yvan Michaud (Secretary), Bill Woon Lam Wong (Director), Raymond Pang (Director), Anthony Bovenzi (Director)
September 22, 2026 - Autumn Moon Festival
The Autumn Moon Festival (also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Tết Trung Thu) is a major traditional holiday in East and Southeast Asia that falls exactly on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, a time when the full moon is historically considered the roundest and brightest of the year. This year, the full moon will occur on Friday, September 25, but the festivities generally span several days around that date. For Asian communities, it is the second most important traditional holiday after the Lunar New Year. Historically, this festival was a time to thank the deities for the fall harvests and to pray for future prosperity.
One of the must-see traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival is mooncakes. These round pastries, often filled with lotus seed paste or sesame seeds and topped with a salted egg yolk (representing the moon), are given as gifts and shared among loved ones. In Montreal, one of the must-see attractions of the Mid-Autumn Festival is undoubtedly the Chinese Garden at the Botanical Garden. During the annual “Gardens of Light” event, hundreds of themed silk lanterns illuminate the ponds after dark. It’s a spectacular interpretation of the lantern tradition, attracting thousands of Montrealers who come to symbolically “gaze at the moon” in a magical setting.
Montreal’s Chinatown comes alive especially during this time. Local groups organize pop-up markets featuring crafts, street art workshops, and outdoor musical performances. But beyond the major events, Montreal families of Asian descent primarily celebrate this holiday with their families, at home or in the city’s parks.
A First for Montreal
Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung are among the most influential figures in Hong Kong music and cinema. Their songs have accompanied several generations in Hong Kong and China and continue to resonate with audiences far beyond the Chinese-speaking world. This year, for the first time in Montreal, a tribute concert dedicated to Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung will be designed specifically to introduce Cantonese pop music to Quebec audiences. The event will take place starting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Ruby Rouge Restaurant and can accommodate up to 400 guests.
For more information, please email Raymond Pang, co-organizer, at raymondpang373@gmail.com
Anita Mui Yim-fong (1963 – 2003) was a Hong Konger singer and actress who made major contributions to the Cantopop music scene and received numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout her career, and is regarded as "Queen of Cantopop". She was dubbed as the "Daughter of Hong Kong" and is considered one of the most iconic Cantopop singers.
Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing (1956 – 2003) was a Hong Kong singer-songwriter and actor. One of the most influential cultural icons in the Sinophone world, Cheung was known for his debonair demeanour, flamboyant screen characters, and avant-garde, androgynous stage presence. Throughout his 26-year career, he released over 40 music albums and acted in 56 films.
September 13, 2026 - A New Chapter
The ARQC would like to thank everyone who attended its annual general meeting on Sunday, September 13, at the Montreal’s Palais des congrès, making it a great success in terms of attendance. We would also like to thank Michel Laval, outgoing board member, for his contribution to the Association (ARQC) during its first two years of existence. The ARQC also thanks the CRARR and its director, Fo Niemi, as well as SPVM Sergeants Julien Lagüe and Karim Filali for their willingness to answer questions raised by our members following the meeting. Finally, our heartfelt congratulations to our three newly elected members: Anthony Bovenzi, Vincent Lupien, and Raymond Pang, all of whom are committed to making Montreal’s Chinatown safer, more vibrant, more welcoming, and true to its identity!
from left to right: Julien Lagüe, Anthony Bovenzi, Vincent Lupien, Carman Tang, Bill Woon Lam Wong, Yvan Michaud, Christiane Jansen, Raymond Pang and Karim Filali
September 7, 2026 - Chinatown Crosses Borders
The Chinese Association of Montreal and all family associations, notably the Chan and the Wong family associations, worked with CRARR and other local organizers to help welcome the 81st North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament that takes place in Montreal during this Labor Day weekend.
Held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, the event is not only a major sports event, but it is also one that helps strengthen U.S.-Canada friendship, energize the local Chinese community and pump millions of dollars into the local hospitality and tourist industry. At a time when Canada-U.S. relations are strained by trade tensions, thousands of volleyball players, families and friends from the two countries are in Montreal.
https://montreal.citynews.ca/2026/09/05/chinese-canadians-americans-montreal-volleyball-tournament/
September 4, 2026 - Improving Social Coexistence
Coexistence in the context of supervised substance use services—injection sites and proposed supervised inhalation sites—raises numerous concerns among residents and business owners in the Village and Chinatown.
With the elections approaching, we hope that the candidates—and, more broadly, all political parties running in Quebec—will take a stand on this issue and propose solutions to ensure both appropriate services for people struggling with addiction and a safe living environment for residents.
Open letter: https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/idees/1006343/faire-mieux-cohabitation-sociale?
Le Devoir article: https://www.ledevoir.com/actualites/sante/1006334/citoyens-demandent-centres-consommation-supervisee-soient-integres-hopitaux
September 2, 2026 - Unity Is Strength
The ARQC participates in several forums to represent the residents of Chinatown. It has been involved in the work of the Saint-Jacques District Monitoring Committee since its launch one month ago. This committee, which was holding its fourth meeting today, was established to address social challenges in the downtown area and to enable residents and business owners to bring issues related to public safety, cleanliness, or neighbourhood nuisances directly to elected officials and relevant city departments, with the goal of jointly developing urban planning or social intervention solutions.
In addition, the ARQC is also participating in the implementation of the new Urban, Economic, and Social Development Plan (PDUÉS), announced on August 4 by the City of Montreal, to ensure the revitalization of Chinatown. The Chinatown Alliance will be the body responsible for overseeing this plan, in which residents, business owners, property owners, and representatives of the neighbourhood’s Chinese community will play a central role.
It’s not too late to get involved in making Montreal’s Chinatown safer, more vibrant, more welcoming, and true to its identity!
A big thank you to CRARR for this beautiful banner, which will help raise our association’s profile. And a huge thank you to the donor who made it possible!
August 19, 2026 - Holy Spirit
Two days ago, the City of Montreal initially refused to clean up the graffiti that had accumulated over the years on the walls of the Chinese Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, a building designated as a heritage site in 1977. Anthony Bovenzi, a longtime neighbour of the church who volunteered to maintain the building’s exterior to assist Father Liu, the leader of the local Catholic congregation, immediately appealed this decision to the Mayor’s Office, which responded promptly.
Early this morning, an initial cleanup was carried out by a specialized worker dispatched to the site by the City of Montreal, which will now be responsible for promptly removing any new graffiti from the first building to ever receive heritage status in Montreal’s Chinatown. Without any support or funding from non-profit organizations dedicated to this very cause, the residents of Montreal’s Chinatown are leading the way by working together and helping one another to protect their neighbourhood themselves.
August 16, 2026 - Neighbours Helping Neighbours
For residents of downtown neighbourhoods, one solution to the homelessness crisis is to help neighbors in distress when they are overwhelmed on all sides. A member of the Association of Residents of Chinatown (ARQC) decided to take matters into his own hands after reaching an agreement with the priest of the Church of the Holy Spirit at the Chinese Catholic Mission in Montreal. He began his first morning cleanup rounds today. We can already see the difference, and this is just the beginning.
August 8, 2026 - Every day is Chinatown Day
We’ll be back on Rue de la Gauchetière in the coming days to continue meeting with you.
August 6, 2026 -
Online registration is now open for the Annual General Assembly (AGA) on Sunday, September 13, at 1:00 p.m. in Room 514 of the Montreal Convention Center (Palais des congrès): https://forms.gle/8sKp5APXsTMTyD51A
August 4, 2026 - A New Governance Model for Chinatown
The city administration held a press conference this morning at the temporary venue Onze-onze (1111 Saint-Laurent Boulevard) to announce a series of measures aimed at “improving the quality of life in Chinatown.”
“Today, we are moving from words to action. Chinatown deserves concrete action, so we are stepping up efforts to keep the area clean while launching an ambitious initiative that will allow us to collectively define the next steps for its future,” said Claude Pinard, Chair of the Executive Committee and Councilor for the Saint-Jacques district.
Ville-Marie is announcing the deployment of a dedicated cleanup brigade for Chinatown. In addition to the borough’s regular maintenance efforts, this brigade will contribute to the ongoing upkeep of public spaces and the improvement of the neighborhood’s day-to-day quality of life. This measure directly addresses the priorities expressed by the community and supports efforts to revitalize Chinatown.
Building on the consultations and collaborative efforts conducted with the community over the past few years, the Ville-Marie borough is embarking on a new phase by launching work to develop an Urban, Economic, and Social Development Plan (PDUÉS) for Chinatown. Through a renewed governance structure—notably with the upcoming creation of the Chinatown Alliance—this initiative aims to define an ambitious vision for a neighborhood that is safer, more dynamic, more welcoming, and true to its identity.
“We want to identify concrete actions the City can take to stimulate the area’s development. By investing in our infrastructure, public spaces, and municipal land, we are creating the conditions needed to attract projects and investments that will strengthen the neighborhood’s vitality and quality of life,” concluded Mr. Pinard.
CBC News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aFGKkmPe-k
CJAD 800 Montreal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqYoIUc_7_M&t=188s
https://montrealgazette.com/news/chinatown-revitalization-plan-alliance-cleanliness/
https://globalnews.ca/news/12008967/montreal-chinatown-revitalization/
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2273365/quartier-chinois-ville-montreal-refonte
CityNews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCmsof8oGoE
EpochTimes : https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/26/8/6/n14824370.htm
In addition, following Mr. Pinard’s press conference, the ARQC set up a table on Rue de la Gauchetière to meet with its members and announce that its next annual general meeting will be held on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. More information to follow.
Noovo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvbipAwBQtg&t=19s
QUB Radio : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLEUYMuDuZQ
July 24, 2026 - The Site at 1111 Saint-Laurent Boulevard Put to Good Use
In February, the City of Montreal acquired the vacant lot located between Saint-Laurent Boulevard and Saint-Dominique Street, south of René-Lévesque Boulevard. Claude Pinard, Chair of the City of Montreal’s Executive Committee, saw this transaction as “an opportunity to give Chinatown a chance to get back on its feet.” The large lot has since been cleaned up and leveled, as the City of Montreal plans to temporarily use the site as a park before considering any development there.
Furthermore, after numerous discussions with the Ville-Marie borough on the subject, the ARQC has learned that the group “Ensemble pour les sans-abris,” which sets up every Sunday at noon in front of 165 Rue de la Gauchetière to distribute food and clothing beneath the balconies of residents of the Guy-Favreau Complex, has agreed to hold its Sunday activities there from now on. The ARQC thanks the Ville-Marie borough for its support on this issue, which it will continue to monitor closely.
July 18, 2026 - For a Protected Zone Around the Palais des congrès
“Municipal policy must acknowledge a fact that is too often overlooked in the debate: streets, parks, and public squares belong to the entire community. The right to move about, work, and welcome visitors in these spaces must be balanced with the rights of the most vulnerable people. (…) In this context, the creation of a 150-meter protected zone around the Palais des congrès warrants consideration. The policy should target permanent or semi-permanent structures, tents, makeshift shelters, obstacles blocking entrances, and encampments that pose a documented safety or health hazard—not the mere presence of a homeless person in a public space.”
To read this article published by Alain Clavet, a neighbourhood resident and editor-in-chief of LaMetropole.com (in French):
Along the same lines, Carman Tang, president of the ARQC, created two images illustrating the types of activities that could be organized to bring these spaces to life: mahjong for beginners, local crafts, calligraphy workshops, tai chi demonstrations, origami, a wishing wall, paper lantern workshops, outdoor movie screenings, and more.
July 8, 2026 - Talk with Jean-Philippe Riopel, founder of "Objets de mémoire, groupe d’action muséologique" (Museum Advocacy Group)
To deepen your understanding of the artifacts stored at Wings over the decades, you’re invited this Sunday, July 12, to a talk by Jean-Philippe Riopel, a resident of Chinatown, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the MEM—Centre des mémoires montréalaises, located at 1210 Saint-Laurent Boulevard. A passionate museologist, Jean-Philippe was entrusted with the ambitious task of building this impressive collection by his friend Gilbert Lee, co-owner of Wings Noodles. The event is free, but space is limited. Get your tickets at the following website and feel free to spread the word to your friends and family.
June 21, 2026
This morning, the ARQC met with the management of the Palais des congrès to discuss ways to revitalize and bring life to the public space in front of the Guy-Favreau Complex, as well as the planning of our annual general meeting in September.
June 21, 2026
A few posters based on our informational flyer have been put up around the neighbourhood over the past few days. Thanks to Vincent Lupien’s for printing them!
June 6, 2026
Like the ARQC in Chinatown, the Montreal Village Civic Association (ACVMtl) aims to represent and give a voice to the residents of Montreal’s (Gay) Village. The ACVMtl concluded its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) with the election by acclamation of the nine members of its Coordinating Committee (Board of Directors). The ARQC congratulates each of the nine elected individuals and wishes them every success.
A longtime resident of Chinatown, Anthony Bovenzi was present on behalf of the ARQC as a supporting member. Leaders from both associations met for the first time on March 23, 2025, and have since been collaborating on similar issues of concern to their respective members. The ARQC’s annual general meeting is scheduled to take place in September 2026.
June 1, 2026 - Expansion of Montreal’s Palais des congrès Back on Track
Christine Fréchette’s government announced to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal that the project to expand the Palais des congrès de Montréal is back on track. However, the government wants other partners to pitch in, including the federal government, the City of Montreal, and the private sector.
“It is essential that the Palais des congrès de Montréal continue to play its major strategic role for Quebec’s economy and society. That is precisely the objective of the vision outlined today by our government,” said Tourism Minister Amélie Dionne in a press release.
Last year, the Palais des congrès hosted some 280 events that attracted a total of 940,000 people and generated $277 million in economic spinoffs, according to the Montreal institution. Business tourism accounts for about 40% of all tourism activity in the city.
The Palais des congrès, which opened over 40 years ago, underwent its first expansion at the turn of the 2000s. Over the past dozen years, new expansion projects have been announced on several occasions, but none have materialized. The Montreal Convention Centre reportedly turns down about 30 events a year due to a lack of space.
While the construction of the Palais des congrès severely disrupted the residential fabric of Chinatown, its proximity now serves as a key economic driver for the neighbourhood’s businesses.
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2258415/agrandissement-palais-congres-montreal-frechette
May 29, 2026
The Quebec government will provide $4.2 million over three years to improve social harmony among residents, business owners, and the homeless population in the Latin Quarter. The three-year project includes a 24/7 response team, as well as training activities for community partners to help them better assist vulnerable individuals.
The City of Montreal has also announced funding for a team of two new social workers who will patrol the neighborhood starting in mid-June. This initiative will be led by the Social Development Corporation. For the purposes of this coexistence initiative, the Latin Quarter area will also include Chinatown.
Claude Pinard, city councilor for the Saint-Jacques district and chair of the City of Montreal’s Executive Committee, says he is in constant dialogue with residents of Chinatown, where he believes the various measures put in place will help improve the sense of safety.
“We’re fairly confident that things will start to move forward. In fact, they’re already starting to move,” he says.
https://estmediamontreal.com/creation-pole-cohabitation-quartier-latin-finir-silos/
May 27, 2026
After stepping down as Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change on November 27, 2025, Steven Guilbeault has now announced his resignation as the Member of Parliament for Laurier—Sainte-Marie.
Following two requests made on December 3, 2024, and January 29, 2025, the ARQC was able to meet with Mr. Guilbeault on February 6, 2025, to discuss the reopening of the Guy-Favreau Complex sports center, which closed in 2019. We then briefed him on the meeting held with representatives from Public Services and Procurement Canada in December 2023, where we were told that they would get back to us after an assessment of the federal government’s office space needs in Montreal. This second meeting was scheduled to take place no later than April 2024.
While several media outlets reported this spring on the presence of asbestos at the Guy-Favreau Complex—which does not bode well for the reopening of its facilities—on April 16, 2026, the ARQC wrote to both Steven Guilbeault and Minister Marc Miller to once again request a meeting regarding the reactivation of these sports facilities:
Montreal, April 16, 2026
RE: Reactivation of Community and Recreational Services at Complexe Guy-Favreau
Dear Minister Miller and Mr. Guilbeault,
We are writing to you today as concerned citizens and residents of the Chinatown community to formally request the federal government's intervention in reactivating the former YMCA space located within the Complexe Guy-Favreau.
As the Member of Parliament for this riding, Mr. Guilbeault, you are acutely aware that the closure of the Chinatown YMCA stripped our community of its primary hub for health, social, and cultural programming. For over 30 years, this facility served as a "living room" for elderly residents and a critical integration point for new immigrants. Today, Chinatown continues to face a severe lack of dedicated community infrastructure.
Because the Complexe Guy-Favreau is a federal property, we urge you both to champion a sustainable solution to restore these services. Specifically, we request:
- Priority for Community Use: A formal commitment to repurposing the former YMCA space for community, sports, or recreational use rather than conversion into administrative offices.
- Accessible Lease Terms: A review of lease conditions to allow a non-profit community partner to operate the site without prohibitive commercial costs.
- Direct Consultation: Meaningful engagement with local Chinatown advocacy groups to ensure the facility meets the specific needs of the local population.
Minister Miller, in your role as Quebec Lieutenant and Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, you recognize Chinatown’s irreplaceable role in Montreal’s heritage. Mr. Guilbeault, your long-standing representation of this district makes you our primary advocate in ensuring this federal building serves its neighbours.
We look forward to your support in setting up a meeting where we could discuss restoring this essential community anchor.
Sincerely,
Bill Woon Lam Wong, treasurer, ARQC
Mr. Guilbeault never responded to this request, and Minister Miller himself instead referred it to Public Services and Procurement Canada, which finally replied to the ARQC on May 25, 2026, as follows:
Dear Mr. Wong,
This is further to your email of April 16, 2026, concerning the spaces formerly occupied by the YMCA at the Guy-Favreau Complex in Montréal.
The Government of Canada recognizes the role played by the YMCA centre in the Guy-Favreau Complex. Public Services and Procurement Canada collaborated with the YMCAs of Québec for more than 30 years, until the closure of this location at the end of 2019.
The spaces formerly occupied by the YMCA have been repurposed by Public Services and Procurement Canada to support operational requirements within the building. With respect to any future use of these spaces, the department continues to review and assess options, taking into account operational needs, applicable policies, and broader government priorities.
We appreciate your interest in this matter and will take your correspondence into consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Quinlan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, RPS ADM Office, Real Property Services, Public Services and Procurement Canada / Government of Canada
It is worth noting that the federal government built this sports center at the Guy-Favreau Complex in the 1980s as a gesture of goodwill toward the Chinese community. The center was part of a commitment made during the construction of the complex, which had required the demolition of several buildings in Montreal’s Chinatown.
May 16, 2026 - Montreal Chinatown Multicultural Festival
As part of the Asian Heritage Month, Yvan Michaud, secretary of the ARQC, was invited to speak at the Chinatown Multicultural Festival at Sun-Yat-Sen square, organized by Jimmy Chan, president of the Chan Family Association and his group One World, One Humanity, in collaboration with drummers and artists from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Mauritius. Many dignitaries were present for the occasion, including Claude Pinard, city councilor and president of the Executive Council of the City of Montreal; Bryant Chang of the Chinese Association of Montreal; Fo Niemi of CRARR, Dimitrios Jim Beis, borough mayor of Pierrefonds-Roxboro and head of public safety on the City of Montreal’s Executive Council, and several representatives from AMAPI (Asian Montreal Alliance for Prosperity and Inclusion) who came to show their solidarity for the safety and prosperity of Chinatown. Several SPVM officers from Asian communities also participated in this 5th edition of the Montreal Chinatown Multicultural Festival to promote unity among all cultures in the neighbourhood.
https://montreal.citynews.ca/2026/05/16/montreal-chinatown-drumming-festival-anniversary/
May 13, 2026
While the relocation of the Petit-Palais daycare center comes as no surprise to anyone, given the steps its management has been taking for several years to return to Old Montreal, families and households in Chinatown still view this decision as yet another blow to their quality of life. The ARQC fears a new exodus of its members from the neighbourhood with the departure of this early childhood centre. If this decision affects you or your family directly, please let us know by describing your situation at: info@arqc.org
https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2026/05/13/itinerance-et-toxicomanie-a-montreal-un-cpe-enfin-relocalise
https://montreal.citynews.ca/2026/05/13/chinatown-daycare-relocating-concerns/
(in French) Interview with Benoit Dutrizac on Qub Radio with Carman Tang, President of the ARQC:
Screenshot CTV News
April 21, 2026 - Five Asian communities join forces to promote Asian Heritage Month:
Asian Heritage Month was officially proclaimed by the Government of Canada in 2002, following the Senate’s adoption of a motion introduced by Liberal Senator Vivienne Poy to officially designate May as Asian Heritage Month.
Five key organizations —the Chinese Association of Montreal, the Vietnamese Community of Canada - Montreal Region, the Montreal Cambodian Community Centre Foundation, One World, One Humanity, and the Filipino Canadian Arts and Cultural Organization— have joined forces to form the Alliance of Montreal Asians for Prosperity and Inclusion (AMAPI) with the goal of organizing activities for Asian Heritage Month 2026.
AMAPI aims to mobilize communities of Asian Pacific region to promote full visibility, recognition, and representation of Asians across various sectors. For AMAPI, the deterioration of Chinatown —now seriously threatened by the increased allocation of public resources to vulnerable populations at the expense of cultural, economic, and structural investments— is yet another sign of insufficient institutional support for Montreal’s oldest and most visible Asian heritage site.
Bryant Chang, Chinese Association of Montreal:
“Since the 19th century, Chinatown has become, in many ways, the most visible symbol of the Asian presence, its resilience, and its entrepreneurial spirit in Montreal. Many of us —second-, third-, and even fourth-generation Canadians of Chinese descent— have been waiting for the moment when other Asian communities from the Pacific region could join us to support one another in our shared quest for recognition, inclusion, and prosperity, which we share with all Montrealers. On behalf of the Chinese Association of Montreal, founded in 1899, and the five Chinese family associations, I invite all Montrealers of Asian descent, as well as the entire Montreal population, to make Asian Heritage Month 2026 an unprecedented success.”
Full details of the activities supported by AMAPI will be available online starting April 30. More than 30 organizations, institutions, and groups, including the Association of Residents of Chinatown (ARQC), are partners of the Alliance.
https://montreal.citynews.ca/2026/04/21/asian-communities-montreal-asian-heritage-month/
https://globalnews.ca/video/11811289/montreal-asian-community-groups-call-for-more-funding
April 16, 2026 - The Centre des mémoires montréalaises (MEM) acquires the Wings Collection
The citizen-led campaign to save the Wings Collection was a striking example of community and cultural engagement. Spurred by the work of Jean-Philippe Riopel, a movement organized to raise awareness among the public and municipal authorities about the historical and heritage significance of this collection.
The effort began with rigorous research and the dissemination of information about the value of the Wings Collection, followed by citizen-led initiatives: open letters, public presentations, and media outreach campaigns. This collective pressure helped garner broad support from residents, cultural organizations, and local elected officials.
The result of this mobilization materialized on April 16, with the MEM’s official announcement of the permanent protection of the Wing Collection. This achievement illustrates the power of dialogue between the community and institutions, demonstrating that citizen action can influence the preservation of cultural heritage for future generations.
https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/972551/mem-acquiert-collection-wings?
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2246986/mem-centre-memoires-montrealaises-quartier-chinois
April 12, 2026
The ARQC Board of Directors met this morning to review current issues, discuss them, and assign tasks. Follow-up will therefore be conducted in the coming days with the authorities involved in these matters. Although the Board of Directors meets approximately every six weeks, the directors remain in contact between meetings to coordinate on the Association’s day-to-day affairs. Engaging members and residents of Montreal’s Chinatown remains the cornerstone of their efforts. It’s worth noting that everyone living in Montreal’s Chinatown is automatically a member of the ARQC. Pictured: Michel Laval (board member), Christiane Jansen (vice-president), and Carman Julie Tang (president).
April 1, 2026
Meeting with Krisztina Balogh, commander of SPVM Precinct 21, accompanied by officers under her command, to discuss with residents and their representatives public safety issues and potential courses of action for Chinatown at the Yee-Kang Centre, a senior residence on Bullion Street;
March 26, 2026 - If you want something done right, do it yourself
There will be a “before” and an “after” to Thursday, March 26, 2026, a date that will forever mark the history of Montreal’s Chinatown following the meeting regarding the Old Brewery Mission’s social housing project for its homeless clients in the heritage building at Davis & Sons on Côté Street, with members of its board of directors and its director at Montreal City Hall under the auspices of Claude Pinard, city councilor for Saint-Jacques and chair of the City of Montreal’s Executive Committee.
That day marked the end of the illusions and the mirage that the sprawling charitable organization had maintained for Chinatown when its leaders acknowledged, following these discussions, that they would have to completely reevaluate their project, even if it meant abandoning it.
In the photo, in no particular order—ARQC board members Christiane Jansen, Bill Wong, and Yvan Michaud, accompanied by Colette Cummings, a resident member of the ARQC; Bryant Chang (Chinese Association of Montreal); Jimmy Chan (Chan Clan Association); Vincent Lupien, a property owner; representatives from the Yee-Kang Centre (a senior residence) and the Asian Night Market Festival; business owners Paul Li and May Giang (Cocobun Bakery); Father Liu from the Chinese Catholic Community Centre accompanied by his translator; and Fo Niemi from CRARR, acting as facilitator.
March 24, 2026
“Gathered at the Holiday Inn in Montreal’s Chinatown, nearly 200 residents of the Saint-Jacques district delivered a blunt assessment: their neighbourhood, the nerve center of downtown, is now under social, health, and safety pressures that have become nearly unsustainable. As the discussions unfolded, one word stood out: coexistence. But a coexistence deemed unbalanced, even broken.”
An excellent summary and report (in French) on the first Rendez-vous citoyens initiated by the elected officials of the Ville-Marie borough, by Alain Clavet, resident of Chinatown and editor-in-chief of LaMetropole.com:
https://lametropole.com/2026/03/25/itinerance-montreal-face-a-limpasse-reconcilier-humanite-et-ordre-dans-larrondissement-saint-jacques/
A look back at the event and a report from the City of Montreal:
https://montreal.ca/actualites/la-premiere-rencontre-des-rendez-vous-citoyens-suscite-lengouement-108094
March 10, 2026
As anticipated last month following a commitment by the mayor, the Ville-Marie Borough Council authorized the non-profit organization Stella, l’amie de Maimie to establish itself at 1096 Avenue de l’Hôtel-de-Ville in order to offer its services to sex workers in Montreal. Despite fierce opposition from several neighbors, elderly residents living nearby, and the five clan associations in Chinatown, elected officials approved the change in the presence of the organization's director.
Claude Pinard, city councilor for Saint-Jacques and president of the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal, acknowledged, however, that “Chinatown has been neglected in recent years,” despite the action plan for the neighborhood's development adopted in 2022 by the former administration. He reminded the assembly of the City's recent acquisition of the land bordering Saint-Laurent and René-Lévesque boulevards, where he envisions the rapid development of a new community and sports center for the neighborhood. In the presence of the chief of the SPVM's 21st precinct, he took the opportunity to commit to improving residents' sense of security starting this spring with a greater police presence and an improvement in the overall cleanliness of the neighborhood.
Claude Pinard also emphasized that he would not accept Stella becoming the scapegoat for all the problems in Chinatown, because its activities do not tend to create crowds or attract marginalized populations, and because most of the organization's interventions take place outside its premises.
The Borough of Ville-Marie has scheduled two more meetings between elected officials and citizens of the area before the end of the month.
March 5, 2026
Several organizations in Chinatown, including residents and clan associations, have expressed their outrage and opposition to the upcoming opening of a support center for sex workers on Hôtel-de-Ville Avenue. They are calling on the City of Montreal to immediately impose a moratorium on the creation of any new resources for “at-risk” populations in their neighborhood, which is already heavily impacted by crime and social disorder.
February 27, 2026
The Borough of Ville-Marie is launching its Rendez-vous citoyens (Citizens' Meetings), starting with the Saint-Jacques district and Chinatown. Residents of the neighborhood are invited to come and talk with Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and district representative Claude Pinard on Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Holiday Inn Montreal Downtown, 999 Saint-Urbain Street
When: Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Registration required: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=3NIVn1OHg0-qwqWCiNOkvO4-zRuSpX9FtNz4l8nbWWBUMTZWMlJGVFpXVEZUSzdCWlpVTTE2MVdaViQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl
February 20, 2026
As agreed on February 10, borough councilors will vote next month on the application submitted by the non-profit organization Stella for a conditional use of 1096 Avenue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville. The borough itself held an information session on this issue on February 19 with a dozen residents from the area. Interested parties will also have the opportunity to be heard by borough council members, who will decide on this request at their meeting on March 10, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at 800 Boulevard de Maisonneuve East. More information below.
February 10, 2026
"Stella, l'amie de Maimie", a non-profit organization that supports sex workers, wants to purchase the residential building located at 1096 Avenue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville in Chinatown to set up its offices there. However, the organization was greatly disappointed when it learned at the February 10 borough of Ville-Marie council meeting that Soraya Martinez Ferrada's administration was postponing its authorization for one month. Although the mayor has committed to authorizing this use at the next borough council meeting in March, she also argued that the neighbours had not been sufficiently consulted: "Putting a notice on a door is not consulting."
The borough's elected officials also want to meet with citizens from each district (Saint-Jacques, Sainte-Marie, and Peter McGill) to hear their concerns directly. The first of these meetings will be held at the end of March for citizens of the Saint-Jacques district, where Chinatown is located. More details to come.
https://ville-marie.evenement.agencewebdiffusion.com/ouverture-de-lassemblée-80
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-90GtAEMlc
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/zh-hans/新闻/2231413/唐人街-性工作者协助-收购
January 30, 2026
Board members meet with Claude Pinard, City Councilor for Saint-Jacques and President of the Executive Committee of the City of Montreal, accompanied by Fo Niemi (CRARR) and Bryant Chang (Chinese Association of Montreal).
January 27, 2026
Carman Tang and Yvan Michaud, accompanied by Fo Niemi (CRARR), meet with Franck Subra, Acting Director of the Société de développement commercial (SDC) Montréal Centre-ville, and Rachel Van Velzen, Director of Administration.
January 21, 2026
Press conference held at the Chinese Catholic Community Center on Côté Street: More than 1,500 people signed a petition launched last fall against the Old Brewery Mission's plans to convert the Davis & Sons heritage building into housing for the homeless, a project strongly opposed by all residents and merchants in Chinatown.
Reports:
https://montreal.citynews.ca/2026/01/21/chinatown-groups-oppose-social-housing-project/
https://globalnews.ca/video/11623696/chinatown-residents-oppose-proposed-social-housing-project/
December 16, 2025
Speech by Carman Tang, President of the Association of Residents of Chinatown (ARQC), delivered at the “Chinatown Volunteer Appreciation Evening” organized on December 16, 2025, by the Centre of Research-Action on Racial Relations (CRARR), the Montreal Chinatown Development Council, and the Chinese Association of Montreal, in the presence of Mr. Claude Pinard, Chair of the Executive Committee and Councillor for Saint-Jacques in the City of Montreal, and several elected officials and municipal representatives:
Bonsoir à toutes et à tous,
Je m’appelle Carman Tang, présidente de l’Association des résident(e)s du Quartier chinois. C’est un immense honneur d’être ici ce soir, entourée de personnes qui tiennent réellement au quartier. Je veux d’abord remercier du fond du cœur chaque bénévole qui s’est impliqué durant la période électorale. Votre engagement a donné une voix forte à notre communauté. Et merci à Claude Pinard ainsi qu’aux élu(e)s présents. Votre présence montre que les enjeux de notre quartier sont pris au sérieux.
Nous le savons, notre communauté traverse des défis importants : une hausse de l’itinérance, des problématiques liées à la consommation de drogues et un sentiment croissant d’insécurité pour nos résidents. Ce sont des réalités complexes qui demandent compassion, mais aussi une volonté ferme de protéger ceux qui vivent ici.
Et j’aimerais être claire : les décisions concernant le quartier doivent se faire avec ses résidents autour de la table. Nous ne pouvons plus laisser d’autres décider à notre place.
As we look forward, I’m filled with hope not because the challenges are small, but because our community is strong. I believe in partnerships that actually listen to the people who live here, in solutions that respect both our safety and our humanity, and in a future where Chinatown can grow, thrive, and feel like home for all of us. With collaboration, understanding, and real commitment, I know we can build a safer and more vibrant neighbourhood.
我想多謝大家一直以嚟對華埠嘅支持同關心。未來，我希望政府同居民可以有更多真誠嘅合作，一齊搵到既能夠照顧弱勢，又能令居民安心嘅方法。華埠值得一個更安全、更興旺、更有活力嘅未來，而我哋每一個人都係其中重要嘅力量。
多謝大家今晚嘅出席。
Merci, and thank you.
Let’s continue moving forward together.
Carman Tang
November 9, 2025
Thank you to Phil Chu, outgoing president, for his invaluable contribution to the first year of the Association of Residents of Chinatown (ARQC), and congratulations to Carman Tang, president-elect following the annual general meeting on November 9!
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