Speakers

My Chinatown: From Racist Exclusion to Spaces of Inclusion 

The presentation is based on "The Politics of Placemaking in Chinatown", a SSHRC-funded project investigating how Chinatowns have adopted cultural planning and placemaking strategies to protect and revitalize their neighbourhoods in response to gentrification, demographic changes, and anti-Asian racism. The project examined Chinatowns from both a sociological and architectural perspective, aiming to connect the community with its built environment. By studying Chinatowns as by-products of Chinese immigration and unique neighbourhoods, the project examines the history and heritage of Chinese immigration; in parallel, it explores their occupied and built spaces through the design and planning of the 'towns'.

Dr. Henry Tsang is an Associate Professor and Chair of the RAIC Centre for Architecture at Athabasca University. An award-winning architect with 20 years of international experience in Canada, Japan, and Korea, his research focuses on inclusive, sustainable, and health-centered design. A Ph.D. graduate from the University of Tokyo, his recent work includes investigating architectural responses to aging societies as a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Tokyo (2024–2025).

Taste of Memory: Uncovering hidden British Chinese food community in London 

Funded by The British Academy SHAPE (2023-24), Taste of Memory explores the collective memories of British Chinese chefs in London since the early 20th century. Through oral history, curation and festival, the project focuses on identity negotiation and resilience in the post-pandemic era. It creatively engages migration communities and the public by employing interdisciplinary methods rooted in cultural heritage, memory and entrepreneurship. The exhibition, selected for The British Academy Summer Showcase (2025), engages visitors with sensory and hands-on experiences. It also invites reflection on how food memory connects people and place, thereby reframing marginalised community history within the UK's contemporary political economy.

Dr. Rui Su is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism and the Departmental Research and Knowledge Exchange Lead in the Department of Marketing, Enterprise and Tourism at Middlesex University, UK. She specializes in urban cultural tourism, heritage tourism, and Chinese tourism, holding a PhD from Sheffield Hallam University.

Living with Ghosts: How Physical Traces of the Past Shape Cultural Trauma in Chinatowns.

 Cultural trauma refers to a situation in which a community experiences an existential threat that fundamentally shapes its collective identity. While harmful in themselves, cultural traumas can also generate high levels of social solidarity, allowing subsequent generations to identify with those who experienced the harm directly on a deeply emotional level. This presentation examines the role of cultural trauma in motivating and guiding ongoing efforts to preserve historic Chinatowns in Canada and the United States. I demonstrate how "Save Chinatown" activists see their work as continuing a struggle against anti-Chinese racism that extends back to the Chinese Exclusion Acts of the late-19th and early-20th centuries, and the urban renewal era of the 1960s.

Dr.Matt Patterson is an urban sociologist at the University of Calgary. His research explores the intersection of cities and culture, specifically cultural planning and placemaking in North American Chinatowns. His work has appeared in Urban Studies and Poetics; his latest research on cultural trauma in Chinatowns is forthcoming in the American Sociological Review (2026).

Inclusive Development: Lesson's from Montreal's Chinatown

 In this session, Jessica Chen explores a pluralistic approach to revitalizing global Chinatowns, moving beyond static preservation toward dynamic urban resilience. Drawing from her work in Vancouver, Philadelphia, and Montreal, Chen argues that the survival of these ethnic enclaves depends on integrating cultural heritage protection with equitable development. She will highlight how community-owned assets and affordable housing serve as the bedrock for social inclusion. By reframing Chinatown not just as a historic site but as a living, socio-economic ecosystem, Chen provides a roadmap for advocates to combat gentrification while fostering a resilient, community-led future.

Jessica Chen is a city planning professional and founder of Wabi Sabi Planning Lab in Montreal. With experience in Philadelphia and Vancouver, her work focuses on social inclusion, equitable development, and heritage conservation. As an immigrant from Taiwan, she advocates for the protection of cultural assets and co-founded the JIA Foundation in 2022 to support Montreal Chinatown’s cultural heritage and urban resilience.

Engaging Residents and Their Visitors: Strengthening Main Streets and BIAs 

Through Local Tourism This presentation explores how Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) can support community-driven tourism by recognizing residents as hosts, ambassadors, and interpreters. Drawing on prior research, it examines how the travel of friends and relatives (VFR) shapes local economies, cultural development, and social life. While tourism offers economic and cultural benefits, it can also heighten tensions around gentrification and a sense of place. Residents motivate visits, guide guest experiences, and often rediscover their own neighbourhoods through hosting. This session highlights strategic opportunities for Main Streets to foster inclusive, culturally rooted tourism that aligns with local communities' values and vitality.

Dr. Tom Griffin is an Associate Professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. With a PhD from the University of Waterloo, his research explores Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel, specifically how immigrant hosts contribute to community development and well-being. Previously the Manager of Research for Tourism Toronto, Tom brings extensive industry and consultancy experience from the UK, Australia, and Canada to his work on tourism policy and innovation.

Festivals as Catalysts for Resilience: Enhancing Community Vitality and Economic Recovery in Chinatown Districts. 

Festivals facilitate community development and resilience by bringing together generations, cultural groups, residents and visitors to enhance cultural connection while leveraging heritage for economic sustainability. This presentation explores how community-led festivals foster belonging across diverse populations, transform cultural preservation into living practice, and create authentic visitor experiences benefiting locals and tourists alike. Drawing from past research on post-disaster recovery contexts, I examine festivals as ground-up placemaking tools that negotiate tradition and transformation while building social capital. Key insights reveal how festivals mobilize resources effectively while enhancing community wellbeing through collective storytelling, shared ownership, and the co-creation of safe, inclusive spaces for cultural expression.

Dr. Christine Van Winkle is a professor at the University of Manitoba specializing in the role of festivals and events in community recovery and emergency management. With experience working with over 30 international festivals, her research combines theory and practice to enhance community well-being. She currently serves as Regional Editor for Event Management and on the board of Winnipeg’s Gas Station Arts Centre.

Culinary Tourism Trends, Celebrating Place and Culture.

Destination development is that behind-the-scenes work of designing, improving, and aligning the "products" that make up a place's tourism offer: the experiences, attractions, accommodations, local food, festivals, and community stories that visitors actually come for. In my presentation I'll speak to how this is successfully accomplished, with an emphasis on culinary tourism, drawing on case studies from across Canada.

James Leppan is the Director of Destination Strategy at Explore Edmonton. A Certified Destination Management Professional (CDMP), he previously served as a regional lead for Travel Alberta and Executive Director for the Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association. James currently sits on subcommittees for Destinations International and the board of the Culinary Tourism Alliance of Canada, where he advocates for the growth and social inclusion of the visitor economy.

Activating Chinatown: Applying a MAST Framework for Mitigation, Adaptation, and Social Transformation 

This presentation applies the MAST (Mitigation, Adaptation, Social Transformation) framework to spatial activation strategies in Chinatowns facing urban pressures. Drawing on environmental sociology and urban planning, I examine how strategic activation of public and commercial spaces can simultaneously mitigate threats to cultural identity, adapt to demographic and economic shifts, and catalyse social transformation across generational and cultural differences. Through case studies of community-led interventions in Europe and the UK, this presentation demonstrates how activating spaces---from storefronts to public plazas---can strengthen neighborhood vitality, enhance visitor experiences, and build local capacity. I identify concrete activation strategies that leverage community knowledge, honour intangible heritage, and generate economic sustainment whilst transforming community relationships.

Dr. JA Morrow is an urban strategy planner and environmental sociologist at the University of Alberta’s Wirth Institute and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Sociology. His research focuses on the "Gemütlichkeit Projekt," an ethnographic study of togetherness, and the role of environment in everyday life. Previously a Research Fellow at the City-Region Studies Centre, he directed the activating_space project and is the author of Where the Everyday Begins.

Jan Lee is a prominent third-generation Manhattan Chinatown resident, landlord, and community activist known for fighting against neighborhood displacement, such as opposing the construction of a jail in the area. Note: He is distinct from the, often mentioned, founders of the Welcome to Chinatown grassroots organization. 

Revitalizing Chinatowns: Honouring Legacy and Heritage to Serve Residents and Enhance Visitor Economy Offerings and Newcomer Integration.

 Chinatowns have historically served as vital spaces for diverse low-income and newcomer communities, offering essential housing and livelihood opportunities. This presentation explores the complex role of Chinatowns in supporting both newcomers and long-standing low-income residents amidst the challenges of ongoing revitalization and gentrification. It calls for a framework that honours and safeguards the rich heritage and socio-economic fabric of these vibrant communities, ensuring that revitalization efforts truly serve residents who call them home, while also boosting visitor economy offerings and newcomer integration.

Dr. Paul Akaabre is a researcher specializing in urban equity and housing policy. He earned his PhD from UBC’s School of Community and Regional Planning and previously served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities. His work focuses on affordable housing, indigenous-led planning, and the redevelopment of racially marginalized communities. A member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, he has led key projects on urban equity and sustainable housing development across North America.