1 of 1 2 of 1

A new public street in Vancouver is proposed to be named Choy Yuen to remember an important contribution by Chinese Canadians to the city.

A report to city council explains that Choy Yuen was how Chinese farmers referred to their market garden operations during the early days of Vancouver.

“Chinese market gardens were an important food resource for the City of Vancouver, supplying the majority of fresh produce before the large scale importation of vegetables from international sources began in the 1960s,” according to the report.

The report was prepared by the civic asset naming committee, which is recommending the name for council approval.

The street runs between West 41st and 45th avenues on the western part of the Oakridge Centre redevelopment site.

“Market gardens were found throughout the area that constitutes Vancouver today, including near what is now the Oakridge development,” the report related. “On the southern slope overlooking the Fraser River and at Musqueam, Chinese market gardens provided needed employment and contributed substantially to the city’s economy.”

The report continued that many parks and school sites, like Douglas Park and Sir Charles Tupper Secondary, were former market gardens.

The report was prepared by civic asset naming committee members John Atkin and Felix-Marie Badeau, and city archivist Heather Gordon.

According to the document, the market farmers were mostly from Zhongshan county in China.

The report stated that UBC professor Henry Yu has noted that “many prominent Chinese Canadian families, such as the Louie family of IGA, London Drugs, and Le Kiu, for instance, were tied to the Zhongshan network of farmers and from that county themselves”.

“Choy Yuen Crescent recalls the important contribution made by Chinese Canadians to the City of Vancouver and the long-standing relationship of mutual respect and collaboration with Musqueam (who were employed in the gardens on the reserve),” the document stated.

QuadReal Property Group and Westbank Development are redeveloping the Oakridge shopping centre into a complete community.