Lillian H. Smith Blog

Writer and librarian Arlene Chan will join us at the Lillian H. Smith branch on Thursday November 14 at 7 pm to speak about her latest book The Chinese Community in Toronto: Then and Now.  Arlene has authored a few titles including The Chinese in Toronto from 1878, The Moon Festival: a Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, and Awakening the Dragon: the Dragon Boat Festival to name a few.   Arlene grew up in Chinatown and looks forward to launching Heritage Toronto tours through Chinatown in the summer of 2014. 

Join us as Arlene traces the history of the Chinese in Toronto, and how the Chinatown at Dundas Street and Spadina Avenue developed after the closing of a dark chapter in Canadian history.

In her latest book The Chinese Community in Toronto: Then and Now (also available as an ebook), Arlene will talk about the history of Chinese Canadians as stories, photographs, newspaper reports, maps, and charts will bring to life the little-known and dark history of the Chinese community. Despite the early years of anti-Chinese laws, negative public opinion, and outright racism, the Chinese and their organizations have persevered to become an integral participant in all walks of life. The Chinese Community in Toronto shows how the Chinese make a significant contribution to the vibrant and diverse mosaic that makes Toronto one of the most multicultural cities in the world.