Wing Sang building to house Chinese Canadian Museum

VANCOUVER — Vancouver’s historic Wing Sang building in Chinatown will soon have a new role as the Chinese Canadian Museum.

It will be the first museum of its kind in the country.

The building was created in 1889 for the Wing Sang Company, owned by Yip Sang. Eventually it was expanded to house the Sang family. The Victorian Italianate building at 51 East Pender St. is Chinatown’s oldest structure.

Bob Rennie, founder and executive director of real estate company rennie, acquired the property in 2004 and funded an extensive five-year heritage renovation and restoration.

“Our family’s duty to the Wing Sang has always been to be a good custodian,” said Rennie. “We are honoured and excited to have Vancouver Chinatown’s oldest structure now celebrated as home to the Chinese Canadian Museum for all Canadians to experience this piece of history and the journey of Chinese Canadians.”

Rennie added the rennie foundation will donate a leadership gift of $7.5 million to ensure the Chinese Canadian Museum is sustainable in its mission.

The Wing Sang building currently houses rennie’s corporate headquarters and the rennie museum. The rennie museum will present two final exhibitions before it wraps its 13-year journey in the Wing Sang at the end of the year.

However, rennie noted the collection will always remain active, visible and will reposition with presence in the region while continuing with artist support and art loans to museums around the world.