Digital Collections of Chinese Canadian and Japanese Canadian Communities

Notable early Chinese mission workers were the Christian family of brothers Chan Sing Kai 陳星階 and Chan Yu Tan 陳燿檀, and their sister Phoebe Chan.

Following missionary work in Hong Kong, the Chan brothers were each invited, in turn, to serve as lay preachers at the Chinese Methodist Church, eventually becoming ordained ministers.

Their sister, Phoebe Chan, worked for the Woman’s Missionary Society as kindergarten assistant and bible teacher, spending some 35 years teaching and providing pastoral care within the Chinese Canadian community through the Methodist and United Churches. Lily McCargar was among Phoebe’s White contemporaries; her fonds includes photographs of Chan family members and other Chinese Canadian mission work.

Chinese United Church photographs (particularly those of the Vancouver congregation) document a vibrant congregation through the decades, full of group activities and events for all ages. Records highlight children, youth and families, and include studio portraits.