Wong Building Chinese School

Built in 1910 by the Wong Kung Har Tong as their society headquarters, this structure was a major reconstruction of several existing 1890’s buildings. Some of the renovations were carried out by Chinese-Canadian architect W. H. Chow.

In 1921, architect JA Radford, with G.L. Southall built recessed balconies, a mezzanine storey, decorated parapet and impressive top floor tong meeting rooms. The alterations are an important part of the building’s heritage value. They illustrate the Chinatown phenomenon of the early 1920s of building impressive tong meeting rooms atop existing buildings.

In 1925, the Mong Keang School was established on the third floor, was the first in the country to offer classes at the high school level in Chinese to Canadian-born children of overseas-born Chinese.

Source

Canada's Historic Places, Vancouver Heritage Inventory Phase II 1986 Summary Report

More information

http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=7794