May Wah Hotel

The May Wah Hotel was constructed in 1913. It was designed by William Frederick Gardiner.

The hotel’s plan illustrates the effect of Vancouver’s 1910 Lodging House By-Law. This was intended to address squalid living conditions in local hotels. Features in the May Wah include the provision of natural light and operable windows for each room by three lightwells running perpendicular to the street, and the inclusion of fire escapes and use of a concrete frame.

Between 1943 and 1945, the hotel was used by the Chau Luen Society (representing the surnames Dan, Tan, Xu, Xie and Ruan).

In 1946, the Shon Yee Benevolent Association purchased the building. Shon Yee was established in Vancouver in 1914 to provide support and aid for immigrants from the town of Shek Kei in Zhongshan county.

In 1950 the Le-Kiu Trading purchased the hotel. Le-Kiu owners were Alex and Victor Louie – the HY Louie Group, grandsons of the important early Chinese-Canadian businessman HY (Hok Yat) Louie.

In 2017, funding was secured and the Chinatown Foundation was able to purchase the building to remain housing for seniors.

Source

Canada's Historic Places, Chinatown Map Guide (VHF)

More information

http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=7861&pid=0