The goal of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum is to collect, preserve, document and commemorate the role of Chinese-Canadian veterans in the service of Canada’s military and its impact on Chinese-Canadian history and civil rights. In addition to operating a museum and collection based in Vancouver’s Chinatown, we are involved in projects capturing the stories of veterans and educating a new generation of Canadians about the sacrifice of these patriotic men and women.

The Museum Society was created in 1998 through the vision of its founder and first president, Army Colonel Howe Lee, who enjoyed a long career as a teacher. Chinese Canadian participation in both world wars is not taught in most history classes. And yet the contributions of this group was significant both for Canada’s war effort but also for the Chinese community as a whole.

As a result of their sacrifice in the Second World War, Chinese in Canada were finally able to claim the opportunities and rights afforded other Canadians. They were offered citizenship and the right to vote. Those privileges led, in turn, to membership in professional societies such as law, engineering and medicine — important careers previously closed to Asians.

However, despite their courage and patriotism, there are few official displays dedicated to Chinese Canadian participation in either war. The role of our Museum Society is to research, collect, record and preserve stories, artifacts, memorabilia and photographs that help illustrate this important part of Canadian history.