WHO ARE WE?

A group of Chinatown community organizations and X University Toronto researchers that are working together to bring the local community together to come up with new visions for the future of Chinatown. In addition to the project team below, this project also includes 40 recruited community members, opinion leaders, and stakeholders.

MEET THE TEAM

PARA LAB

LINDA ZHANG

she/her/hers

Linda Zhang is a registered architect, certified Interior Designer, licensed advanced drone pilot, and artist. She is a principal and co-founder at Studio Pararaum and assistant professor at X University SID at the Creative School. Her design-research explores memory, cultural heritage, and identity as they are indexically embodied through emergent technologies (including VR and AR), matter, and material processes.

Reese-joan young

she/her/hers

Reese Young is in her fourth year of studying Interior Design at Toronto’s Ryerson University. Her eclectic work is guided by her interest in designing real-life and virtual environments. Her process is underscored with her fascination with storytelling and desire to generate sensory experiences.

MICHELLE NG

she/her/hers

Michelle Ng is a third year interior design student at X University and a Research Assistant at Studio Pararaum, PARA Lab. She specializes in interior design and collaborative design projects with a passion in photography. She's curious about how design can all be interconnected. She has curated various photography exhibitions and has exhibited her work at RHCPA and the Robert McLaughlin Gallery.

LAUREN CHAN

she/her/hers

Lauren Chan is a third year student at X University's School of Interior Design and a Research Assistant at Studio Pararaum, PARA Lab. She is passionate about sustainable, innovative, and compassionate design and is interested in finding solutions to real-world challenges by way of design as well as being sensitive to universal inclusivity: design that respects all living things.

SHUNING XIE

she/her/hers

Shuning Xie is a third-year student at X University's School of Interior Design and a Research Assistant at Studio Pararaum, PARA Lab. She is passionate about emotional design and specializes in illustration and watercolor.

JIALING LI

she/her/hers

Jialing Li is a 4th year Architectural Science student at X University and a Research Assistant at Studio Pararaum, PARA Lab. Li appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the Chinatown community as an international student with the same background. For her, Chinatown, Toronto, is like a second hometown that provides a sense of belonging and satisfaction. She enjoys skiing, and watching and filming documentaries during her free time. Jialing is someone who is passionate, cooperative, and always eager to learn.

MEIMEI YANG

she/her/hers

Meimei Yang is a Multidisciplinary Designer and fourth-year student Interior Designer based in Tkaronto, Canada. Meimei is at her best when creating and making with (fun)ctional considerations in both the built and virtual world. Her design ethos is influenced by her background in visual arts, while her design process is informed by a penchant for investigation in heritage, sustainability, technology, and storytelling.

ALICE HUANG

she/her/hers

Alice Huang is a fourth-year Interior Design student at X University (formerly Ryerson University) with an Honours BA from the University of Toronto in International Studies: Culture & Communications and minors in Sociology and Media Studies. She approaches her projects and research in digital design and fabrication technologies (including augmented reality) and storytelling through interiors using a multidisciplinary lens.

VICTORIA NIP

she/her/hers

Victoria Nip is a second year at X University's School of Interior design and a Research Assistant at Studio Pararaum, PARA Lab. She enjoys exploring different design processes and hopes to understand interiors in a multidisciplinary manner. In her free time, you can find her spending time with her family, thinking about wild ideas, and reading.

PROTECH

Prof. Josephine Pui-Hing Wong

佢 (kui)/she/her/hers

Professor Josephine Pui-Hing Wong 黃佩卿教授 has extensive experience in critical public health and urban health promotion. Her research focuses on social identities and health practices; migration and social (dis)integration; and HIV, sexual health and mental health in diasporic and transnational communities. She is committed to doing research “with” and not “for” the affected communities.  She seeks to answer the “so what” and “what then” questions in all her research. She leads multidisciplinary teams to design and implement intervention studies on stigma reduction and collective empowerment Asian, Black and Latinx communities in Canada and Asian women and youth internationally.

Dr. Alan T. Li

he/him/his

Dr. Alan T. Li 李大為醫生 is a primary care physician at Regent Park Community Health Centre with over 30 years of experience working with diverse and marginalized communities to advance health equity and social justice. As the past president of the Chinese Canadian National Council, founding president of Asian Community AIDS Services and the Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment, Dr. Li has worked closely with community stakeholders on many research projects that directly resulted in the creation of innovative services and informed policy changes.

Dr. Kenneth P. Fung

he/him/his

Dr. Kenneth P. Fung 馮溥倫醫生 is a cultural psychiatrist and Clinical Director of the Asian Initiatives in Mental Health (AIM) at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, and Associate Professor and Director of Global Mental Health with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He is the immediate past president of the Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture (SSPC). He is highly sought after, both nationally and internationally, for his expertise as a trainer, consultant, and researcher in applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to promote mental health across diverse communities. He was co-founder and co-lead of the SARS Support Hotline alongside Dr. Wong in 2003, and is the co-PI of the Project PROTECH and NPI of PACER-HCP in response to the current COVID pandemic to promote mental health and wellbeing of healthcare providers and the Chinese community.

Keith Wong

he/him/his

For nearly three decades, Keith Wong 黃錦強 has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to advancing the AIDS movement with an unwavering and inspiring spirit. As an organizational leader, coalition builder, capacity builder, mentor, and artist, Keith has integrated and utilized his diverse experiences from his involvement in different social justice issues to contribute to an innovative, holistic and PHA centered response to the HIV epidemic. While holding multiple leadership roles at different equity seeking and HIV/AIDS services, Keith consistently devotes his time and efforts to building organizational capacity and advancing collaborative partnerships to challenge social inequities, homophobia, racism, and HIV stigma.

Dr. Mandana Vahabi

she/her/hers

Dr. Mandana Vahabi 孟丹娜華夏比教授 is a Professor at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing at Ryerson University. Dr. Vahabi is a social epidemiologist with expertise in population-based assessment, planning and evaluation in population health programs, and infectious disease surveillance and outbreak management. She held the position of senior epidemiologist and policy consultant at the Toronto District Health Council (TDHC), and Ministry of Health Long Term Care (MOHLTC) for over a decade.

MEET THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

CECIL COMMUNITY CENTRE

Cecil Community Centre is a not-for-profit, multi-service neighbourhood centre that offers a broad range of recreational, educational, social, cultural and capacity-building programs to local area residents. For almost 40 years, the Centre has played a vital role in the lives of community members of all ages. Our centre provides programs and services for children, youth, adults and seniors. Programs include a Family Resource Program, Community Drop-in, After School Program, Pilates, Senior’s Nutritional Program, Youth Program, and Sunday Children’s Program.

AQUA

AQUA is a space created by and for queer Asians of marginalized genders in Tkaronto. Queer Asians meaning those identifying as LGBTQQIP2SAA+ from Asia, including South and Southeast Asia, and marginalized genders including cis and trans women, non-binary folks, trans men and gender diverse people. We work with and for our community to create connections, foster friendships, provide social support, host events and workshops, and serve our community! Find us at asianqueeralliance.ca and on Instagram @asianqueeralliance.

MYSEUM

Myseum is your Toronto museum. Our engaging programs and experiences showcase the history, spaces, culture(s), architecture, and the people, that represent Toronto’s unique place in the world.

BERYL TSANG, CECIL COMMUNITY CENTRE

she/her/hers

Beryl Tsang is an advocate, community worker, feminist, mother, textile artist, and writer. Her textiles have been exhibited across North America, and Europe. She is also a successful designer for film and television, and her works have been featured in the Handmaid’s Tale and Mrs. America. Her most recent installation was a 12 ft tall knitted squid that was created with Toronto’s Tactile Graffiti Collective as part of the Winter Nights series in Toronto’s Distillery District. When not creating, Beryl is the Manager of Strategic Initiatives at Cecil Community Centre serving the Kensington-Chinatown neighbourhood.

VERONICA ING, AQUA

they/them/theirs/she/her/hers

Veronica Ing is a designer and community coordinator with AQUA (Asian Queer Alliance). They are also a fourth-generation resident of Tkaronto’s Chinatown, cycling enthusiast, and taiko drumming apprentice with RAW (Raging Asian Womxn Taiko). They can be found on Instagram @helloveroni.ca or online at helloveroni.ca

CHRIS Carriere

she/her/hers

Chris Carriere is a visual artist and illustrator in Tkaronto. She is an OCADU alum and a current student as well at George Brown. Chris has been working with Linda on the VR Chinatown project, originally as part of Tea Base but now as an individual. She is also an Aquarius.

SARAH Tumaliuan, mYSEUM

she/her/hers

Sarah Tumaliuan is the Festival & Programming coordinator at Myseum Toronto, where she coordinates volunteer engagement and Myseum's annual Intersections festival - a collaborative festival dedicated to intersectional perspectives and stories from the city.  She co-founded the street dance collective Parks N' Wreck, and has contributed to arts outreach initiatives (Arts in the Parks, Blueprint for Life), dance theatre companies (Mix Mix Dance, Holla Jazz), and communities, firmly believing the arts can transform.  She holds a Masters in Public Health (Health Promotion), and is keen on exploring the landscape of arts, heritage, culture, and well-being.

NADINE Villasin, mYSEUM

she/her/hers

Nadine Villasin Feldman is the Director of Programming at Myseum of Toronto, and has been engaging diverse communities through cultural programming and meaningful participation in the arts for over 20 years. The former Artistic Director of Carlos Bulosan Theatre, and co-founder of the youth-led Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture, she developed multi-arts events and cultural festivals that have nurtured a vibrant community of Filipinx-Canadian artists and built a platform for Filipinx culture and art in Toronto.

Nathan Heuvingh, mYSEUM

he/him/his

Nathan Heuvingh is a curator, critic and musician based in Toronto. As the former Director of Propeller Gallery, he has experience in curating, exhibition development and arts administration. His interdisciplinary background spans contemporary art, sound art, music popular culture and radio broadcasting. He has also held positions with several prominent cultural organizations (Craft Ontario, OCAD University, Nuit Blanche, Rodman Hall Art Centre and Brock University Radio) and has written criticism for various publications (Senses & Society, PUBLIC, EarshotMagazine).

MEET THE FACILITATORS

CHIYI Tam

she/her/hers

Chiyi Tam is an urban planner and community organizer raised in Vancouver, on unceded Coast Salish lands and waters, in the translation between places and culture. She is currently the development manager of Kensington Market Community Land Trust in Toronto. She also organizes with Friends of Chinatown Toronto, which is also exploring a community land trust as an anti-displacement strategy for racial & economic justice. She frequently consults with groups regarding social enterprise legislation, governance and cooperative strategies. She aims to reciprocate knowledge into community.

CHRISTIE Carriere

she/her/hers

Chris Carriere is a visual artist and illustrator in Tkaronto. She is an OCADU alum and a current student as well at George Brown. Chris has been working with Linda on the VR Chinatown project, originally as part of Tea Base but now as an individual. She is also an Aquarius.

DANY KO

siya/伊/they/them

Dany Ko is a diasporic Filipino/Chinese queer deaf and multiply-disabled person who focuses on creation and storytelling as a way of connecting to, building, and reimagining community. They are doing most of their creative and activist work at Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS), where they are currently employed as the Queer & Trans Asian Youth Program Coordinator.

AN-QI SHEN

she/her/hers

An-Qi Shen (pronounced Anne-Chee) is a registered nurse working in health tech. An-Qi has been involved with the Cecil Community Garden for the past year, and is excited to see the garden grow in the coming years! In the rest of her spare time she loves to do crafts, eat yummy food, and try new things.

BRYN Rieger

he/him/his

Before joining the Ontario Justice Education Network, Bryn Rieger practiced criminal defence in Winnipeg, with an emphasis on youth justice. In this role, Bryn worked mostly with Indigenous and other marginalized youth. It was his experience advocating for youth that led him to legal education. Bryn has seen first-hand the consequences of a lack of resources, a lack of support and lack of understanding of our legal systems. A lot of the barriers youth he has worked with face, can be directly addressed through legal education.

Amy Shuang Wang

she/her/hers

Amy Shuang Wang is a digital and live events producer, and community art organizer. She is a member of the Long Time No See Collective, Creative Director at Augur Magazine, and a student of Kung Fu and Lion Dance at Hong Luck Kung Fu Club. Her work is tied to a deep interest in the interaction of art, technology and education, as well her connection to Chinese-Canadian heritage.

TRANSLATORS

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Hanh Le

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Vietnamese translations.

Ashley Yim

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translations.

MEET THE CONSULTANTS

TYLER FOX

she/her/hers

Tyler Fox is an education and community practitioner who has worked collaboratively with various displaced communities in Canada, the UK and Germany. She has extensive experience developing participatory learning programs, designing and delivering services in collaboration with displaced communities and migrant young people, and supporting community-led research initiatives. She is the founder of Springboard Youth Academy and was a 2017 Fellow at the Centre for Art and Urbanistics in Berlin.

JANAK ALFORD

he/him/his

Janak Alford is a technology ecosystem designer who specializes in developing innovative solutions. Janak integrates his architectural education (M. Arch) with a self-taught expertise in technology to produce engaging and interactive solutions to human problems. Janak is continually developing technologies which are inspired by nature to work in symbiosis with their human counterparts.

KELLY PREVETT

she/her/hers

Kelly Prevett is a Social Worker who has been based in community and social services for over 10 years, specializing in gender-based violence and mental health work. She has a background in campus sexual violence work, supporting community members affected by sexual violence, as well as developing and facilitating sexual violence intervention and prevention initiatives. Kelly holds a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University and Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology Co-op, Women's & Gender Studies Minor from Brock University. Living and working in Toronto on traditional land, Kelly is committed to doing this work from an anti-oppressive framework that seeks to decolonize supports for those affected by gender-based violence.

Jimmy Tran

he/him/his

Jimmy Tran is the Research Technology Officer at the Ryerson University Library Collaboratory. He received his PhD from the Computer Science Department at Ryerson University. Jimmy continues his research work as a member of the Computational Public Safety (CPS) Lab, a research lab in the Department of Computer Science. His work focuses on the use of robotics, computer vision, and 3D scene reconstruction for the application of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and Archaeology.

SPECIAL THANKS

Translators: Hanh Le and Ashley Yim

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PARA (Periphery Architecture and Research in Affect) Lab
Waterloo University, School of Architecture
Cecil Community Centre, Chinatown West
CHINATOWN WEST, TORONTO, CANADA