Bob Rennie donates $7.8 million to new Chinese Canadian museum in Wing Sang building

Chinatown's oldest building will soon house a landmark Chinese Canadian museum

Credit: Rennie

The oldest building in Vancouver’s Chinatown will soon house a landmark Chinese Canadian museum

In a press conference in Vancouver on February 11, Bob Rennie announced that the Wing Sang building (currently home to Rennies corporate headquarters and the Rennie Museum) will transition to housing the new Chinese Canadian Museum, the first of its kind in the country. To get things started, Rennie is donating $7.8 million.

“We are honoured and excited to have Vancouver Chinatown’s oldest structure now celebrated as home to the Chinese Canadian Museum for all Canadians to experience this piece of history and the journey of Chinese Canadians,” the real estate marketer said via a media release.

The $7.8-million “leadership gift” is meant to “ensure the Chinese Canadian Museum is sustainable in its mission,” Rennie added.

The 133-year-old Wing Sang building is located at 51 East Pender Street, in the heart of Chinatown. The new Chinese Canadian Museum will be neighbours with the recently launched Chinatown Storytelling Centre, which opened last November.

READ MORE: Bob Rennie on Vancouver magazine’s Power 50 List