China Overseas Chinese Network, May 16. According to Canada's "Sing Tao Daily", the 2022 "Chinatown Cleanup Campaign" jointly launched by the Vancouver Chinatown Business Promotion Association and the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, was unveiled on the morning of the 14th in Chinatown Plaza. At the beginning, a cleaning volunteer team consisting of more than 200 volunteers took the rain to remove the graffiti on the walls and clean up the garbage on the streets.

  In an interview with a reporter from Sing Tao Daily, BC Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sports Ma Lanie said that the provincial government will be committed to revitalizing Chinatown's economy and face up to the public security issues at the eastern end of the city center and Chinatown. $5 billion is being allocated to assist small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the epidemic.

  At 9 a.m. on the 14th, nearly 200 volunteers from more than 15 social service agencies and organizations gathered in Chinatown Square.

Although there was a shower in Vancouver on the 14th, the enthusiastic actions of the volunteers were not hindered. Many of the volunteers involved were non-Chinese residents, and many volunteers were elders of the Chinatown community.

  The volunteer team of Chen Yingchuan Main Church in Chinatown is composed of more than ten seniors. They are responsible for cleaning up the garbage in the streets of Chinatown Plaza on Qihua Street.

With many restaurants in the neighborhood and parking lots or vacant lots on both sides of the street, the streets are full of cigarette butts, masks, napkins, cans, and items abandoned by homeless people.

  However, the elderly volunteers in charge of the cleanup work in the neighborhood said that they have always regarded Chinatown as their home, and they are not afraid of rain to clean the streets. One elderly volunteer said with a smile, "This rain is trivial, we all hope to help Chinatown clean up. I will do my best to tell everyone that Chinatown is a symbol of our Chinese heritage, we will not give up the protection of Chinatown, and hope that Chinatown will become clean and restore its former prosperity."

  Malanie said that her mother also lives in Chinatown, and she is very hopeful that the Chinatown community will become cleaner, reduce crime in nearby communities, and make racism disappear.

"There is racism and violent crime in the Chinatown community," she said. "So I'm in close communication with the police to build a safe community."

  She emphasized that racial discrimination is completely unacceptable, including graffiti in Chinatown. No matter Chinese or other ethnic groups, we must unite to fight hate crimes. "The provincial government has allocated funds to support the opening of a Chinese-Canadian Museum in Chinatown to promote people's awareness of Chinese people. Community awareness and understanding of the contribution history of Chinese ancestors in Canada.”

  In order to revitalize Chinatown's economy and make Chinatown a popular tourist destination again, the provincial government allocated 1 million yuan to Zhongshan Park to support its operations.

In addition, the provincial government has allocated $5 billion for a relief program for small and medium-sized enterprises.

(Wang Hongshu)