"Moh Gihn Ho Noi,”  (didn’t meet you for such a long time), translated into pidgin English became  "long time no see,”  an expression from the earliest Chinese sojourners and settlers who came from the four counties in the Toisan region.  

Many of the “loh wah kiew” (old overseas Chinese), in creating and sustaining “Chinatown", experienced social, emotional and financial hardship in Canada, suffering the early riots and looting, displacement and discriminatory laws passed by our government specifically targeting the Chinese, which has an even longer history passing laws targeting Indigenous peoples.   Over the years Chinatown has been a place of refuge for all kinds of people, pushed out of or made to feel unwelcome in other places.

After multiple lockdowns and losses due to the Covid 19 pandemic, anti-Asian Racism and development pressures,  Chinatown’s resilience is once again being tested.  We asked community members to send in photos of themselves at places of significance to them in Chinatown and to share in a few lines why.   “Long Time No See” is a community art project of photo murals on walls and in windows in the Chinatown area.   Stories and poignant memories    This project was conceived and produced by an independent group of community artists and educators seeking to show love for our neighbourhood.

For more information visit: longtimenoseechinatownto.
com ⇉