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Item is a film showing the inaugural journey of Lady Lynn, a small fishing boat. The boat is driven through Vancouver to the docks, where it is placed into the water. The film shows multiple fishing trips with friends and family to Deep Cove, Galiano Island, and other places likely in and around the Burrard Inlet. There is footage of travelling along the water north of Stanley Park, under the Lions Gate Bridge, passing by the light house at Brockton Point, and around the marine gas stations in Coal Harbour. There is also footage of the Mount Seymour Coffee Bar and the Galiano Lodge.

Item is a recording of a CBC television show about bicycles and related topics hosted by Alan Shiveral and Charmane Crooks, featuring reporter Joan Jones. Topics of this episode include Vicious Cycle: Real Action Pictures (RAP) film about mountain biking; bicycle helmets; cycling website of the week; becoming a bicycle courier; trails and user conflict; trail tips: bunny hopping; bike trail of the week: Marathon, Ontario; commuting to work case study; layering for cycling in the winter; and using bicycles for work. Recognizable locations include the Endowment Lands, Cambie Street Bridge, Lions Gate Bridge, Chinatown, and downtown Vancouver.

Item is film containing footage of the Grey Cup parades in 1955 and 1958 on Hastings Street. Film shows parade floats, automobiles, Shriners, Miss Grey Cup winners, CFL floats, marching bands, RCMP and cheerleaders.

Item is a film containing footage of the PNE grounds including rides, concession, and shows. Film also contains scenes of Stanley Park, Prospect Point, the Lions Gate Bridge and picnic scenes with family. Individuals in the film include: Mr. and Mrs. Poon, Mrs. Jack, Mr. and Mrs. Gum Lowe and Deby, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Chan, Judy.

Item is a film showing scenes at a private outdoor pool outside of Vancouver and footage of the PNE parade at Main and Hastings.

Item is a film showing footage of social scenes in a living room, snow scenes outside, people loading a truck with boxes, a basketball game with the Harlem Globetrotters, a ping pong tournament and an ice hockey game.

Item is a film containing footage of a Christmas party at Keith Chan's house, Vancouver City Hall festive lights at night, a party with people gathering in a living room and kitchen, snowy scene at Vancouver's Exhibition Park on Renfrew street, a frozen river and bridge, a farm setting, people skating and playing ice hockey on a frozen pond.

Item is a film showing the view from inside an automobile travelling the road along the Stanley Park causeway and going across the Lions Gate Bridge towards the North Shore. Film contains scenes from within the car, the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, aboard the ferry, scenes along the Malahat highway, Duncan, Ladysmith, Malahat Lookout, Victoria Auto Court Motel. The film concludes with a return trip to Vancouver, driving across the Granville Street Bridge, through downtown and across a viaduct.

Item is a film showing various scenes at 1118 Powell Street including shoveling snow in front yard, mowing the lawn, teenagers and adults inside house on Christmas, a birthday party and a snowball fight. The film includes many shots of the B.C. Sugar refinery building across the street from the house 1118 Powell Street.

Item is a film showing the boat (“Lady Keevan”) loaded from a dry dock at Main and Union Streets to a truck to be transported to the water. Film also shows a whale being pulled from the water onto a dock and is cut apart, dock at Telegraph Cove, scenes on the water at River, Knight and Jervis Inlets, and the exterior of the Malibu Club House at Egmont, B.C.

Item is a film showing P.N.E. parades and the P.N.E. grounds. The film contains footage of parade floats, cheerleaders, marching bands, Mounties and Shriners. The film also shows crowds gathered in downtown Vancouver, and features the surrounding buildings and landmarks, likely on Hastings Street. The film contains candid shots of the P.N.E. grounds including P.N.E. visitors boarding amusement park rides, participating in arcade games, eating at concession stands, looking at attractions and attending the horse races.

Item is a videocassette containing interviews of photographers involved in a Vancouver Centennial comemmoration project.

In anticipation of the centennial year, Tom Sutherland and Cindy Bellamy worked with over fifty photographers to put together a photographic portrait book of Vancouver called “Vancouver: A Year in Motion”, intended to capture the face of the city at teh Centennial. Producer/director Craig Sawchuk followed and interviewed eight of the photographers for a documentary about the project.

The documentary follows Heather Dean, an aerial photographer, in a helicopter over Vancouver showing aerial views of the city including popular landmarks such as Canada Place, the Science Centre, BC Place, and the harbor. Sterling Ward spends some time photographing the development of the Expo 86 sites, a roller coaster, and some of the sculpture installations. Al Harvey takes candid shots at the beach during the polar bear swim and celebration on the first day on 1986. Colin Savage discusses remote control photography and swims with a dolphin and beluga whale at the Vancouver Aquarium with trainer Doug Pemberton. Albert Chin photographs a traditional Chinese lion ceremony for the opening of a new restaurant in Chinatown. Derik Murray was the official photographer of the Vancouver Canucks and the documentary follows him to a hockey game (Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins). Greg Athens does a photo shoot on Grouse Mountain with professional freestyle skier [Darryl Bowie]. Lloyd Sutton spends time on Granville Island photographing the local scenery, shops, and a glass blowing lesson/studio.

The documentary concludes with a scene of the photographers together going through the photos around a large table. The documentary is dedicated to Rick Hansen and concludes with footage of Hansen.

Item is an amateur film made in May 1973 documenting Vancouver and West Vancouver. The footage of downtown Vancouver streets taken from a car shows Georgia Street at Thurlow Street, looking east, and Georgia Street heading west from Howe to the Stanley Park Causeway. Footage of downtown streets taken on foot shows Granville Street at Robson Street looking South and the intersection of Granville and Georgia Streets. Landmarks shown include the Marine Building, Hotel Vancouver, Georgia Medical Building, Toronto Dominion Tower, the fountain at the Vancouver Art Gallery, totem poles at Stanley Park, the Lions Gate Bridge and the exterior of the Vancouver Museum. Other places filmed include Vanier Park, Coal Harbour, Chinatown streets and businesses, and Water Street in Gastown. West Vancouver footage includes Lighthouse Park, Eagle Harbour, and views of West Vancouver from Burrard Inlet.

Film consists of raw footage shot at Expo 86; includes shots of the 'China Gate,' now on Pender St. in Vancouver's Chinatown; it was gifted to the city after Expo 86 by the People's Republic of China. The film also shows various means of transportation: the gondolas, the monorail, and the skytrain; the Expo 86 grounds; including the information centre, and the BC pavilion, several other pavilions, musical performers, and a mime on a unicycle. Silent film.

Film is a promotional film for the city of Vancouver. The film won several awards at film festivals including: Chris Plaque - Best Travel Film, at Columbus International Film Festival; a Special Jury Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival; the Canuck Award - 2nd Place Best Canadian Travel Film, Canadian Travel Association; a Bronze Award at the Film and Television Festival of New York; and a Certificate of Merit - Recreation at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Producer and director of photography: Robert S. Rodvik; Director and supervising editor: Michael J. Collier; Original music composed and arranged by Ralph Dyck; Narrator: Art Hives; Narration script: Keith Cutler; Laboratory: Alpha Cine Service Ltd.; Electronic Instruments Courtesy of Roland Corp.; Sponsored by Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau; New Horizon Film Productions MCMLXXVI.
The16mm release print that the digital child was made from, was struck from the internegative/original negatives, and the optical sound track; it is closest thing to an original in the donation for this production. It is the only record of this movie on film with a soundtrack.

Film is a promotional film for the city of Vancouver. The film won several awards at film festivals including: Chris Plaque - Best Travel Film, at Columbus International Film Festival; a Special Jury Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival; the Canuck Award - 2nd Place Best Canadian Travel Film, Canadian Travel Association; a Bronze Award at the Film and Television Festival of New York; and a Certificate of Merit - Recreation at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Producer and director of photography: Robert S. Rodvik; Director and supervising editor: Michael J. Collier; Original music composed and arranged by Ralph Dyck; Narrator: Art Hives; Narration script: Keith Cutler; Laboratory: Alpha Cine Service Ltd.; Electronic Instruments Courtesy of Roland Corp.; Sponsored by Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau; New Horizon Film Productions MCMLXXVI.
The English narration is on channel 1 and the French narration is on channel 2.

Item is a promotional film for the city of Vancouver. It features several aerial views of the city and highlights the many activities available to enjoy in or near the city. Film also shows the Expo 86 site under construction. Directed and edited by Mike Collier; photography Dave Geddes, Ron Orieux, Tom Rodvik, Tim Sale, John Seale, and Bob Asgeirsson; narrator Art Hives; music Ralph Dyck; technical services Alpha Cine Service and Post Haste Video. Sponsored by the Greater Vancouver Convention and Visitors Bureau. Produced by Yaletown Productions.

Item is "Vancouver - Spectacular By Nature;" the last in the series of video post cards; released in 1994. The film features footage of Vancouver and the surrounding area highlighting the activities and attractions available to visitors. The final five minutes of the film features a couple of minutes of archival footage of Vancouver as a way to celebrate and acknowledge its 100 year history. Directed and edited by Mike [Michael] Collier; photography Dave Geddes, Ron Orieux, Bob Rodvik, Tim Sale, John Seale, and Bob Asgeirsson; narrator Art Hives; music Ralph Dyck; technical services Alpha Cine Service and Post Haste Video. Produced by Yaletown Productions Inc. b&w from 00:21:43-00:22:40.

Item is a film containing footage of the Chin family collecting driftwood at the beach, views from aboard the ferry and of the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, a gathering of the Gee How Oak Tin association in the Chin Wing Chun building, exterior shots of storefronts on the 500 block of Main street, vacation footage in Yoho Park, Lake Louise and Roger's Pass and scenes in the Alpine Aqua canning factory.

Item is a moving image/film documenting a Chinese performance at Vancouver's Golden Jubilee celebration that includes a theatrical stage show, a trapeze artist, and moving images of the Chinese Arch erected at Pender Street near Carrall Street. There are also images of an unknown beach. This section is preceded by the title frame: Chinese Exhibit Golden Jubilee at Vancouver, B.C.. Film also includes footage taken from a passanger ship moving up the Alaskan coast. The stops are separated by the title frames: Ketchikan, Alaska; Castle Rock; and Peril Straits.

Item is a documentary film documenting downtown Vancouver at night and is mostly made up of footage of neon and illuminated electric signs on Granville Street and in Chinatown. The film documents Granville Street at night, with crowds on the sidewalks and many illuminated electric signs visible, including those of the Orpheum, Vogue, and Odeon theatres. Also included is footage of a lighted fountain, the Hudson's Bay Company Building, and traffic signals. The film also documents the neon signs of a numerous restaurants and businesses in Chinatown, including the Marco Polo Restaurant, Ho Ho Chop Suey, the South Seas, Cathay Importers Company Limited, Ho Inn Chop Suey, Ming's, Asia Garden, and Loon Foon Kwok restaurant.

Item is a documentary film documenting Stanley Park, downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver Planetarium, and Vanier Park. The film documents a number of attractions within Stanley Park including the Stanley Park Miniature Railway, Stanley Park Junction, various sections of the seawall, the Brockton Point Lighthouse, Coal Harbour Marina, Elek Imredy's sculpture Girl in a Wetsuit, the replica figurehead of the RMS Empress of Japan, tennis courts, Prospect Point lookout, Lost Lagoon, the Stanley Park Golf Course, totem poles, and the Lions Gate (First Narrows) Bridge (1938-). The film also includes footage of birds including Canada geese, seagulls, swans, mallard and wood ducks, and peacocks. The film documents Vancouver Harbour and its facilities, and includes footage of shipping containers, cranes, cargo ships, seabus, and a floatplane.

The film also documents downtown Vancouver and includes footage of numerous prominent buildings including the Marine Building, Vancouver Harbour Centre, Bayshore Inn, the Westcoast Energy Building, Hotel Vancouver, the Provincial Court House, Robson Square under construction, the Georgia Medical Dental Building, the Bank of Nova Scotia Tower, TD Tower, the Vancouver Block, Commodore Ballroom, Sun Tower, Dominion Building, Andrew Wesley Church, and the Hudson's Bay Company building. The film also contains night footage of the Vancouver skyline, Granville Street with illuminated signs, a fountain lit by coloured lights, and neon signs in Chinatown, including those for the Marco Polo Chinese Smorgasbord, Loon Foon Kwok restaurant, Ming's, South Seas Dining Lounge, Ho Inn Chop Suey, and Bing C. Wong & Associates Accounting and Taxation Service.

Film also includes footage of the exterior of the Bloedel Conservatory, a tugboat in False Creek, the downtown Vancouver skyline as viewed from Kitsilano, an old house (number 1160, street unknown), sailboats in English Bay, the Vancouver Planetarium, Vanier Park, and Beach Avenue as seen across False Creek from Vanier Park.

Raw, silent footage some of which was used in the making of "Vancouver - The World in a City."

Film is a promotional video for the province of British Columbia. Focusing on different sections of the province in turn the video highlights the features and tourist attractions of each. According to the donor this is most likely the original of the final production with sound and image. Director Mike [Michael] Collier; cinematography Norm Keziere, Dave Geddes, Bob Asgeirsson, Bill Rounds, Tommy Tompkins, and John Anderson; editor Rober Brandreth-Gibbs; research Sharon McGowan; narration script Don White and Sharon McGowan, narrator Art Hives; video services Post Haste Video; film lab Alpha Cine Services; sound mix Pinewood Studios; special thanks to Tourism British Columbia. Produced by Yaletown Productions. b&w 00:10:57-00:11:04 and 00:18:47-00:19:22.

Item is a film showing a group of men leaving Harry Chin's house at 1118 Powell Street, people in and standing around a Cadillac, a family fishing excursion and scenes at the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Item is an amateur film of the Chinatown Parade, likely taken in 1960. The film includes views of Pender Street and spectators lined up along the parade route, and cars and groups participating in the parade, possibly including Miss Chinatown and pageant runner-ups.

Item is an amateur film of the 1960 Miss Chinatown competition. Film includes footage of the evening gown, Chinese dress, public speaking and talent competitions, the selection of pageant finalists, and the crowning of the winner.

Item is an amateur film of the 1958 Chinatown Dragon Parade. The film includes views of spectators lined up along the parade route, buildings and signs for businesses along Pender Street, and cars and groups participating in the parade. Footage includes many shots of men in a large dragon costume, the Vancouver Fire Department Band, and the Chinese Freemasons and Chinese Community School floats.

Item is a home movie which documents Stanley Park and the outer harbour of Vancouver. It pictures pedestrians in Stanley Park and on the sea wall, and various animal exhibits in the Stanley Park Zoo in early spring, and includes pan views of the lighthouse and North Vancouver from the Stanley Park sea wall, the collapsed 2nd Narrows Bridge in the harbour (collapsed June 1958) and Navy ships.

The film documents the April 23, 1952 United Grain Growers fire from different angles and a different fire on the North Shore near Lion's Gate Bridge. The film also shows scenes of Queen Elizabeth Park in Spring with views of over Vancouver. The film ends with an airforce aerial show from a view on the ground in a field and one of "Vancouver's last streetcars" giving free rides on the Hastings East Line on April 24, 1955.

Item is a home movie which pictures Lions Gate Bridge from the Stanley Park side, the view from Coal Harbour, and outdoor skating and tennis in Lost Lagoon and/or Beaver Lake in the wintertime. The second half features immigrants disembarking at Vancouver airport, exiting United Air Lines' customs and immigrations and taking photographs. Lew Parry's Steet Metal Worker's Local 280 float sculpture is briefly filmed.

Segment titles as indicated on the original film leader are: Stanley Park + Harbour; Winter Skates; Harry; Nov Mel + Party; New Immigrant Arrives in Van. airport; Jean Chin Poy Lin; Mrs Chin Hong + Mrs. Chiu; Nen + Bing Chin; Go See Yow and Poon's Goddaughter.

Item is a film which documents the Keefer Florist storefront and greenhouses. A gardener is filmed packaging plants and two women are filmed placing flowers on graves at Oceanview Cemetery (Burnaby). It appears to be an advertisement.

Item is a home movie of people eating and playing relay games at a barbeque and picnic at the Chinook Fish and Game Club. The last minute is of people at Kitsilano beach.

Item is a film is of a young woman holding two Chinese dolls, followed by long shots of decorative porcelain figurines in a house. Next, Marilyn Norgaard models with daffodils for a photographer. Two cards with a photograph of Norgaard read "Spring is here almost! Marilyn got into the spirit of it all and posed happily for Cameramam!"

Item is a film depicting a visit to Barkerville. It starts with an image of a wooden structure and a sign that explains that it is a recreation of the pumps used in Cornish tin mines.This is followed by El Dorado Placer Mine, operated by the Barkerville Advisory Committee of the provincial Parks Branch, in Barkerville Historic Town. Tourists are filmed panning in troughs of water and walking around the historic buildings. Inside the exhibits, wax figures have been set in domestic scenes. A crowd of people is filmed waiting to see Gold Fever at a building called the Theatre Royal. Inside, female dancers and a male musician are filmed performing on a stage.

Item is a home movie of a wedding. A bride and groom speak in front of what appear to be wedding presents. They are filmed leaving the house with the family while someone sets off fireworks before they all drive to the ceremony. Part of the ceremony in the church is filmed before the family is again pictured leaving and arriving at the reception hall. The bride and groom pose for photographs before the reception. There is a reception line followed by clips of speeches, dancing and socializing.

Item is a home movie depicting a Shriner parade. The camera person stands in the crowd while Shriner men march past in regiments and bands or ride on car floats. Hastings Street and the Patricia Hotel are identifiable.

Item is a home movie of two women holding a baby and opening gifts with baby clothes. Then the baby is shown as a toddler crawling around a carpet and playing with toys. Later the woman and child pose to be photographed in front of a Christmas tree and piano.

Item is a home movie of an engagement party and wedding. The film begins with people arriving at the engagement party and Chinese tea ceremony. The bride is filmed in her house and driving with her family to the church. The ceremony is filmed from above and behind. The family then travels to the reception hall where the bride and groom are photographed with their family. There is a reception line, speeches, and dancing.

Item is a home movie which documents the renovation of Keefer Florist Company building at 215 Keefer Street. It pictures the placement of the beams and walls, the cement flooring and ceiling, and the installation of window and lighting, followed by painting and paving of the exterior, and installation of the store sign,

Item is a film showing various scenes around Vancouver. The first half of this film documents a Gray Line Tours bus trip through Vancouver and second half contains scenes showing landmarks of Vancouver and surrounding areas. Film contains footage showing: Empress of Japan Figurehead in Stanley Park, U.B.C., Chinatown, Hotel Georgia, Lion's Gate Bridge, Court House, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Capilano Golf and Country Club, Prospect Point, Stanley Park, views of downtown and North Shore Mountains from Little Mountain, City Hall, sailboats in Burrard Inlet, and Swimmers at Kits Beach.

Item is a film containing highlights of British Columbia's centennial year in Vancouver. Includes shots of an antique car parade, a tall ship at dock, naval vessels, street decorations in Vancouver, Chinese Freemasons parade (with drill team, dragon dance, etc.), a powwow, horse racing at Exhibition Park, PNE parade, and the last of the region's interurban streetcars. Film also includes footage showing the aftermath of the Second Narrows Bridge collapse.

Item is a documentary film about the neighbourhood of Strathcona, its history, and a project to promote the beautification/renovation of many of the front porches of the neighbourhood.

The film is divided into four sections. The first section (The Strathcona neighbourhood) is a history of the neighbourhood, and discusses a twenty year renovation ban and the effects it had on the community. It includes footage of many Strathcona houses and porches before the renovations, street scenes of Chinatown and the general neighbourhood, Strathcona community garden, Strathcona School, local community centre, Buddhist temple, East Pender Street, the Strathcona Ukrainian Hall, Hawks Avenue, Keefer Street, and East Georgia Street. The second section (History and process) is a history of the Porch project and an explanation of how it works. It includes an interview with Nora Kelly, from the Strathcona Residents Association, in which she discusses the history of the project, and a short clip from the news program Chinatown Today (1994-04-24). The third section (Getting down to work) is a review of the project results. It discusses the conditions for selecting houses appropriate for the project, how the funding worked, and the execution of the renovations. These subjects are illustrated with footage of porches before renovation, during demolition, and during the renovation process. It also includes interviews about the renovation with homeowner Paul Burke, Judy Oberlander (Porch Project Heritage Planner), and several unnamed contractors. The fourth section (Results) discusses the outcomes of the renovation efforts. It includes footage of completed porch restorations and an interview with Paul Burke about the effect of the restoration on his home.

Item is an amateur video recording of a theatrical presentation by a grade 5 class from Hastings School, filmed in the courtyard in front of the main hall. The presentation is a creation myth story in which a trickster monkey builds dolls out of mud which are then animated by thunder and lightning. These ‘bagheads’ travel between several worlds and encounter various strange creatures before finding the perfect world and removing their masks to become the first people. Presentation includes footage of the spectators and teachers.

Item is a collection of four news clips about the opening of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen gardens. Each clip includes footage of the newly opened gardens and general narration about the garden. Clip 1: CBC, Evening News, April 24, 1986. Presenter: Bill Good. Clip 2: Ici Radio-Canada Télé (CBC) news program ‘Ce Soir’. Presenter: Mario Hinse (in French). Clip 3: BCTV News Hour. Presenter: Tony Parsons. Camera: Paul Rowan. Reporter: Michael McCardell. This clip includes short interview with Charles McDermott (Project Manager). Clip 4: CBC, Midday with Presenter: Bill Good. Reporter: Karen Webb. This clip includes footage from the opening, including short speeches from Pat Carney (MP – Vancouver Centre) and Yu Zhan (Chinese Ambassador).

The item is a recording of a segment of a longer news program called ‘People Will Talk’ hosted by Laurier LaPierre on the subject of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese garden. The segment is in two main parts, the first part is a report by David Kincaid which includes footage of the construction of the gardens and later footage of the gardens in their completed state. Narration accompanying the footage describes the history of the classical Chinese garden in general, the construction efforts, and the goals of the final project, and some of the theories around the art form of the classical Chinese garden.

The second part is an interview with Sue Yung Li, a landscape architect and filmmaker from San Francisco. They discuss the role of the classical Chinese garden in Chinese culture as a source of artistic inspiration, the difference between a Chinese and a Japanese garden, the importance of rock and water in the garden, the accessibility of these kinds of gardens to the western audience. They also discuss elements of Li’s personal life, footage of the construction of the gardens and later footage of the gardens in their completed state.

Item is a documentary on the construction of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden. The first section discusses the development of the classical garden in Suzhou, its history, and its purposes. This narration is illustrated with footage of morning scenes of streets and parks, the Yangzi River, and several gardens in the city. The second and much longer section covers the construction of the Vancouver garden. Footage of the construction is combined with narration describing the process; with emphasis throughout placed on how little the construction of the garden has changed since the Song Dynasty in the use of hand tools, traditional building methods, and traditional materials.

Specific stages of construction examined are the importing of the materials from China, the construction of the pillars and the assembling of the pavilions, clay tile roofing and roof finishing, the placement of Lake Tai rocks and the thin tall stones, the courtyard paving and internal tiling, the ‘leak window’ construction, and the construction and finishing work of the screens and railings in the carpentry shop. Also included is a short interview with Joe Wai, project architect, in which he discusses the background of the garden project. The documentary concludes with footage of the opening ceremony with a Chinese delegation, and footage of the completed garden.

Item is a photo montage with narration in Cantonese. The photos displayed represent traditional Chinese new year traditions and celebrations. Included are Lion dances, the zodiac, the Chinese calendar, street scenes of shopkeepers, fruit, flowers, family scenes with a holiday meal, and red envelopes.

Item is a documentary film about the Taoist meanings of various elements of the design in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden. The film opens with a street scene of Chinese New Year, including lion dances, firecrackers, and a parade. The main film is an interview with James Yu, the maintenance coordinator of the garden. He discusses the contrasting elements (yin and yang), the different kinds of plants (plum, bamboo, and pine), the leak windows, the upturned eves, and the reflections in the water, and then presents a Taoist interpretation of each of them. The narration is supplemented with film footage of the gardens illustrating each point in turn. The film concludes with more footage of garden views and details.

Item is a montage video of photographs of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen gardens with musical accompaniment. The film begins with images of street scenes in Chinatown, focusing on neon lights, nightlife, and shops. The visuals segue into peaceful scenes of the gardens, focusing primarily on the views of the garden through the leak windows and screens, the curved roofs of the pavilions, the water and reflections, and the patterned paving stones.

Item is a documentary film about the construction of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens. It is divided into two sections: the first section is a discussion of the classical Chinese gardens in Suzhou while the second, much longer, section discusses the construction of the gardens in Vancouver. It uses footage filmed during the construction process, descriptive narration, and short segments of an interview with Joe Wai, one of the project architects.

The documentary opens with narration about the importance of water to the region and the history of the region, illustrated with footage of boating and agricultural life. The city of Suzhou is introduced with narrated scenes of the city, canals, and tourist destinations. Next the film explores a few of Suzhou’s famous gardens. The gardens discussed are: The Master of Fish Nets Garden, The Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lion Grove Garden, and The Lingering Garden. The film then concludes this section with a discussion of design elements and the Taoist elements of each feature.

The film then moves to Vancouver, beginning with footage of famous city landmarks and city views (e.g. Lions Gate Bridge, Canada Place, the Skytrain) with an emphasis on the modern technological nature of the city. Street scenes of Chinatown are the backdrop to a discussion of the history of Chinese people in Canada, the development of the Chinese Cultural center, and the pre-construction process of getting the approval and funding to build the garden. Discussion of the construction of the garden focuses on the Suzhou artisans who built the garden according to traditional means, emphasising the use of traditional tools, building methods, and materials. This is illustrated with footage of moving the Lake Tai rocks by hand and placing them into position.

Tthe film talks about the artisans, with scenes of the builders socialising at a banquet, singing, and playing table tennis. The documentary then focuses on the finishing touches and role they play in the finished garden. The documentary concludes with the official opening ceremony with dignitaries and the artisans followed by footage of the completed garden.