Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Wai, Joe Y.
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Description area
Dates of existence
1940-2017
History
Joe Wai was an architect and community activist in Vancouver.
Born in Hong Kong, Wai moved to with his family to Vancouver in 1952; he later studied architecture at the University of British Columbia.
In the 1960s, Wai became involved in the efforts of the Strathcona Property Owners and Tenants Association (SPOTA) to halt the City's urban renewal schemes in the neighbourhood, which would have resulted in the demolition of much of Strathcona and Chinatown. During the course of his career, Wai became a prominent advocate for heritage preservation and revitalization in those neighbourhoods. He later spearheaded the construction of (and participated in the design of) the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens and adjacent City park, the Chinese Canadian Cultural Centre, and the Millenium Gate on West Pender Street.
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2017-01-27, SLW