From left to right: Guangzhou Mayor Chen Jianhua, Vancouver Deputy Mayor Andrea Reimer and Vancouver Public Library chief librarian Sandra Singh celebrate Vancouver and Guangzhou’s 30 years as sister cities. | Photo courtesy of Vancouver Public Library
A brand new Encyclopedia of Guangzhou graces the shelves of the Vancouver Public Library (VPL), a gift from the Guangzhou Library to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Vancouver and Guangzhou.
“It will be a superb resource for our community,” says VPL chief librarian Sandra Singh of the 540-volume set presented by Guangzhou mayor Chen Jianhua on a recent visit to Vancouver.
The encyclopedia is a collection of over 3,500 pieces of classical literature and historical documents and records from Guangzhou. Written by approximately 2,000 writers over a period of 10 years, the encyclopedia covers records as far back as the Qin and Han Dynasties (202 BC) up to the mid-20th century.
Singh is excited about the benefits the encyclopedia will provide to library patrons.
“Thanks to the donation, local residents and researchers can access rich and authentic resources about the culture and history of Guangzhou, to promote cultural exchanges and strengthen ties between the sister cities of Guangzhou and Vancouver,” she says
Exchanging exhibitions
VPL recently sent a collection of current Canadian published titles to Guangzhou for its collection and has hosted exhibits and displays that highlight the relationship with Guangzhou.
“We were pleased to create the Window of Guangzhou display in our Central Library in recognition of this relationship. As well, we are hosting Guangzhou’s Cantonese Photo Exhibition for the month of July at the Central Library,” says Singh.
The relationship between the two libraries began with an invitation from Guangzhou Library to Vancouver Public Library to present a paper at an international conference commemorating the opening of the new Guangzhou Library.
Spearheaded by Chen, the project of compiling and publishing of the Encyclopedia of Guangzhou was launched 10 years ago and Chen has been instrumental in getting this project successfully completed.
“From there, the partnership agreement was signed and we began to exchange collections and discuss other opportunities. In 2015, we launched a genealogy partnership: Vancouver residents can now email the Guangzhou Library directly for genealogy reference service through VPL,” says Singh.
Long history of sharing
These exchanges and partnerships between the libraries of the cities are just one part of the sister city relationship begun in 1985.
Fred Mah, one of the founding members of the Vancouver-Guangzhou Friendship Society and current president of the B.C.-Guangdong Business Council, has long been a strong advocate of close ties between Vancouver and Guangzhou.
However, he notes that Vancouver’s sister city was almost quite different. Initially, city staff recommended twinning between Vancouver and Shanghai.
“As Chinese Canadians we felt that it was inappropriate to twin with Shanghai because most of us are from Guangdong or descendants of people from Guangdong and that Shanghai was way too big for Vancouver,” says Mah.
During the last 30 years the Friendship Society has arranged projects including introducing businesses to China and sharing knowledge in different ways. In 1988, UBC Hospital surgical staff demonstrated two surgical techniques to GZ number 1 Hospital staff through satellite transmission.
The Friendship Society has also acted as a bridge to develop relationships between other cities and institutions in B.C. and Guangdong. They include the twinning of Burnaby and Zhongshan, the Port of Vancouver and Guangzhou and B.C. Women and Children’s Hospital to GZ’s counterpart.
Student and cultural exchanges have also been part of the relationship, including photo and art exhibits as well as performing arts such as Cantonese Opera. The renowned Guangdong Experimental High School Choir is twinned with Gladstone High School in Vancouver.
In the future, Mah would like to see more student and cultural exchanges, which he thinks allow people to develop a better understanding of one another.
For more information, visit guides.vpl.ca/ccg/back_to_china
