Kaiping diaolou gets UNESCO World Heritage status
Here is a message from my friend David H. Wong. He is an architect and very excited that UNESCO has give World Heritage status to the diaolou (watchtowers) of Kaiping and Taishan.
It is with joy that I share some happy news with all. The application for world heritage status for the diaolou
(century old watchtowers of Kaiping and Taishan- the ancestral land of
many of Canada’s early Chinese pioneers) has been accepted!
The official announcement occurred in New Zealand on June 28, 2007 and
a media conference occurred the same day in Vancouver. After 8 long
years… Our efforts has been a success. I’d also like to share the
other wonderful news that Canada’s own Rideau Canal also made the UNESCO World Heritage status. A nice touch for our Canada Day weekend.
It made yesterday’s (Friday) Singtao newspaper frontpage headlines!
Thanks to everyone who helped make this effort happen … Off the top
of my head – Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC (thanks Hayne!),
MLA Jenny Kwan, MP Olivia Chow, Gabriel Yiu, MP Raymond Chan, Victoria
Mayor Alan Lowe, UBC Museum of Anthropology, and many, many others
around our small world – including former Washington state governor,
Gary Locke who graced the info CD and book.
There will be a celebration event on July 7th, 2007 at the Chinese
Cultural Centre. Attached is a small rez image of the announcement
poster.
Have a great Canada Day weekend!!!