With deep roots in Vancouver’s Chinatown, the Chan sisters are cultivating spaces, online and in person, that connect individuals and help them thrive. Cold Tea Collective recently interviewed all three sisters to learn about their experiences building up their individual communities.
Anita, Alyce, and Amy Chan grew up in Vancouver’s Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Canada. Their father owned a grocery store business on Pender Street, where the legendary New Town Bakery still stands today.
“Community was huge in Chinatown back in the day,” said Anita Chan, the eldest of the three. “It was like an extended family.”
The three sisters were born in the United States and immigrated to Canada at a young age with their parents. When they arrived, they struggled as a family to settle into Vancouver, but were able to open their business with help from their grandparents. As the daughter of a merchant, Anita described Chinatown as a close-knit neighbourhood, where everyone knew each other and looked out for one another.
“It was a safe place,” said Anita, the founder of We Trash Talk, a company focused on zero-waste living. “It was basically our playground.”
With a constant influx of migration during the 1970s and 1980s, Chinatown was a vibrant culture and entertainment centre. Hong Kong investors revitalized Chinatown in the 1970s through various beautification projects throughout the 1980’s, including the construction of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden in 1986 and the reinstallation of the Chinese arch from Expo 86 in front of the Chinese Cultural Centre.
Growing up in Vancouver’s Chinatown
The sister’s parents were immigrants from China that dedicated most of their time to running their business. So, as children, the sisters learned to be self-sufficient at a young age. Anita, as the eldest sister, also took on the responsibility of caring for her siblings.
“We didn’t really have a childhood. Alyce and I, we grew up quite fast,” said Anita. “I have a nine year difference with Amy. So, I became the default caretaker for Amy when she was born.”
In addition, they also leaned on other family members, like their grandmother, as well as hired caretakers, including a housekeeper and nanny. Although they didn’t have close relationships with their parents growing up, they still formed strong connections with their family, community, and culture.
“My mom always had sleep overs at my grandparents and we had a lot of fun at my grandparents and my aunts took us around a lot,” said Alyce Chan, founder of MOMCOM, who is two years younger than Anita.
See also: Celebrating Asian Canadians who are making it while making a difference
Building their own communities
Even though the sisters now live outside of Chinatown—Anita in East Vancouver and Alyce and Amy in New York City—their deeply rooted values of community and connection have shaped their identity and work in their respective fields of comedy, sustainability, and wellness. Sometimes, their spaces collide, and they can be seen making a cameo in each other’s video content.
As first generation Chinese Canadians, they are redefining what the connection looks like beyond a physical neighbourhood. Whether it is through a retreat, zero waste tips, or viral comedy reels, the Chan sisters are creating spaces for individuals to foster a sense of belonging.
As part of this series, we will be sharing our interviews with each of the Chan sisters—Alyce, Anita, and Amy—to find out how they are building communities beyond their hometown and helping other individuals cultivate meaningful relationships with themselves, their families and the environment.
Alyce Chan: MOMCOM and healing with laughter
A stand-up comedian and producer, Alyce uses humour to empower moms and to open up dialogues about the challenges of motherhood. She opens up about her journey as an Asian female in comedy and how the humour has helped to heal and strengthen her bonds with her family, and to become a better parent.
Anita Chan: Climate action starts with community
A sustainability coach and creator of We Trash Talk, Anita’s journey began when she was pregnant with son, which ignited her passion for preserving the environment for future generations. She shares how she found her voice and community through social media and how she empowers others, including her family members, to lead a zero-waste lifestyle.
Amy Chan: Healing hearts through community
Amy is a relationship expert and founder of Breakup Bootcamp, a retreat that takes a scientific and spiritual approach to heal the heart. Breakup Bootcamp was inspired by her recovery from a traumatic breakup. By creating a community of support for those who are grieving the loss of a relationship, she is empowering others, especially women, to find healthier and fulfilling love.
Building a community is not easy, but the Chan sisters make it look easy. Learn about their experiences in their interviews with Cold Tea Collective.
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