Community group pulls support for new Harbin Gate in Edmonton’s Chinatown

The Chinese Benevolent Association says it's pulling its support from the city's Harbin gate project because it believes concerns are not being heard.

A group helping guide the City of Edmonton with the installation of a gate to replace the original one that stood as a symbol of cultural and historical ties between the city and the Chinese community says it can no longer support the project.

The Chinese Benevolent Association says its input into the construction of the new Harbin Gate has been sidelined by the city.

A representative of the association told CTV News Edmonton it’s also against how much is being spent on the new one: $8.7 million.

A couple of years ago, the city approved an extra almost $3 million for the project, but the group – which had taken a leadership role in both the construction of the original gate that was erected in 1987 and the new one – says it would rather see that money put towards other revitalization efforts for Chinatown.

“I think the priorities of the communities as a whole – as Chinatown and our neighbours downtown – safety, sanitation and also the recovery of businesses would be of more benefit for the residents and local businesses,” Billy To said on Wednesday.

The original Harbin Gate, which was located on 102 Avenue in Chinatown, was taken down in 2017 for LRT construction. It commemorates the twinning of Edmonton with the Chinese city of Harbin.

The new one is being installed a block away on 97 Street just north of Jasper Avenue.

Another local group involved in the erection of the new gate, the Chinatown Transformation Collaborative Society, says it’s upset with the cost of the project as well as the materials being used, calling them “inferior.”

Sandy Pon, the chair of the society, said the process selecting the art for the gate “was very short.”

“There were not too many submissions for the art, so the community felt they were a little pushed, having to select from among such a small choice,” she told CTV News Edmonton.

Pon said the position of the society is “to try to make the best out of the situation.”

“If we can still help to mitigate some of the cost and provide proper input – and I hope that the city and the contractors they use for the construction and the partners they bring on – we’ll be able to come up with some kind of compromise,” she said.

The city councillor for the area says there are many groups involved in the process.

And Ward O-day’min Coun. Anne Stevenson refutes the claim the Chinese Benevolent Association’s concerns are being dismissed.

“I know city staff worked in earnest with them over many years, many meetings and engagements,” Stevenson told media at city hall. “The city has no reason to build this gate besides community. That was the purpose and the intent.”

Construction on the gate began in March and is slated to be finished next year.