Canada’s oldest Chinese temple in Victoria’s Chinatown is celebrating its 150th anniversary this February.
Located in the heart of Chinatown, Tam Kung Temple is a designated National Historic Site that has served as a place of spiritual guidance, cultural continuity, and resilience since 1876.
To mark this momentous occasion on February 16th, the temple will launch Ellie Awakens the Spirits of Tam Kung Temple—a children’s book project funded by Heritage Canada, currently touring schools across the country.
Through storytelling for young readers, the book highlights the temple’s history and the legacy of the Hakka community.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., families can meet the author, Lori Wong, experience a temple tour, and receive a free copy of the book.
There will also be traditional rituals, including incense offerings, bamboo oracle sticks, and red lanterns, bringing the temple’s rich history to life.
The anniversary offers that special opportunity to reflect on the temple’s cultural significance and the role of the Hakka community in early BC history.
The celebrations continue on February 17th with guided tours, traditional red pockets for children, fortune cookies, and community activities like colouring and prize draws to welcome the Chinese New Year.
The Yen Wo Society will also offer English temple tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Don’t miss out on this unique celebration to honour a historic monument and kick off the Year of the Horse!
Tam Kung Temple’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations
- Where: Tam Kung Temple, 1713 Government Street
- When: Monday, February 16th – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
