Vancouver in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

Chinese Freemasons Building

City of Vancouver Heritage Building

— Architect: Samuel Buttrey Birds (1913) —

Chinese Freemasons Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 1, 2011

1. Chinese Freemasons Building Marker

Inscription. The Chi Kung Tong, later the Chinese Freemasons, purchased this building in 1907. It included meeting rooms, a male dormitory and a Chinese school - uses common to Chinese Society Buildings. The Chi Kung Tong assisted early immigrants from China who took part in the Cariboo gold rush. The Freemasons were also intensively involved in the politics of China, including Dr. Sun-Yat Sen's efforts to bring democracy to his native country. Built in 1901, the building blends Victorian style along the Carrall Street side with traditional Chinese style - recessed balconies and ironwork - along the Pender Street side. It was renovated in 1913 for the Bank of Vancouver. In 1975, the two facades were retained as part of a redevelopment, an early effort to integrate historic preservation into urban development in Vancouver. In 2007 it was rehabilitated to incorporate seniors housing.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Vancouver, City of Vancouver Heritage Buildings series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.

Location. 49° 16.84′ N, 123° 6.279′ W. Marker is in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Metro Vancouver. It is at the intersection of West Pender

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Street and Carrall Street, on the right when traveling west on West Pender Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5 West Pender Street, Vancouver BC V6B 1R3, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on British Columbia’s Lower Mainland

and in Coast & Mountains.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chinese Cultural Centre (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Chinatown Memorial Monument (about 240 meters away); Abrams Block (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Sun Tower (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); The Old Maple (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); "Gassy Jack" (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Byrnes Block (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Nagle Bros. Garage (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vancouver.

Also see . . .
1. Chinese Freemasons Building. HistoricPlaces.ca's page for the Chinese Freemasons Building. On the architecture's heritage value: "...The architecture is of heritage value because of the contrast between the Pender and Carrall Street facades, one of which is a typical commercial facade for the era (Carrall Street) and the other which reflects Chinatown's particular style of open balconies and generous glazing. Substantial alterations were undertaken by prominent Vancouver architect Samuel Buttrey Birds in 1913, perhaps related to the creation of a branch of the Bank of Vancouver on the ground floor. The facades are all that remain
Photographed by Philip Timms, circa 1907

2. Chinese businesses damaged by race riots at north west corner of Carrall Street (at Pender)
This image, provided courtesy of the Vancouver Public Library, shows the Chinese Freemasons Building shortly after being damaged in the anti-Chinese riot in 1907. On September 7th, 1907, what started as a parade by the Asiatic Exclusion League turned into a riot, with an angry mob wreaking havoc and terrorizing the inhabitants of Vancouver's Chinatown.
of the original building; they were retained when the rest of the building was demolished in 1975. This decision is significant for reflecting the emergence of a preservation agenda in the City of Vancouver's development planning policy for the historic Chinatown district at that time." (Submitted on March 22, 2012.)

2. Chinese Freemasons. The Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon provides a history of Chinese fraternal organizations in British Columbia. (Submitted on March 22, 2012.)

Chinese Freemasons Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 1, 2011

3. Chinese Freemasons Building

The marker is just visible here to the right of the door in the middle of the building.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,395 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 22, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.