Historic Chinatown
is located on Treaty Six,
Homeland of the Métis people.
Our legacy of immigration
is intertwined with colonialism;
understanding our place
as setters is essential.
We honour our own
ancestors who left their homes
to come to "Canada,"
while giving thanks to the ancestors
and original keepers of this land.
We hope to build meaningful, reciprocal,
relationships with the
Indigenous people who
have long called
Riversdale
home.
Saskatoon's Chinatown began in the early 20th century near 19th Street East, between 1st and 2nd Avenue, an area now known as River Landing. This early enclave was home to Chinese immigrants who established businesses such as laundromats, general stores, and restaurants, forming a vibrant community.
This relocation marked a significant shift in Saskatoon’s Chinese cultural landscape, as Riversdale became a focal point for Chinese-owned businesses and a broader multicultural presence. 20th Street West became the heart of Saskatoon’s Chinatown, supported by both the Chinese community and the wider population.
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However, in the late 1920s, the city’s acquisition of this land for the Saskatoon Technical Collegiate led to the displacement of the Chinese community. ​Many Chinese residents and businesses subsequently moved to Riversdale, where a second Chinatown flourished along 20th Street West. It extended between Idylwyld Drive (formerly Avenue A) and Avenue F, with some additional presence on nearby streets such as 21st Street West.
It brought together people with shared culture and experiences, a place of familiarity for newcomers. A space to gather, to share meals, it fostered a sense of belonging for Chinese residents. Today Chinese businesses are found all over the city. And While Chinatown no longer exists as a formal neighbourhood, its memory lingers.
Landmarks like the Zhongshan Ting pagoda in Victoria Park have since been built, to commemorate the contributions of early Chinese immigrants. In 2002 the city even set plans to build a $1,000,000 Chinatown gate at the entrance of Riversdale, but this ultimately fell through.
Have a story to tell? Photos to share?
If you have a connection to historic Chinatown and would like to contribute to our archival efforts, please reach out!
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INFO@RIVERSDALECHINATOWN.CA
