Vancouver Heritage Foundation hosts a variety of Professional Development Day (“Pro-D Day”) sessions intended for current educators focusing on enriching K-12 lesson plans and programming.
VHF recognizes educators as a diverse field and not exclusive to district school teachers. We welcome all those whose field of work or employment/volunteer position impacts the education of K-12 children and youth. We host full day sessions focusing on different parts of Vancouver for the Provincial Pro-D in October and supplement that with additional sessions in person or online throughout the year.
Friday, October 23rd, 9am -3pm
Chinatown Storytelling Centre, 168 E Pender St
$85+tax
Spend the day immersing yourself in the rich stories of Vancouver's Chinatown. Beginning with an exploration of the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, including a special guided tour though the exhibits and newly opened Learning Lab, the day concludes with a guided walking tour that explores the lesser known history of the post-war "boom years" of Vancouver's Chinatown.
The day will begin at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, exploring the exhibits and newly opened Learning Lab. This immersive space highlights the post war “boom years” of Vancouver’s Chinatown from the 1950s to the 1980s, a period that remains underrepresented in Chinese Canadian history.
Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about a variety of field trip opportunities and place-based learning resources available to enrich their classroom teaching, as well as share their perspectives on potential programs and resources under development.
A variety of bahn mi sandwiches, spring rolls and salad rolls provided by DD Mau. When filling out the registration form, please make sure to let us know if you have any allergies.
In the afternoon, participants will join local historian John Atkin on a walk through the neighbourhood, delving deeper into the lesser-known history of Vancouver’s Chinatown during the post-war “boom years.”
Please note this is a mask-friendly and scent-free event and that the starting and end points of this workshop are at different locations. Registration closes on October 16th at noon or when sold out.
This Pro-D is presented in partnership with the Chinatown Storytelling Centre.
About the Site
Documenting and sharing the cultural stories of the Chinese Canadian community, the Chinatown Storytelling Centre celebrates Chinatown’s contributions to the development of Vancouver and highlights the roles of Chinese Canadians in the building of Canada as a nation.
About the Speaker
John Atkin is a civic historian, author and heritage consultant. He offers an interesting and offbeat insight into the city’s architecture, history and neighbourhoods through a series of unique and popular walking tours. These combine his interests in urban planning and development, a love of architecture and a fascination for the curious.
Professional Development Day (“Pro-D Day”) sessions are intended for current educators focusing on enriching their K-12 lesson plans/programming. VHF recognizes educators as a diverse field and not exclusive to district school teachers. We welcome all those whose field of work or employment/volunteer position impacts the education of K-12 children and youth. Please contact sarah@vancouverheritagefoundation.org if you have any questions regarding our Pro-D sessions. If you are not a current educator but are interested in the event, please email us to be put on the event waitlist.
Please review our registration and cancellation policies here before registering.
All donations are tax deductible. An official tax receipt is issued for donations of $20 or more. Our Registered Charity number is 891765968.
Past Pro-D for Educators Sessions
- February 14 – Places That Matter | How We Look at Cities – South Vancouver with John Atkin and John Oliver Legacy Society Alumni
- October 23 – A Day in the West End with Roedde House, John Atkin and KingGeorge High Archives.
- October 23 – Chinatown Connections: A Day at the Chinese Canadian Museum
- November 21 – Exploring Legacies: A Day at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre with VHEC, JMABC and Temple Shalom
- February 16 – Exploring Black Histories with Fran Morrison, Joy Russell, City of Vancouver Archives, Juke’s Fried Chicken, Hogan’s Alley Society, John Atkin and False Creek Ferries
- April 22 – A Day in Historic Punjabi Market with South Asian Stories with Sunset Community Centre, Joe Wong. Punjabi Market Collective, Jag Nagra, Jas Lolly, Himalaya Restaurant, Manny Pabla, Gulzar Nanda, and Anu Chouhan
- October 25 – Places That Matter | How We Look at Cities – Downtown
- November 22 – Strathcona School and Neighbourhood Explorations in partnership with VSB, Strathcona School Archives and John Atkin
- February 17 – Family & Stories: Vietnamese-Canadian Stories from Vancouver’s Little Saigon with Andy Pham, Ba Le, Anh and Chi, H.P. Fraser, Chrystal Phan and Liz Crocker
- April 24 – Kuwentuhan (storytelling) on Fraser Street’s Filipino Connections presented with Mubuhay House Society, Leonora C. Angeles, Sammie Jo Rumbaua, Joseph Planta, Shameless Buns, O’Taho and Mable Elmore’s Constituency Office, Migrante BC, and retired teachers from Tupper Secondary
- October 20 – Chinatown Connections with Chinese Canadian Museum, Larry Chin and John Atkin
- February 18 – Virtual: Cross-Cultural Walking Tour with Carmel Tanaka
- April 25– Virtual: Musqueam Stories and Language with Elder Larry Grant
- April 25 – ‘Discover Chinatown’ with Chinatown Storytelling Centre, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, BC Dragon Boat Society, and Chinese Canadian Museum
- October 21 – Hastings Park with Nikkei National Museum, Japanese Canadian Hastings Park Interpretive Centre Society, and John Atkin
- February 12 – Virtual: Place-Based Learning: Inquiry & Connections with History & Heritage
- April 26 – Virtual: Perspectives on Heritage Places and Local History with John Atkin, Dr, Leonora Angeles, Aynsley Wong, Lama Mugabo, Jeff Chiba Stearns, Vanessa Campbell, Courtenay & Mack
- October 22 – Virtual: Places that Matter and Hidden Heritage with John Atkin
- February 14 – Vancouver Japanese Language School and Gastown with Laura Saimoto, Carolyn Nakagawa and John Atkin
- October 23– Virtual: Step Outside and Get Online: Connecting Educators with Local Heritage and History with John Atkin, Nancy Dos Campos, Katharine Shipley, Christine Giesbrecht, Bryan Myles, Lucas Hung, Ann-Marie Metten, Drew Ann Wake, Dan Seguin and Paneet Sing
Looking for more Vancouver-based educational resources?
Our Heritage in Schools Program includes our Heritage Study Guide that is full of helpful resources for teaching about local heritage, as well as a wide range of resources for educators that share place-based activities from local school communities and designed for educators interested in engaging with VHF produced resources, from study guides, videos, map guides and more.
Gallery tour of Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre during a Pro-D Day for Educators in November 2025. Credit K Figueiredo
Group photo of educators during a Pro-D Day for Educators in November 2025 at the VHEC. Credit K Figueiredo
Group photo of educators at Roedde House during a Pro-D for Educators in the West End in October 2025. Credit: C McDonald
Group photo of educators at Mountainview Cemetery during 'How We Look at Cities – South Vancouver' Pro-D in February of 2025. Credit Rob Atkins
King George Archives during Pro-D for Educators in the West End in October 2025. Credit J Quan
Tour of 'Montréal Chinois' exhibit at the Chinese Canadian Museum for Pro-D for Educator workshop in October 2025. Credit: K Figueiredo
Tour of 'A Soldier for All Seasons' exhibit at the Chinese Canadian Museum for Pro-D for Educator workshop in October 2025. Credit: K Figueiredo
Inside the Chin Wing Chin Society taken at a Oct 2023 Pro-D for Educators. Credit: Kamran Safari
Group Photo during Punjabi Market Pro-D in April of 2024. Credit S Carlson)
In front of a mural in the Punjabi Market during a Pro-D for Educators event in April of 2024. Credit: S Carlson
Lunch at Juke's during a February 2024 Pro-D on Black Histories. Credit: J Quan
Group of teachers on False Creek Ferry during a February 2024 Pro-D on Black Histories. Credit: S Carlson
Walking Tour with Larry Chin in Chinatown in October 2023. Photo Credit: Kamran Safari
Group debrief after Chinatown Connections Pro-D at the Chinese Canadian Museum. Photo Credit: Kamran Safari
Group Photo at Tupper Secondary Memorial Rock for Jomar during April 2023 Pro-D focusing on Filipino history of Fraser St. Credit: Kamran Safari
Author H.P. Fraser reading her book 'The Little Girl' at Ahn and Chi during the Family & Food: Stories from Vancouver's Little Saigon Pro-D workshop in February 2023. Credit: Kamran Safari
Lunch stop at Shameless Buns - part of Kuwentuhan (storytelling) on Fraser Street's Filipino Connections Pro-D Workshop in April 2023. Credit: Kamran Safari
Feb 17 Pro-D with Vietnamese Canadian storytellers
Educators inside the Livestock Building during 2022 Pro-D Tour of Hastings Park with Nikkei National Museum guide Carolyn Nakagawa. Credit: S Carlson
Walking back to the Livestock Buildings during a 2022 Pro-D session at Hastings Park. Credit: Ivanna Mosqueria
Pro-D for educators focused on Japanese Canadian History in February 2020. The day included a tour of the Vancouver Japanese Language School with Carolyn Nakagawa of Nikkei Museum, a walking tour of Paueru-Gai area with Laura Saimoto, lunch at Dosanko followed by a walking tour of Gastown with John Atkin. Credit Claire Vulliamy
Walking tour for Mackenzie Elementary School Pro-D by John Atkin. Photo credit: Clara Conrado.
Walking tour of Mountain View Cemetery by John Atkin for Mackenzie Elementary School Pro-D. Photo credit: Clara Conrado.
Gallery tour of Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre during a Pro-D Day for Educators in November 2025. Credit K Figueiredo
Group photo of educators during a Pro-D Day for Educators in November 2025 at the VHEC. Credit K Figueiredo
Group photo of educators at Roedde House during a Pro-D for Educators in the West End in October 2025. Credit: C McDonald
Group photo of educators at Mountainview Cemetery during 'How We Look at Cities – South Vancouver' Pro-D in February of 2025. Credit Rob Atkins
King George Archives during Pro-D for Educators in the West End in October 2025. Credit J Quan
Tour of 'Montréal Chinois' exhibit at the Chinese Canadian Museum for Pro-D for Educator workshop in October 2025. Credit: K Figueiredo
Tour of 'A Soldier for All Seasons' exhibit at the Chinese Canadian Museum for Pro-D for Educator workshop in October 2025. Credit: K Figueiredo
Inside the Chin Wing Chin Society taken at a Oct 2023 Pro-D for Educators. Credit: Kamran Safari
Group Photo during Punjabi Market Pro-D in April of 2024. Credit S Carlson)
In front of a mural in the Punjabi Market during a Pro-D for Educators event in April of 2024. Credit: S Carlson
Lunch at Juke's during a February 2024 Pro-D on Black Histories. Credit: J Quan
Group of teachers on False Creek Ferry during a February 2024 Pro-D on Black Histories. Credit: S Carlson
Walking Tour with Larry Chin in Chinatown in October 2023. Photo Credit: Kamran Safari
Group debrief after Chinatown Connections Pro-D at the Chinese Canadian Museum. Photo Credit: Kamran Safari
Group Photo at Tupper Secondary Memorial Rock for Jomar during April 2023 Pro-D focusing on Filipino history of Fraser St. Credit: Kamran Safari
Author H.P. Fraser reading her book 'The Little Girl' at Ahn and Chi during the Family & Food: Stories from Vancouver's Little Saigon Pro-D workshop in February 2023. Credit: Kamran Safari
Lunch stop at Shameless Buns - part of Kuwentuhan (storytelling) on Fraser Street's Filipino Connections Pro-D Workshop in April 2023. Credit: Kamran Safari
Feb 17 Pro-D with Vietnamese Canadian storytellers
Educators inside the Livestock Building during 2022 Pro-D Tour of Hastings Park with Nikkei National Museum guide Carolyn Nakagawa. Credit: S Carlson
Walking back to the Livestock Buildings during a 2022 Pro-D session at Hastings Park. Credit: Ivanna Mosqueria
Pro-D for educators focused on Japanese Canadian History in February 2020. The day included a tour of the Vancouver Japanese Language School with Carolyn Nakagawa of Nikkei Museum, a walking tour of Paueru-Gai area with Laura Saimoto, lunch at Dosanko followed by a walking tour of Gastown with John Atkin. Credit Claire Vulliamy
Walking tour for Mackenzie Elementary School Pro-D by John Atkin. Photo credit: Clara Conrado.
Walking tour of Mountain View Cemetery by John Atkin for Mackenzie Elementary School Pro-D. Photo credit: Clara Conrado.