Explore 15 interviews of East Asian community members from North York, and learn how food serves as a connection between their identities and heritage.
This digital experience was developed by Emerging Historian Jingshu Yao (2023-2024). Support for this experience was provided by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment, as part of Heritage Toronto’s Equity Heritage Initiative.
Cooking and sharing food is one of the main ways for the East Asian community in North York to show care and build connections. This project encouraged the East Asian community to rediscover their connection with North York through food experiences.
Through a digital oral history experience community members shared their culinary heritage through a recipe, and reflected on changes to their relationships with food and the neighbourhood during COVID-19.
Watch the video to meet the interviewees and learn more about the project. Interested in hearing the full stories? Click the link above to visit the full digital experience.
The project was made possible by the contribution of the individuals and organizations listed below. Thank you for your support.
Oral History Interviewees
Hyunjoo Chae (MeNami Udon & Sake Bar)
Lily Cheng
Carol Fan
Aster Hu
Maria Jang
Hyunsoo Kim (Luna Bakery)
Linda Li
Moshi Li &Yue Yu
Jan Nobuto
Julia Shao
Joanne Shimotakahara
Benjamin Song
Grace Sun
Jason Wong (Daigyo Cafe)
Paul Y.
Illustrator
Dandan Zhu
Community Collaborators
North York Central Library
Neighbourlink North York
Gibson House Museum
Korean Canadian Business Association
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
