Early immigration The first South Asian immigrants from
Punjab landed in Vancouver in the 1890s. One early Indian settlement came by the name of
Paldi after a village near
Hoshiarpur in Punjab. They settled down in Kitsilano near First Avenue and Burrard Street, where many worked in
lumber mills and at construction sites throughout the
Lower Mainland. Indians who later immigrated to Vancouver are believed to have suffered the same treatment given to the Chinese (
Chinatown) and Japanese (
Japantown). They were subject to the
bias and animosities of the predominantly
Anglo-Saxon majority and occupied distinct and discrete quarters of the city. Most of the new residents sought established homes and to earn reasonably secure incomes. They settled in the area near 49th Avenue and Main Street and many established restaurants and businesses there and throughout the city to make a living. The settlers brought with them distinctive habits and attitudes that influenced the choice of food, work and recreational activity.
Establishment Beginning in the 1950s, and continuing into the 1960s and 1970s, waves of South Asian – primarily Punjabi Sikh – immigrants settled and moved into the surrounding Sunset neighbourhood, and presided over the final large scale single-family residential development in the area with the construction of hundreds of
Vancouver Specials. Over time, the neighbourhood had become predominantly Indo-Canadian and on May 31, 1970, Sucha Singh and Harbans Kaur Claire opened the first shop on Main St, which would be joined by dozens more, between 48th and 50th avenues. The Claire's owned and ran Shan Sharees and Drapery. In recognition of the cultural and business importance of the market, the first bilingual street-signs in Punjabi and English were installed in 1993 at the corner of 49th avenue and Main Street.
Present day Presently, the Punjabi Market is in a period of transformation. Gradually beginning in the 1980s, the
suburbanization of the
South Asian community in Vancouver caused many to relocate from
South Vancouver east towards
Surrey and
Delta due to high rents and housing prices on relatively small properties. Enticed by cheaper housing for larger properties, new waves of South Asian immigrants in the 1990s and 2000s also preferred to settle in Surrey and Delta. The market has evolved from the traditional food, clothing and jewellery stores to a more diverse offering, which now includes a licensed cannabis shop. Small businesses have been a hallmark of the market throughout the years, but are facing headwinds. Recent development of commercial space has brought chain stores such as a Tim Hortons into the heart of the market. In 2016, the City of Vancouver first engaged a study and a community planning process to review neighbourhood policies impacting arts, culture, retail and public spaces. In October 2019 six community engagement events were held taking feedback about priorities for residents and business owners. The City of Vancouver staff produced a summary, which included public priorities and 8 recommended actions for Council to consider for the near term. The recommended actions included: Historic Context Statement, Cultural Grants, Vancouver Plan Activities, Near Term Public Realm Improvements, 50th Anniversary Proclamation, Community Art in Public Realm-Call for Artists, Commercial Area Capacity Building Work and Business to Business Support, and Long Term Community Stewardship Partnership. ==Punjabi District==