The oldest Chinese temple in Canada is at risk of closing — unless it raises enough money for major repairs

The oldest Chinese temple in Canada, located in the country’s oldest Chinatown, may have to shut down if it can’t raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for necessary repairs. 

The Tam Kung Temple on Government Street in Victoria was built in 1912. 

But its history goes back even further, according to Nora Butz, president of the Yen Wo Society, which manages the temple. 

Butz says the property has housed a Chinese temple since 1876, but the building that stands there today was built after the first building was destroyed in a fire in 1911.

“The community came together to build this,” said Butz, who has been