Welcome and thank you for your interest in Chinese Canadian History. This page touches only the surface of our rich History. For more in-depth and detailed accounts of Chinese Canadian History please refer to the further reading page on this web-site.

The majority of the Chinese Canadian settlers originated mostly from Guangdong and Fujian, two coastal provinces of China.

Political, social and environmental changes plaguing China during the late 18^th century were all contributing factors to the major immigration of Chinese into Canada. Most notably between 1787 and 1850, China’s Population increased dramatically while food production suffered through droughts and other natural disasters resulting in widespread famine.

The first Chinese settlers in North America came in 1848 for the California gold rush. Ten years later Chinese immigrants migrated to Canada, settling first in Victoria, British Columbia. Their historical arrival marked the establishment of a continuous and vibrant Chinese presence in Canada.

The Canadian Pacific Railway was the realization of a dream to connect Canada from coast to coast. In 1879, the government of Canada commissioned a New York contractor named Onderdonk to start construction on the western section of the CPR.

Fearing that the growing number of Chinese immigrants would take away jobs, a motion was passed by the BC Legislative Assembly to prevent Chinese from working on Government projects.

As construction progressed Onderdonk realized that the white workers hired from San Francisco were unreliable; he was forced to hire Chinese Laborers. Construction began in 1880, and over a period of five years 15 700 Chinese were eventually recruited. Chinese workers were paid $1.00 a day and were expected to purchase their own gear. Where as white laborers received $1.50 to $2.50 a day, equipment included. Onderdonk saved an estimated $3.5 million dollars in hiring the Chinese.

The hazardous duties of handling explosives and the severe winters of interior British Columbia in ill-prepared facilities took the lives of over 600 Chinese workers.

Construction was completed in November 1885 and the Chinese were left to fend for themselves. Thousands returned to China. Many who stayed could not find employment and were left to starve. Only the Chinese community came to their aid, establishing the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association to serve the needs of the abandoned workers and immigrants.

After the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), the government undertook a series of legal measures designed to both deter and profit from Chinese immigration.

The Chinese Immigration Act placed a $50 head tax on all Chinese entering Canada. The tax was raised to $100 in 1900 and to $500 in 1904. Between 1885 and 1923, an estimated $23 millions head tax was collected.

Inspite of this, by 1921 the population of Chinese in Canada increased form 17 043 in 1901 to 36 924. In 1923, due to immense pressure from white Canadians the government passed the Chinese Immigration (Exclusion) Act. Ironically the bill came into effect July 1^st. In trying to repeal the bill, the Chinese community became as united as ever.

Not until China and Canada became war-allies in 1941 was the attitude of white Canadians towards Chinese Canadians changed. With the support and appreciation from white Canadians across the country for their contribution to the war, the Exclusion Act was repeal in May 1947.

Only by 1967, however, did Canada adopted a point system for all immigrants where Chinese and other Asian were admitted under the same criteria as everyone else.

Although the Head Tax was finally abolished, the fight for justice continues. Since 1984 when CCNC took on the issue, the redress campaign has been working towards attaining an apology and compensation from the Canadian government for its unjust and discriminatory action.

A segment of the television program W5 aired on CTV alleging that foreign students were taking the place of Canadian students in our universities. Footage showing many Chinese Canadian faces along with citing of inaccurate statistics had definite racial undertones. The "Ad hoc Committee of the Council of Chinese Canadians in Ontario against W5" was formed to protest the program.

On January 26, 1980, over 2500 people marched from the University of Toronto to CTV’s headquarters. The Ad Hoc Committee continued to apply public pressure until CTV finally sought a meeting with representatives of the Committee. On March 16, without much deliberation, the W5 program host read a brief statement on behalf of CTV stating that "W5 regrets any offense that may have unintentionally been given to the Chinese Canadian community." The community however, was far form satisfied with this half-hearted statement.

CTV and the Ad Hoc Committee in Toronto met many more times and by April 16, CTV released another apology, this time given by the president and managing director of CTV Network, Murry Chercover.

The success of the Ad Hoc Communities spawned a new organization renamed in 1980 as the Chinese Canadian National Council.

Since the late 80’s many entrepreneurs, professionals have been immigrating to avert the political instabilities in Hong Kong and Taiwan. While such influx of people brings many jobs and wealth to the areas, the presence of "Chinesenese" becomes a target of racial intolerance.

In 1995, Deputy Mayor of Markham Carole Bell blamed the concentration of ethnic groups as a cause of social conflict, suggesting that "everything’s going Chinese" in Markham and that the Chinese are driving the "back bone of Markham away.…" Her comments not only entice racism, but also encourage prejudice against Chinese. Moreover her statements went against the intentions of former Mayor Tony Roman who led trade delegation in the far east promoting Markham as a great place to live and invest.

The incident sparked an outcry of protest from the Asian and non-Asian communities. More than 8,000 people signed a petition to demand an apology from the deputy mayor. The twelve majors of Toronto signed a statement disassociating themselves from Bell’s comments and a special committee was formed to study strategies to improve race relations in the area.

There has been a Chinese presence in Canada for well over a century, but only in recent history has the Chinese community felt truly apart of Canadian society. The community

has grown from its humble beginnings to a vibrant and mature force helping to shape Canada’s multicultural identity. It helped build a milestone in Canadian engineering and a symbol of Canadian unity. It survived through both world wars and has proven its loyalty and commitment to Canada. Against social pressure and oppression, it persevered and endured refusing to yield, overcoming both violent and subtle forms of discrimination and racism.

It took the Chinese community well over a century to become an integral part of Canadian society. The process has been painfully slow. Chinese Canadian were not given the rights as gifts. They have earned them through more than 100 years of hard labor, humiliation and sacrifice.

The Chinese Canadian communities is still growing strong, in both, population and presence. Today, Chinese Canadian can be found throughout Canada, in all walks of life and engaging in all types of professions. The attitude of Chinese Canadian has changed form one of sojourning to one of permanent settlement. They have been given the opportunities to enjoy a more committed relationship with Canada. To this new generation of Canadians, the link with China is different from those that characterized the earlier generation. They are more concerned with the Canadian society, the raising of their families, the method of preserving their language and culture, and the maintenance of equal rights and opportunities. To them, Canada takes on a new connotation. It is there chosen land.

It is hope that we, as Canadians, will not let history repeat itself in discriminating against any group of people, be it by age, sex, religion, sexual orientation , or ethnic origin. Chinese Canadian history has shown that it is to the benefit of society as a whole to give equal rights and opportunities to every Canadian.