My paternal grandfather Wong Wah, arrived in Canada in 1882 and he lived in Victoria. My maternal great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, arrived in Canada in 1896, following his elder brother Rev. Chan Sing Kai, who had come to Canada in 1888 to help found the Chinese Methodist Church a year after the anti-Chinese 1887 riot.
It's amazing that it took 120 years for Chinese to now be considered part of Canadian history and contributors to building Canadian society. But it wasn't always so... Even as late as the 1950's and 1960's there was still much systemic racism.
Read the story below about the 1887 Anti-Chinese Riot in Vancouver.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 23, 2007
1887 Anti-Chinese Riot Remembered
TORONTO . The Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC) marked the 120th anniversary today of the anti-Chinese riot that took place in Vancouver . “We mark this anniversary today because it is part of our community’s unique history in facing the overt and often violent manifestation of racial discrimination that resulted in the Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act,” Sid Tan, National Chairperson of CCNC said today. “We should all take this opportunity to learn from our past mistakes, to restore dignity to the direct victims and to re-dedicate ourselves to a just society built on the foundations of respect and acceptance.”
“We are encouraged by the messages of solidarity from Hon. Jason Kenney, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) and the Statement in the House of Commons by Bill Siksay, M.P. for Burnaby-Douglas.”
After the 1886 Great Fire razed Vancouver , the City leased 60 hectares of forested land to some 100 Chinese. However, this was the beginning of the Head Tax era, a period of overt racial discrimination against Chinese Canadians, which was legitimized by racist legislation. Mounting racist sentiment culminated in a riot on February 23, 1887 when an angry mob of 300 assembled to run the Chinese out of town. They tore down the shanty-town near Coal Harbour and roughed up the Chinese, some of whom managed to escape harm by jumping into the frigid waters.
Two policemen invoking the name of ‘Queen Victoria ’ stood their ground in between the mob and the Chinese labourers. The mob soon retreated but set fire to buildings. The 1887 riot also sparked a prompt response from police and government officials. The BC Attorney General introduced An Act for the Preservation of Peace within the Municipal Limits of the City which removed police powers from the city and sent over thirty-six special constables from Victoria , B.C. to restore the peace. While the riot ended without any death or serious injury, it did send a clear message to the Chinese that they were not welcome and they left Vancouver for New Westminster , and some moved east to Alberta and Ontario.The Chinese did eventually return to Vancouver .
CCNC will work with partners to mark a number of important anniversaries this year:
February 23, 2007: 120 year anniversary of the Anti-Chinese Riot in Vancouver
April 17, 2007: 25 year anniversary of Charter of Rights
May 14, 2007: 60 year anniversary of repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act
June 10, 2007: 50 year anniversary of election of Douglas Jung, the first CC MP
June 22, 2007: 1 year anniversary of Chinese Head Tax apology
Canada Day, 2007: 140 years of Confederation
September 8, 2007: 100 year anniversary of Anti-Asian Riot in Vancouver
October 1, 2007: 40 years of independent immigration (points) system
CCNC recently led a delegation to Ottawa to seek inclusive redress for the head tax families who are excluded from the June 22, 2006 announcement, and will continue to work collaboratively with other redress-seeking groups to seek a just and honourable resolution of the Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act.
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For media interviews, please contact:
Sid Tan, CCNC National Chairperson at (604) 433-6169
Victor Wong, CCNC Executive Director at (416) 977-9871
end
Ottawa , February 22, 2007
By Jason Kenney
Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)
Secretary of State Kenney Regrets 120th Anniversary of Anti-Chinese riot in Vancouver
Jason Kenney, MP, PC, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) sends his personal expressions of regret and solidarity with Chinese Canadians in Vancouver on the occasion of the 120th Anniversary of the Anti-Chinese Riot of 1887.
“The Riot of February 23, 1887 is one of the regrettable episodes in the history of the Chinese in Canada ,” Kenney said.
“It is also an occasion to recognize the role that our police have played in maintaining peace, order, and good government. In this case, police invoked the name of Queen Victoria to protect the Chinese minority from a violent mob. It’s a reminder that the Crown is the traditional protector of minorities in our great country.”
“That a rioting mob set fire to the private property of Vancouver's Chinese community this day 120 years ago should serve as a reminder that we should cherish and uphold a just and tolerant society.”
Information
Tenzin Khangsar
Chief of Staff
Office of the Secretary of State
(Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)
819 934-1122
