Chinese

History

The very first Chinese immigrants to move from China to Canada immigrated in 1788. There were 50 people that moved here to help build a trading post to start trade between British Columbia and China.

An Illustrated world map highlights the countries of Canada and China.

Chinese immigrants traveled from China to Canada.

A map illustration highlights the country of China, and also shows the surrounding countries of Mongolia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, North Korea, and South Korea.

The country of China and the surrounding countries.

During the 1800s, China was experiencing poor living conditions, war, and rebellion. There was a lot of violence in China and the Chinese people were no longer safe in their home country. Their government was not allowing them to make decisions about their traditions and beliefs. Many Chinese were fleeing their country looking for safety.

An Illustrated Chinese army is shown fighting another army during one of the wars that broke out.

There was a lot of war, rebellion, and violence in China in the 1800s and Chinese were no longer safe.

Settlement

Chinese immigrants moved to Canada in the early 1880s to work on the western section of the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia. It was estimated that 15,000 Chinese labourers worked on this section of the railway. These immigrants were very important in completing the coast-to-coast railway. However, they worked under terrible working conditions for little pay and many people died tragically on the job.

A group of many Chinese men are standing together on the railway to pose for a photo together. Most wear dirty coveralls and wide-brimmed hats.

PHOTO CREDIT: ROYAL BC MUSEUM, BC ARCHIVES

A group of Chinese workers that are building the railroad.

A group of Chinese men are working on the railway with mountains and a train in the background.

Photo Credit: ROYAL BC MUSEUM, BC ARCHIVES

Many of the first Chinese immigrants worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia under shamefully terrible working conditions.

Two Illustrated Chinese workers are doing manual labour to build the railway.

Chinese immigrants worked hard on building the railway.

Many Chinese lives were lost due to awful working conditions on the railway.

Many of the employers gave the heavy labour jobs to Chinese immigrants because they would work for lower pay and were good workers. Some Canadians wrongly believed there were fewer jobs available for them and that the standard of living was being lowered because the Chinese Immigrants were willing to work for less. Chinese immigrants were earning 50% less than what a settled Canadian would earn for the same position.

Six Chinese men stand together outside an apartment building where they are staying together.

Photo Credit: TUNNELS OF MOOSE JAW

Chinese immigrants in front of their apartment.

The Chinese immigrants earned very little money in Canada and they had to send most of their earnings back to China to support their family. Because of this, they did not have much money left over to survive and to combat this, they would live in overcrowded living conditions. Some Canadians feared these overcrowded living conditions would spread diseases in the community.

Approximately nine tiny shed-looking buildings are jammed together. These buildings are the living quarters for the Chinese men that were working on the railway.

PHOTO CREDIT: ROYAL BC MUSEUM, BC ARCHIVES

This photo shows a Chinese Camp where some Chinese workers lived while they worked on the railway.

A group of nine Chinese men sit on chairs inside a home while they visit.

PHOTO CREDIT: ROYAL BC MUSEUM, BC ARCHIVES

The cramped living conditions of Chinese people living in Canada.

An illustrated group of cramped, tiny shacks are shown to show the type of living conditions Chinese railway workers experienced.

This image looks like one of the Chinese living quarters in Victoria, BC in 1886.

Many settlers did not like the Chinese people because they lived in such crowded homes and worked for such low wages. The government wanted to discourage Chinese people from coming to Canada after the railway was completed. In 1885 the government started charging each Chinese person $50 to come to Canada. This was called a ‘head tax’ and by 1903, the tax was $500 per person. Many Chinese men could not afford to bring their wives and children. In 131, there were about 47,000 Chinese people living in Canada and only 4,000 were women.

An official form from the Dominion of Canada has been filled out as proof when a Chinese person paid their head tax.

PHOTO CREDIT: TUNNELS OF MOOSE JAW

This is a certificate that acted as proof that a head tax had been paid for entering Canada.

Three Illustrated Chinese men are sitting together in suits and hats on a bench.

Due to the head tax being expensive for Chinese families, many Chinese men came to Canada alone until they could afford to bring their families.

In 1923, the Canadian government changed the law so that Chinese people could not enter Canada at all and this law was enforced until 1947. The only exceptions to this law were suppliers, diplomats, and foreign students. It was not until 1947 that Chinese immigrants that were living in Canada were finally granted official citizenship.

The Chinese were unfairly charged a head tax to immigrate to Canada.

If Chinese labourers were injured while working on the railway, some would settle in the nearest small town in order to receive medical attention. However, they still needed to make money, so many chose to start a small restaurant in the town that they settled in. This is why many small towns along the railway have a Chinese restaurant in them.

A young Chinese couple in the 1920s pose for a photo.

PHOTO CREDIT: WESTERN DEVELOPMENT MUSEUM

Portrait of Jennie and Charley Howe, owners of the Star Café in Marcelin, Saskatchewan.

Most of the Chinese immigrants coming to Canada after the railway was built chose to settle in large cities. They started settling in the same areas of cities as other Chinese people and created what is known as ‘Chinatowns’ within many larger cities. Chinatowns became vibrant areas for Chinese immigrants to socialize and speak their home language with each other, buy their groceries, go to restaurants, listen to music, and make any of their other purchases. Chinese immigrants also felt a little safer from the terrible racism that they were experiencing in Canada while they were in their Chinatowns.

A Chinese man sits inside his small store next to cabinets that have goods and bottles in them that are for sale.

PHOTO CREDIT: TUNNELS OF MOOSE JAW

This is the inside of a Chinese business in Chinatown.

Culture

Since 1947, Chinese families have been able to come to Canada as a family. Many of these Chinese immigrants are well educated, have financial resources to live a high standard of living in Canada, and have professional skills. Chinese people often still settle in larger cities, with most choosing Vancouver or Toronto as their new home.

An aerial view of a parade in Chinatown in the 1920s shows many Chinese people gathered on the sides of the road as a giant dancing Dragon costume walks up the road.

Photo Credit: TUNNELS OF MOOSE JAW

A parade is being held in a Chinatown in the 1920s.

An Illustrated city street in Chinatown shows Chinese people, businesses, food, and decorations.

Chinatowns become a little city within a city for Chinese people to feel more at home.

Chinese immigrants have contributed greatly to Canada’s society. They have been successful in many different careers such as dancing, sports, politics, film, music, engineers, doctors, business owners, teachers, and scientists.

An illustrated Chinese scientist has his safety gear on as he works on a project.

Chinese immigrants have contributed greatly to Canada’s society in many careers, including scientists.

Yucho Chow has become a famous photographer from the early 1900s for his photos of minority groups.

Quiz

Back to Immigration