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卡城華埠
The Calgary Chinatown

by Paul K.P. Wong

The First Chinese Pioneers in Calgary
The first group of Chinese pioneers arrived in Calgary at least as early as 1883, after the CP railway was completed; they were the CPR railway workers came from B.C., and some of them came across the Rockies to here looking for works.

In 1900, there were less than 100 Chinese lived in the city.  In 1910, there was over 400 Chinese resided in locations spread throughout the city.........
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The “Pioneer Organizations” in Calgary Chinatown

September 24, 2009
by Paul K.P. Wong

The Calgary Chinatown Centennial
The present Chinese settlement –Chinatown-- will be a century old next year, the community is planning to have lots of celebration for this extraordinary event in 2010. 

Don’t forget our predecessors
As one of the most famous Chinese poets in Southern and Northern Dynasties (A.D. 317-581) Yu Xin said, “Don’t forget the origin while you drink the water”.  Today, when we are ready to celebrate this remarkable occasion, we shouldn’t forget.........
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The “Traditional Organizations” in Calgary Chinatown

September 24, 2009
by Paul K.P. Wong

Organizations Established after WWII
All those social and kin organizations organized after the WWII and up to the end of 70s, there was even a few of them that were not active or don’t exist any more; as they were played an important part of the developments in the history.........
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The “Newly Established Organizations” in Calgary Chinatown

September 24, 2009
by Paul K.P. Wong

The Turning Point of Calgary Chinatown
In the 80s, it was the turning point of Calgary Chinatown. Starting from 1980, the area was facing huge changes, such as the population kept growing, the new business and building developments increasing, the beatifications of Chinatown, more associations and organizations are established, and the contributions from the City of Calgary, the Calgary Police Service (CPS), and other developments in the Chinese community.........
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The Calgary Chinese Schools

September 24, 2009
by Paul K.P. Wong

Education is a serious subject in Chinese families. Most parents pay a great deal of concentration to their children’s future, most of them believe that if their  kids get a higher education, they will have a better life in the future; it became a significant tradition, since Confucius opened the door for public learning. Before him, the education was provided to the royal and noble families only. 

The root and heritage
Today, oversea Chinese people want to maintain their tradition and roots.........
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The First Calgary Chinatown Tour With DDO Students

By Paul K.P. Wong

Introduction
It was a Friday morning, I was a volunteer to help a group of elementary students to visit the Calgary Chinatown. Today, when I look backward five years ago, every thing had been changed, the elementary school was closed down in the summer of 2006, those kids are grown up, and I believe most of them are in the Grade 11 right now.  But it is worth for me to recall that day – a report after the tour, when the 2010 is becoming the centennial year of the Calgary Chinatown.   April 8, 2010 Calgary.

The David D. Oughton Elementary School in 2006.

On Friday, February 25, 2005, with very nice spring like weather, the school bus brought a group of 50 students to arrive Chinatown at 9:25 a.m. Apart from the Grade 6 students, the team was also included their teachers — Ms. McCracken, Ms. Green, Ms. Allen, Ms. McIntyre and Ms. Cecile – myself and two other parents.  Everyone was so excited; due to this was the first time for them to have a tour of the Calgary Chinatown.

The David D. Oughton Elementary School (DDO), is located at 1511-34th Street S.E. – behind the 17th Avenue S.E. Calgary Co-Op supermarket. There were over 51% of their students’ parents who are immigrated from the Southeast Asian countries. The school is under the leadership of their Principal, Mrs. Pat Stauffer and Vice Principal, Mr. Dave Quon; both of them emphasize highly on the diversity of international cultures. 

According to the Provincial Learning Department’s curriculum of Social Studies, the Grade 6 students have to learn about China. Therefore, the DDO’s Grade 6 teachers — Ms. S. McCracken, Ms. L. Green and Mr. S. MacCullam — have organized a field trip for their students to tour to the Calgary Chinatown, as to let the students have an opportunity to see personally more about the Chinese culture.

Our first objective location was the new Sien Lok Park on the riverside.  We studied the information engraved on the two Chinese monuments which were built to memorize about the Chinese pioneers contributions in Canada.

Later on, Ms. Green’s group went to the Chinese Cultural Centre to see the colorful structure of the ceiling which is the reproduction of the Heavenly Temple in Beijing, China. In the meantime, Ms. McCraken’s group went to visit the Chinese Elderly Citizens’ Association building.  We would like to convey our sincere thanks to Ms. Lisa Chan for arranging our visit to the Association, and Mr. Stanley Tse who guided us to tour the building. The students also participated in the seniors physical exercise class, which was led by Mr. James Au with the assistance of Mr. Cheng Yu Huan and Liang Jin Quan, Mrs. May Mah is the class instructor.  Ms. Chan also arranged DDO’s students to join in the seniors ESL class, which was taught by Ms. Helen Ho.  

The group’s next stop was the Dragon City Mall to visit the unique Chinese chiropractic clinic – the Chiu Wai Bonesetter & Masstherapy.  Thanks to Mr. Ambrose Chiu – son of the famous martial arts Master Chiu Wai – who generously shared his professional experiences and family’s legacy with us.  The DDO’s students, teachers and parents were really amazed with the martial arts skills and they learned something new – a different kind of Chinese culture and traditional medication. 

It was lunch time; we went to the Regency Palace Restaurant for the Chinese buffet.  All the students, teachers and volunteers would like to give their appreciation to the two associations – the Chinatown Lions Club (Mr. Danny Ng, the President), and the Chinese National League of Canada Calgary Branch (Kuo Min Tang) – for their generosity and sponsorship in the buffet lunch. They were so glad to have such an opportunity to taste the Chinese culture – to enjoy the real Chinese food.  As the DDO students showed their good discipline, Mr. Gordon Yee, the owner of the restaurant presented a gift certificate to the school.  With our appreciation also to Mr. Yee for his generosity.

After lunch, we went to the Hoy Sun Association of Calgary, which is located on the same floor of the restaurant. Our thanks to Mr. David Louie, the President of the association and Mrs.Louie who gave each student a lucky red envelope – Laisee.  We also had a chance to share the music played by Mr. Louie (an amateur musician) with the Chinese traditional musical instrument – Yang-Chin.  Their volunteers – Mrs. Yik Wa Yam (a retired teacher and the former Principal of the Calgary Chinese Public School), Mrs. Pat Lam – shared their knowledge of the origin of Chinese words, and some historical information regarding the Chinese pioneers who built the CPR railways in Canada.  Our sincere thanks once again to Mr. David Louie, the president, Mr. Peter Eng, the honorary president and the chief advisor of the association and their volunteers for their time and efforts in entertaining the group.

We had an opportunity afterward to visit the Chinese National League of Canada Calgary Branch (Kuo Min Tang).  The Board of Directors of the League — Mr. Danny Lee, the Chairman, Mr. Ken Jang and Mrs. Oi Har Wong Kung — were there to welcome us.  Mr. Lee briefly told the students about the history of the Republic of China – its founder – Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (he later on became the National Father), and how he established the league in North America and overturned the Ching Dynasty to set the Chinese people free from the Imperial.  Mr. Lee, on behalf of the League, also presented a cheque for sponsoring our lunch buffet cost to the student council members of DDO.

Finally, it was Ms. McCraken’s group to visit the Chinese Cultural Centre. Again, everyone was amazed in looking at the colorful structure of the ceiling.  Then it was time for us to return to school at 2:30 pm. 

After this worthwhile tour to the Calgary Chinatown, I believe that the DDO’s Grade 6 students will have a more familiar and clear concept of the Chinese culture.  I do hope that the unique multiculturalism in Canada will act as a bridge to link a closer relationship to all people of different nationalities, with a better understanding to each other.  Let us build continuously a greater friendship between the majorities and the minorities, to make our country – CANADA – become the most peaceful, friendly and favorable place for living in the world of today.

Related article: "ESL and Multiculturalism in Canada" read more...

"Those who came before planted the trees, so that future generations can enjoy the shade"

Words from the "Wall of Names" monument.

Sien Lok Park's monument, called "Wall of Names" was unveiled on October 2001.

Gold Mountain
The Chinese first landed on Canada’s West coast in 1788, as carpenters and craftsmen of a trading vessel.  It was not until 1858 that thousands of Chinese immigrants came to Canada with hopes and dreams of a better life.  They joined the gold rush in Barkerville, British Columbia, which was the new “Gum San” or “Gold Mountain”.  By 1863, some 4,000 Chinese were mining the gold fields, or were working as farmers or labours.  Chinese crews constructed the Cariboo Wagon Road, strange telephone wire through the new settlement, and dominated the canning industry.

The Canadian Legacy
The next group of Chinese immigrants arrived from 1881 to 1885.  The Canadian Pacific Railway recruited 17,000 Chinese labours from the U.S. and China.  They toiled for $1.00 a day – half the wages of white people/workers – and under extremely dangerous conditions, laying over 600 km. of track from Eagle Pass to Port Moody.  Some 1,500 workers were killed, two men for every kilometer of the railroad, in landslides and dynamite blasts.  Others died from poor food and harsh living conditions.  When the “Last Spike” was struck, the Chinese workers suddenly found themselves out of work.  Many headed to the Prairies and East Canada.

Central monument located in the Sien Lok Park is called "In search of Gold Mountain" was unveiled on November 1999.

From 1885 (after the C.P.R. was completed) to 1903, the government passed three harsh Immigration Acts to stop Chinese Immigration.  The Acts imposed a “Head Tax” that rose from $50 to $100, then finally $500.  Over $23 million was collected.  The ultimate humiliation came on “Dominion Day” July 1, 1923.  For the next twenty-four years, the Chinese Immigration Act 1923, or “Exclusion Act” barred Chinese from even entering Canada, thus separating wives and families.  Instead of fading, the community grew stronger.  During World War II, the Chinese were not welcomed as Canadian soldiers, but over 500 men and women volunteered for service.  The community raised $10 million selling victory bonds.  The “Exclusion Act” was rescinded in 1947, but not until 1967 did Chinese receive “Equal Rights”.

Passing the Torch
Through generations, Chinese have been attracted to Canada. Today, the Chinese come from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as many other places, including Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, India, Peru, Mauritus and the Caribbean. Deeply Committed to the development of their "chosen land", the Chinese, both men and women, have met the many historical challenges and truned diversity into enrichment for themselves and Canada.