Chinese Canadian History Public Education Project

Chinese Canadian History Project Council Members

• Dr. Paul Crowe, Co-Chair
• David Choi, Co-Chair
• Dr. David Chuenyan Lai
• Dr. Jan Walls
• Edith Lo (Project Administrator)
• Winnie Leung (Graphic Design and Production)
• Dorris Tai (Project Assistant)

Under the lead authorship of Professor Emeriitus David Chuenyan Lai (U. Vic., Geography), a widely respected expert in the history and social and political dynamics of Chinatowns in Canada, we have created a series of publications to document key moments in the history of Chinese migration and settlement in Canada.

The project consists of two parts. The first one is A Brief Chronology of Chinese Canadian History: From Segregation to Integration – a graphic timeline in poster format intended for display in classrooms and community and cultural centres. It provides an overview of Chinese Canadian history from 1788 to 2010 and includes several historic illustrations and a comprehensive list of Chinese Canadian inductees into the Order of Canada.

The second part of the project is called Canada Chinatown Series. It is a set of documents providing the history of eight Chinatowns in Canada in a condensed, approachable format with text and illustrations. Through the nineteenth and early twentieth century these urban centres were formed out of necessity. Immigrants, predominantly from the Pearl River delta, had to face the stark realities of a harsh political, economic and social climate in which they had to make a life for themselves. Survival meant relying on each other. Thus Chinatowns became sites for political, cultural and economic solidarity. As Canada has transformed, so too have Chinatowns. They are now an important lens through which we can view the microcosms of Canada's history, cultural intersections and gradual change.

We are proud that The David Lam Centre and Simon Fraser University were officially acknowledged for the work on this project in the proceedings of Parliament and in the Senate. Our work on Victoria's Chinatown was also acknowledged in the BC Legislature.

We are thankful to our Honorary Patron Senator Vivienne Poy for her tireless efforts in promoting this educational project among Canadian Members of Parliament, the Senate and community organizations.

Funding

To date this project has received generous financial support from the following organizations and individuals. All contributions are allocated to the Chinese Canadian Heritage Fund established in 1998 for the express purpose of supporting research and the production of educational materials related to Chinese Canadian history.