Timeline

1858 - Chinese miners arrive in British Columbia upon hearing that gold has been discovered in the Fraser Valley.

Early 1880s - Around 15,000 Chinese workers are recruited from China to complete the last leg of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in British Columbia.

1885 -The Chinese Immigration Act of 1885 requires that virtually all Chinese entering Canada pay a Head Tax of $50 per person.

Mid-1880s - With the completion of the CPR, some Chinese people move east to Alberta and beyond in search of job opportunities.

Early 1890s - Calgary’s first Chinatown is established on the eastern fringe of town.

1890 - Chinese Calgarian, Jimmy Smith, donates the bulk of his estate to establish Calgary’s first public hospital.

1892 - Accused of spreading smallpox in Calgary, a mob of over 300 ransack Chinese businesses and assault Chinese residents in an effort to run them out of town.
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1900 - The federal government raises the Head Tax to $100.

1901 - Calgary’s second Chinatown is established along 10th Avenue and First Street SW.

1903 - The federal government raises the head to $500.

1910s - Calgary’s third and final Chinatown is established Centre Street and 2nd Avenue SE.

1923 - The Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 (also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act) nearly bans Chinese immigration to Canada.

1939 - 1945 - China and Canada are allies during the Second World War. Chinese Canadians fight with the Canadian armed forces and Chinese Canadian communities raise funds for the war effort.

1947 - The Chinese Exclusion Act is repealed after the Second World War. However, some restrictions on Chinese immigration to Canada remain. Chinese Canadians are not allowed to bring their children over 18 to Canada.

1957 - Douglas Jung becomes the first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament.

1959 - George Ho Lem becomes Calgary’s first Chinese Canadian Alderman. He becomes the first person of Chinese descent in Canada to win a municipal election.

1967 - The federal government revises the Immigration Act issuing one set of rules for all applicants from all countries. Immigration to Canada starts to increase.

1971 - George Ho Lem is elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as a Social Credit party member in the Calgary McCall electoral district. He becomes the first person of Chinese descent elected to the Alberta Legislature.

1979 - Chinese Canadians organize nationally to protest the racist depiction of Chinese Canadians in a story called “Campus Giveaway” on W5, a CTV television program. The protest results in the creation of the Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC).

1984 - The CCNC launches a campaign to obtain redress for Head Tax payers and their families. More than 4000 payers, widows and their families sign up with the CCNC.

1988 - David Lam becomes the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia; he is the first Asian Canadian Lieutenant Governor of Canada.

1994 -The federal government refuses to grant compensation to Head Tax survivors and their families.

1997 - Following 150 years of British rule, Hong Kong is handed back to Chinese control. Immigration from Hong Kong to Canada intensifies.

1998 - Vivienne Poy becomes the first Chinese Canadian appointed to the Senate of Canada.

1999 - Chinese Canadian Adrienne Clarkson is appointed Governor General of Canada.

2000 - CCNC backs a class-action suit against the federal government arguing that the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act contravened the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

2004 - A United Nations representative recommends that Canada strongly consider paying reparations for the Chinese Head Tax.

2005 - Chinese Canadian Normie Kwong is appointed Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

2006 - Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally apologizes to Chinese Canadians for the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act. The government offers $20,000 to living Head Tax payers and living spouses of deceased payers and pledges to establish funds to help finance community projects and education programs that acknowledge the impact of past war-time measures and immigration restrictions on ethno-cultural communities.

* It is important to note that this timeline is far from comprehensive. There have been numerous Chinese Canadians who have held public office over the years.

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