The Chinese Community

There is evidence showing that the Chinese people were in British Columbia as
early as 500 A.D. However, a single merchant from San Francisco that arrived in B.C.
was the first recorded arrival. Initially, most Chinese came from the gold fields of San Francisco. When gold was discovered along the Fraser and Thompson rivers, they began travelling north to B.C. When news of gold discovery reached China, Victoria became a major port of call for migrant Chinese coming directly from China. By 1886, a small Chinese district was developed in Vancouver, located on the streets of Pender and Carrall.
The greatest influx of Chinese into B.C. was from 1881 to 1884, when over 15 000 were imported as a labour force for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The railway was constructed 5 years ahead of schedule as a result of their hard work. Working conditions were deplorable, and it was said that for every mile of track laid, a Chinese workman died. These laborers had come with the understanding that, upon completion of their work, their fares home would be paid by the government. This promise was not honoured and the Chinese found themselves stranded in a strange and hostile land. Those who could not raise sufficient money to return to China moved into cities such as Victoria and Vancouver, where they could often find work as domestics. Having to live in close proximity with one another, they formed "Chinatown."
The nucleus of Vancouver's Chinatown was the labour force that worked on the C.P.R. extension from Port Moody to Vancouver. Almost immediately the Chinese met opposition from the white majority who were not in favour of the importation of Oriental workers. This situation had developed as a result of the gold rush period. The Chinese, who tended to keep to themselves, whose language was imposible to understand, and who worked for lower wages, began to be looked upon as a threat by the white majority. Many anti-Chinese organizations were formed. Eventually pressure was brought on the government to discourage immigration and settlement. From 1878 to 1913, over twenty-four anti-Chinese statutes were passed in B.C. This included a law prohibiting the Chinese from working on projects financed by the provincial government. Over the years a number of head taxes were imposed on Chinese immigrants, the highest of which reached $500 in 1903. During the head taxes, the Chinese paid approxiamately $22 million.
In 1887, the Chinese were finally allowed to settle in a low-lying, unhealthy section of False Creek. This area was adjacent to Gastown, which at that time, was the commercial and industrial cultural centre of Vancouver. The presence of the Chinese intensified anti-Oriental feelings, which promoted the Chinese to construct a high fence extending from Shanghai Alley to Canton Alley in order to prevent attacks from whites. During this period, additional anti-Chinese legislation was passed. No Chinese woman could be granted landed immigrant status unless they were the wives of white men. Meanwhile, all Chinese were denied the right to vote in federal elections.
On February 24 to 28, 1887, anti-Chinese riots started in Vancouver. The Chinese camps on False Creek and Coal Harbour were burned. After this riot, the city's charter was suspended and the city was placed under custody by the provincial police. On September 7, 1887, the Asiatic Exclusion League demonstrated against the arrival of the SS Monteagle by erecting a sign that read, " 900 Hindus, 1 200 Chinamen, and a bunch of Japs." This continuing discrimination led to the formation of ten Chinese organizations in order to provide financial aid and lodging in times of economic stress and to offer representation for the Chinese in legal matters. These groups where also responsible for the maintenance of law and order in Chinatown.

The East Indian Community

Shops with the smell of spices and the sight of men in turbans have been on the streets of Vancouver for many years. Yet, the story of Indian immigration to Vancouver has not always been pleasant. Sikhs immigrated to B.C. in greater numbers than any other Indian religious group, due partly to the extent of the knowledge of logging, and partly because their religion did not discourage emigration. Their early experience in B.C. was of being socially ostracized. Around 1907, their immigration stopped altogether with the creation of the "continuous passage" law.
There were some tragic incidents in the 1920's, 30's and 40's. For example, Sikhs were denied the right to vote which led to the decline of the Indian Independence movement. However, because East Indians made up less than 1 percent of the total population (compared to 3.5 percent Chinese), there were not many events directed exclusively against them. In fact, even though they represent a fair percentage of Asian immigrants, they were not targeted during the 1907 riot.

The Japanese Community

The Japanese date their arrival in B.C. from 1877 when "Jack" Manzo Nagano arrived in the area. The major influx of Japanese people occured during 1885 and 1910. The first Canadian child of Japanese descent was born in Vancouver in 1889. At the turn of the century, Japanese men worked in many of the local sawmills; some of which were owned by Japanese people.
The area that is now referred to as "Downtown" was once the centre of Vancouver's thriving Japantown. The shops, stores, and restaurants along Powell street today only hint at the strength and vitality of the city's pre-war Japanese community that was one located there. At the turn of the century, the area was nicknamed "Little Tokyo."
Early in their community, similar to the Chinese, the Japanese encoutered discrimination and hostility. They were barred from many professions. In 1891, the B.C. government called on Ottawa to extend the head tax, which was imposed on the Chinese immigrants, to the Japanese immigrants. The major cause of the hostility was the fact that they were highly industrious in fishing and agriculture.
On October 19, 1900, Thomas Cunningham, collector of votes in Vancouver; refused to put Tarney Hamma's name on the voting list because she was Japanese. In November, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled that the 1895 legislation discriminates Chinese, Japanese, and East Indians. The Supreme Court ordered that Hamma's name be added to the list. Unfortunately, on December 17, 1902, the Privy Council reversed the decision. In response, the Victoria Colonist newspaper publicly rejoiced : "We are relieved from the possibility of having polling booths swamped by a horde of Orientals who are totally unfitted either by custom or education to exercise the ballot..."

The Three Major Stereotypes

There are basically three stereotypes against the Asian immigrants that fueled the feeling of hatred towards Asians in the early 20th century. The first of these three is that many people in Canada believed that hordes of Asian immigrants were coming to B.C. and destroying its collective character as a land of white European settlers. Many overlooked the fact that discriminatory legislation limited Asian immigration and that many Asians did not intend to stay in North America permanently. Such an opinion is an Appeal to Large Numbers. The fact that many people believed in this opinion did not make it justifiable or true.
The second is based on the willingness of Asians to work for less than what the white workers consider a "fair" wage; thus lowering the European community's standard of living. Contrary to this belief, the Asians generally did not compete with the whites for employment but took the unskilled and rough jobs which the white workers avoided. Such an opinion is a Hasty Generalization. This is based on assuming facts of a people based on a few examples.
The third deals with the assertion that Asians, especially the Chinese and Sikhs, were "unclean, diseased, and a threat to public health." However, most upper-income families were willing to accept Chinese men into their homes as house workers and cooks.
Such an opinion is a Fallacy of False Cause. There is not enough evidence to support the fact that the mortality rate increased as a direct result to Asian immigration. These stereotypes, in other words, were merely based on irrational thoughts and are said to be fallacies.