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City of Vancouver to Formally Apologize for Discrimination Against Chinese

Vancouver Chinese historical picture
Photo from University of British Columbia

 
The Vancouver City Council voted unanimously this week to apologize for the discrimination faced by Chinese in the city.
 
The Vancouver Courier reports the city will host a major event in April to acknowledge the city-sponsored racist policies instituted between 1886 and 1947.
 
“My mother, Vivian Jung, who was born in Merritt, B.C., was first full-time teacher of Chinese descent hired by VSB (Vancouver School Board), despite being, as a student teacher, told she was not allowed to swim in Crystal Pool because she was of Chinese descent, when she was taking lifesaving qualifications with the other student teachers,” Cynthia Kent said to the council before the vote, according to Metro News.
 
A council staff report outlines some of the institutionalized oppression faced by the Chinese.
 
In 1886, the city banned Chinese from voting nor could they run for public office or become a lawyer, doctor, nurse or banker.
 
The city also backed federal policies that banned Chinese from immigrating to Canada. A head tax passed against the Chinese went from $50 in 1885 to $100 in 1900 and $500 in 1903.
 
“You can never become a better society — a better place, a better city — unless you acknowledge what have been your errors, and what have been the wrongs,” said Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr,
 
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