Asian Canadians 1788 - 1898

  • Chinese workers land in the Nuu-chah-nulth territory

    50 Chinese workers were sent to the Nuu-chah-nulth territory as they were part of John Meares expedition to help build a trading post to encourage trading sea otter pelts between China, and Nootka Sound.
  • First Chinese Community in Canada

    In 1858, Chinese immigrants started arriving from San Francisco as gold inspectors at the Fraser river valley, and Barkerville BC became the first Chinese community in Canada. By 1860, the population was estimated to be 7,000.
  • Manzo Nagano settles in Victoria in B.C

    The first immigrant from Japan, Manzo Nagano, settled in Victoria, BC. But then a storm of Japanese immigrants started arriving after him. They were all arriving between 1877 and 1928.
  • Electoral Franchise Act

    The original draft of the Electoral Franchise Act gave voting rights to some women, but only men, BUT it also has sone qualifications which means the act would bar Chinese Canadians
  • Chinese Labourers and the CPR

    15,000 Chinese labourers completed British Columbia's section of CPR, BUT unfortunately 600+ of them perishing under terrible working conditions
  • Chinese Head Tax

    Chinese migrants had to pay $50 before being admitted into Canada. This could be classified as a "Head Tax"
  • Japanese Canadians Lose the Right to Vote in BC

    British Columbia changes the Provincial Voters Act to remove the right to vote from Japanese Canadians
  • First Sikhs in Canada

    The first Sikhs came to Canada at the turn of the 20th century. More then 5,000+ south Asians and 90% of Sikhs came to British Columbia before their immigration was banned in 1908.
  • Federal Government Returns Determination of Voters to Provinces

    Provinces are given the right to decide who can vote in provincial elections. Some exclude Chinese Canadians from voting provincially, but federal legislation allows Chinese Canadians to have the ability to vote now.