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Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
City of Burnaby, B.C., to apologize to Chinese Canadians for past discrimination
A formal apology is being planned by the City of Burnaby, B.C., for its role in discrimination toward people of Chinese descent who lived and worked in the city between 1892 and 1947. It has scheduled the event for Nov. 15, and will join the provincial and federal governments and two other B.C. cities — Vancouver and New Westminster — that have already apologized for discriminatory practices against the community. A report by the Community Heritage Commission, which advises council on the city's heritage program, said discriminatory bylaws, trades licenses, and labour regulations were enacted against the Chinese population during that time. Burnaby City Councillor Alison Gu, who is of Chinese descent and was elected in 2021, said she feels it is important for the city to take direct responsibility for its role in such historical discrimination. She noted that although she was raised in the city, she grew up unaware of that history. "Those historic impacts have been carried on the shoulders of families across generations," she said. "I think a formal apology brings to light their stories, the fact that we recognize what (the city) did was wrong, and make a meaningful commitment towards doing better and taking tangible actions to be able to redress those harms." The city said in a news release Wednesday that the decision to issue a formal apology was made after a community consultation process that included surveys, dialogue sessions, focus groups and individual interviews. The heritage commission's report says more than one-third of Burnaby's residents are of Chinese descent, ranging from new immigrants to fourth- or fifth-generation residents with deep roots in the community. The 2021 census puts the figure at 30 per cent. Gu said the process leading up to the apology began more than five years ago, before she was elected. The city said the findings "underscored the importance of the city acknowledging the hardships faced by early Chinese settlers and the lasting impact of historical discrimination." Gu said it is important for local governments to take responsibility for actions, including bylaws that "directly targetted Chinese people in Burnaby." That, she said, included unanimously endorsing a 1921 resolution calling on the provincial government to allow municipalities the right to prohibit Asian immigrants from buying or leasing land. "That was direct advocacy (and) unanimously passed," she said. "The city has a responsibility, not just as a level of government, but also that there were direct actions that the city of Burnaby took to further the harm of discrimination against Chinese citizens in Burnaby." Then prime minister Stephen Harper formally apologized in the House of Commons in 2006 for policies including charging a head tax for Chinese to immigrate. The B.C. government apologized in 2015 for 160 historically racist laws, regulations, and policies that were imposed by past provincial governments that discriminated against people of Chinese descent. The City of New Westminster issued its formal apology in 2010 and the City of Vancouver said it was sorry in April 2018. Burnaby's news release said that in addition to making its own formal apology, it is also committed to increasing the visibility of Chinese-Canadian history, facilitating cultural activities and reducing barriers for inclusion. 'While we cannot right the historic wrongs that were committed in Burnaby, this process has outlined a path toward ensuring Burnaby is a place that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone," Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said in the release issued Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Burnaby to apologize to Chinese-Canadians for past discrimination in B.C. city
City has scheduled an event for the formal apology on Nov. 15, joining Vancouver and New Westminster Published Jun 11, 2025 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 3 minute read File photo: Buddy Yuen with Head Tax certificate in Vancouver on September 17, 1993. Photo by Ian Lindsay / PNG A formal apology is being planned by the City of Burnaby for its role in discrimination toward people of Chinese descent who lived and worked in the city between 1892 and 1947. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account It has scheduled the event for Nov. 15, and will join the provincial and federal governments and two other B.C. cities — Vancouver and New Westminster — that have already apologized for discriminatory practices against the community. A report by the Community Heritage Commission, which advises council on the city's heritage program, said discriminatory bylaws, trades licenses, and labour regulations were enacted against the Chinese population during that time. Burnaby City Councillor Alison Gu, who is of Chinese descent and was elected in 2021, said she feels it is important for the city to take direct responsibility for its role in such historical discrimination. She noted that although she was raised in the city, she grew up unaware of that history. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Those historic impacts have been carried on the shoulders of families across generations,' she said. 'I think a formal apology brings to light their stories, the fact that we recognize what (the city) did was wrong, and make a meaningful commitment towards doing better and taking tangible actions to be able to redress those harms.' The city said in a news release Wednesday that the decision to issue a formal apology was made after a community consultation process that included surveys, dialogue sessions, focus groups and individual interviews. The heritage commission's report says more than one-third of Burnaby's residents are of Chinese descent, ranging from new immigrants to fourth- or fifth-generation residents with deep roots in the community. The 2021 census puts the figure at 30 per cent. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Gu said the process leading up to the apology began more than five years ago, before she was elected. The city said the findings 'underscored the importance of the city acknowledging the hardships faced by early Chinese settlers and the lasting impact of historical discrimination.' Gu said it is important for local governments to take responsibility for actions, including bylaws that 'directly targeted Chinese people in Burnaby.' That, she said, included unanimously endorsing a 1921 resolution calling on the provincial government to allow municipalities the right to prohibit Asian immigrants from buying or leasing land. 'That was direct advocacy (and) unanimously passed,' she said. 'The city has a responsibility, not just as a level of government, but also that there were direct actions that the city of Burnaby took to further the harm of discrimination against Chinese citizens in Burnaby.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Then Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally apologized in the House of Commons in 2006 for policies including charging a head tax for Chinese to immigrate. The B.C. government apologized in 2015 for 160 historically racist laws, regulations, and policies that were imposed by past provincial governments that discriminated against people of Chinese descent. The City of New Westminster issued its formal apology in 2010 and the City of Vancouver said it was sorry in April 2018. Burnaby's news release said that in addition to making its own formal apology, it is also committed to increasing the visibility of Chinese Canadian history, facilitating cultural activities and reducing barriers for inclusion. 'While we cannot right the historic wrongs that were committed in Burnaby, this process has outlined a path toward ensuring Burnaby is a place that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone,' Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said in the release issued Wednesday. Read More NHL Celebrity Columnists Toronto Maple Leafs Editorial Cartoons
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
City of Burnaby to apologize to Chinese-Canadians for past discrimination
A formal apology is being planned by the City of Burnaby for its role in discrimination toward people of Chinese descent who lived and worked in the city between 1892 and 1947. The city says in a news release that the decision was made after a community consultation process that included surveys, dialogue sessions, focus groups and individual interviews. A report by the Community Heritage Commission, which advises council on the city's heritage program, says discriminatory bylaws, trades licenses, and labour regulations were enacted against the Chinese population during that time. The city says the findings 'underscored the importance of the city acknowledging the hardships faced by early Chinese settlers and the lasting impact of historical discrimination.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It noted that more than one-third of Burnaby's current residents are of Chinese descent, including new immigrants as well as fourth- or fifth-generation Chinese Canadians who have deep roots there. The city has scheduled an event for the formal apology on Nov. 15, joining the provincial and federal governments and two other B.C. cities — Vancouver and New Westminster — that have already apologized for discriminatory practices against the community. The Prime Minister of Canada formally apologized in the House of Commons in 2006 for policies including charging a head tax for the Chinese to immigrate. The B.C. government apologized in 2015 for 160 historically racist laws, regulations, and policies that were imposed by past provincial governments that discriminated against people of Chinese descent. The City of New Westminster issued its formal apology in 2010 and the City of Vancouver said it was sorry in April 2018. Burnaby's news release says that in addition to making its own formal apology, it is also committed to increasing the visibility of Chinese Canadian history, facilitating cultural activities and reducing barriers for inclusion. 'While we cannot right the historic wrongs that were committed in Burnaby, this process has outlined a path toward ensuring Burnaby is a place that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone,' Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said in the release issued Wednesday.
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
City of Burnaby, B.C., to apologize to Chinese-Canadians for past discrimination
BURNABY - A formal apology is being planned by the City of Burnaby, B.C., for its role in discrimination toward people of Chinese descent who lived and worked in the city between 1892 and 1947. The city says in a news release that the decision was made after a community consultation process that included surveys, dialogue sessions, focus groups and individual interviews. A report by the Community Heritage Commission, which advises council on the city's heritage program, says discriminatory bylaws, trades licenses, and labour regulations were enacted against the Chinese population during that time. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The city says the findings 'underscored the importance of the city acknowledging the hardships faced by early Chinese settlers and the lasting impact of historical discrimination.' It noted that more than one-third of Burnaby's current residents are of Chinese descent, including new immigrants as well as fourth- or fifth-generation Chinese Canadians who have deep roots there. The city has scheduled an event for the formal apology on Nov. 15, joining the provincial and federal governments and two other B.C. cities — Vancouver and New Westminster — that have already apologized for discriminatory practices against the community. The Prime Minister of Canada formally apologized in the House of Commons in 2006 for policies including charging a head tax for the Chinese to immigrate. The B.C. government apologized in 2015 for 160 historically racist laws, regulations, and policies that were imposed by past provincial governments that discriminated against people of Chinese descent. The City of New Westminster issued its formal apology in 2010 and the City of Vancouver said it was sorry in April 2018. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Burnaby's news release says that in addition to making its own formal apology, it is also committed to increasing the visibility of Chinese-Canadian history, facilitating cultural activities and reducing barriers for inclusion. 'While we cannot right the historic wrongs that were committed in Burnaby, this process has outlined a path toward ensuring Burnaby is a place that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone,' Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said in the release issued Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
City of Burnaby, B.C., to apologize to Chinese-Canadians for past discrimination
BURNABY – A formal apology is being planned by the City of Burnaby, B.C., for its role in discrimination toward people of Chinese descent who lived and worked in the city between 1892 and 1947. The city says in a news release that the decision was made after a community consultation process that included surveys, dialogue sessions, focus groups and individual interviews. A report by the Community Heritage Commission, which advises council on the city's heritage program, says discriminatory bylaws, trades licenses, and labour regulations were enacted against the Chinese population during that time. The city says the findings 'underscored the importance of the city acknowledging the hardships faced by early Chinese settlers and the lasting impact of historical discrimination.' It noted that more than one-third of Burnaby's current residents are of Chinese descent, including new immigrants as well as fourth- or fifth-generation Chinese Canadians who have deep roots there. The city has scheduled an event for the formal apology on Nov. 15, joining the provincial and federal governments and two other B.C. cities — Vancouver and New Westminster — that have already apologized for discriminatory practices against the community. The Prime Minister of Canada formally apologized in the House of Commons in 2006 for policies including charging a head tax for the Chinese to immigrate. The B.C. government apologized in 2015 for 160 historically racist laws, regulations, and policies that were imposed by past provincial governments that discriminated against people of Chinese descent. The City of New Westminster issued its formal apology in 2010 and the City of Vancouver said it was sorry in April 2018. Burnaby's news release says that in addition to making its own formal apology, it is also committed to increasing the visibility of Chinese-Canadian history, facilitating cultural activities and reducing barriers for inclusion. 'While we cannot right the historic wrongs that were committed in Burnaby, this process has outlined a path toward ensuring Burnaby is a place that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone,' Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said in the release issued Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
