Apology for racism of the past

Canadian city admits injustice against Chinese

VANCOUVER－Hundreds of residents crammed into Vancouver's Chinese Cultural Center on Sunday to witness the city government's apology for decades of history of racism against Canadian citizens of Chinese descent.

The audience was so large that it overflowed the building and a live-feed had to be screened outside the center to accommodate those who couldn't squeeze in.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson issued the apology at a special City Council session held before the public audience at the cultural center in the Chinatown.

He acknowledged the discrimination by the city inflicted harm against Chinese residents for decades and asked for forgiveness.

For almost 60 years from 1885, various policies blocked Chinese residents from voting, holding certain jobs and living in particular parts of the city.

City bylaws enforced segregation and restricted business opportunities. Vancouver's government successfully lobbied the Canadian government to wage a head tax against Chinese immigrants that lasted from 1885 to 1923.

It wasn't until World War II that young Chinese-Canadians, many born in Vancouver, earned their right to vote and to receive better treatment by volunteering to fight for Canada－a country that didn't seem to want them.

"On this day, on behalf of the City Council and the City of Vancouver, I sincerely apologize for these past injustices and their cruel effects on individuals and their families, and commit to ensuring that similar unjust practices are never again allowed to fall on any group or community," Robertson said.

A steady stream of applause transformed into a standing ovation from the audience as Robertson said those words.

"To make an apology today I think it is very significant," said Jenny Kwan, a member of the parliament. She said it shows that the city acknowledges what it did was wrong and it will lay the foundation for mutual respect and equality.

"We must remember this history (not only) to see how far we have come, but also to say that we must never repeat this kind of discrimination; this kind of racist attitude toward any community as we move forward," she said.

Senator Yuen Pau Woo added that the past shouldn't be forgotten and urged no more discrimination against others because of their ethnicity or home country.

Also at the session, Vancouver city councilor Raymond Louie, in his remarks, reflected on the racism his ancestors experienced after relocating to Vancouver decades ago.

"Today is a celebration," he said. "It's a turning of the page for us to move forward, and I think there is some positive road ahead of us to make that happen."

Melody Choi, a fifth-generation Chinese-Canadian, was among those who joined the ceremony to officially accept the apology from the city.

The 17-year-old said her relatives faced discrimination in life and business, and that she's thankful that she now lives in a city free from unfair treatment.

"When I go to school or within my community, I feel completely safe and I feel completely accepted to be who I want to be, no matter what culture I come from," said Choi.

Vancouver's move follows similar apologies issued to Chinese residents and citizens by the national government and provincial lawmakers of British Columbia.

The City Council said attention will now turn toward seeking a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage designation for Vancouver's Chinatown.

Xinhua