Chinese Canadians

Fung Ling Feimo at the Ogden building. (Photograph by Colin Way)

A doorway to a hidden past in Calgary

A building on Ogden Road in Calgary has a rare link to the history of the city’s Chinese community. But its future hangs in the balance as it finds itself in the path of the proposed Green Line transit system.

Rachel Chen and her son Mason, 7, and Tristan, 9, at their home in Caledon. In February, during the start of the pandemic, Mason was teased by a classmate and was told that he had the coronavirus because he is of Asian descent. “I was a little shocked that that happened because they’re so young. I guess I shouldn’t have been shocked but I was. I wanted to almost jump on it as a mama bear but I realized I kind of have to figure out what he was feeling and how he was feeling about the whole thing and not make a mountain out of a molehill right off the bat, and then take his lead and his understanding and how he felt and have that conversation about why someone had said that.” “Because we’re all isolated in our own worlds [right now], they’re not being exposed to what could potentially be racist comments but I do worry about what happens when they do go back to school in September.” “I worry that there might be some comments that would make them feel badly about being Chinese but I’m also hoping, anyway, with my older son, that he’s built enough confidence to be able to carry through knowing that as a Chinese Canadian, he should be proud of who he is.” She hopes to see a conversation happen at schools before the September school year starts about how everyone treats each other regardless of their skin colour.

Chinese Canadians share their experiences of racism during COVID-19

The pandemic has exposed Chinese Canadians to new levels of hatred and abuse. Here are just a few of their stories. Words and pictures by Jessica Lee

16/06/06-CHINESE HEAD TAX APOLOGY-James Pon, 88, photographed at his home in Toronto. He still has t

The enduring legacy of Canada’s racist head tax on Chinese-Canadians

William Ging Wee Dere argues that the discrimination of the past affects how Canada treats recent Chinese immigrants

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Attack of the dragon buyers in Vancouver

Chinese Canadians may boost the Vancouver housing market during year of the dragon