Chinese Family's Role In Canadian History

If one were to look at just the statistics anyone could assume that Christianity is the dominant religion still; but, according to Antonia Blumberg of the Huffington Post the Christian faith is in full decline, from 2007 to 2014 Christianity fell from 78.4 percent to 70.6 percent (Blumberg, 2016). This has happened for several reasons: the rise of Islam as a religion, the focus shifting to more of an atheistic belief, pagan faiths, and interfaith engagement. In Canada, the upper crust of the North American realm differs from the United States in which they never have identified with one culture or language. Due to this Canada is more tolerant of immigrants religion and language; which has seemed to benefit the state in plenty of

Throughout the last three decades, increasing numbers of Asians have migrated to Canada from all over the Asian continent. Currently, 44% of the Vancouver area population is of Asian descent (Statistics Canada, 2001). Immigrants commonly occupy skilled job positions that the host nation is unable to fill with its own citizens, and thus they offer many advantages to their receiving country. In a nation with a declining birthrate, such as Canada, their contribution can play a major role on multiple levels. The immigrants themselves often enjoy a greater earning potential than they did in their native country, which can be advantageous for those who wish to send money back home to support their families.

Beginning in the late 19th century and continuing to the early 20th century, many Chinese families struggled to gain social, economic, and educational stature in both China and the United States. In the book, A Transnational History of a Chinese Family, by Haiming Liu, we learn about the Chang family rooted in Kaiping County, China, who unlike many typical Chinese families’ exemplified hard-work and strong cultural values allowing them to pursue an exceptional Chinese-American lifestyle. Even with immigration laws preventing Chinese laborers and citizens to enter unless maintaining merchant status, Yitang and Sam Chang managed to sponsor approximately 40 relatives to the states with their businesses in herbalist

Canada is a country built on immigration, mainly British at first, but from all over the world afterwards. Chinese immigration to Canada dates back to the period of the gold rush when they were recruited to mine. In the 1880's, the Chinese population increased after Canada joined the confederation and extra labour was required to build a cross-country railway. Due to the poor economy in China, many Chinese were willing to migrate and work for low wages. The Canadian government seized this opportunity and allowed the companies working on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) to import Chinese immigrants. With a drive for completion a significant number of Chinese were recruited. In order to control this increase in immigration, the

We have all been in a situation where we have immigrated to a new country for different reasons regarding, better future, or education. In the book Jade of Peony, Wayson Choy describes a struggle of a Chinese family as they settle in Canada, with their new generation of kids born here, the family struggles to keep their children tied to their Chinese customs and traditions as they fit in this new country. The Chinese culture needs to be more open minded as it limits the future generation’s potential. Chinese culture limitations are seen through the relationship expectations, education, gender roles and jobs.

In 1923, a 2nd Chinese immigration act was passed down. This act said that any Chinese people living in Canada had to register with the government. If they didn’t, they would be deported back to China.

Canada knows exactly what they want when it comes to determining what kind of immigrants they want to bring into the country. Canada constantly tries to portray itself as a diverse and welcoming place but that doesn't seem to be the case when it comes to accepting different kinds of immigrants. It all comes down to what the immigrants will be able to bring to Canada and what benefits they will have to Canada's economy. For example, Filipino's are seen as the ideal immigrants in many cases. Canada tries to bring in a lot of Filipino people, which makes them one of the most popular countries for immigration to Canada. The reason as to why Filipino's are seen as the ideal immigrants is because of their incredible work ethic and their responsibility. Filipino's can be seen as extremely hardworking and can be seen working for long hours without complaining. (Root et al. 2014, 5) Filipino women are very high in demand when it comes to working in Canada. Women are more in demand

Not only did the law ban Chinese immigration, it also intentionally disrupted family life and stunted community growth. Due to the separation of families caused by this act, most Chinese communities across Canada became a bachelor’s society. In 1941, there were 29,033 Chinese men in Canada, which accumulates to over 80 per cent of whom were married with wives and children who were left behind in China. Enduring this family separation, these “married bachelors” lived alone. The only exceptions to this Act were merchants, diplomats, and foreign students. Communities protested against this racist act in the form of a letter-writing campaign, but the motion was ignored. The amount of racism directed toward Chinese immigrants greatly affected their way of life in

In later 19th century, thousands of migrates from China worked in Canada for CPR construction. The government welcomed Chinese migrants at first and promised

Many ethnic groups live and work in peace as proud Canadians. In Canadian home non-official languages are widely spoken. In two of Canada’s biggest cities, Chinese languages are the second most spoken language at home. Canadian has a wide range of religion, the majority of Canadians identify as Christians. The largest religious affiliation is Catholic, followed by various Protestant churches. Other religions are slowly growing.

The Canadian government, who invited Chinese person entered to Canada to construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), that Chinese had paid contributions to Canada and there do not have return or respect to Chinese; however, in 1885 implemented the “Chinese Immigration Act”. Chinese person who settle in Canada would have to pay “head tax” and until in

Contrary to the United States’ initial warm welcome to Chinese immigrants, Canada began their era of peak Chinese immigration with hostility. One large factor in why this occurred can be found in the time frame of peak Chinese immigration to Canada which was after the United States enacted their Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) which effectively prevented almost all new Chinese immigrants from entering the US for the following decade. Because of that newfound barrier, Chinese that still wanted to come to North America to take advantage of economic opportunities found themselves purchasing tickets to British Columbia, Canada. However, sentiments towards Chinese in 1880s western Canada were analogous to those present in the United States; those which led to the enactment of America’s Chinese Exclusion Act. As Chinese populations in California continued to grow, Americans found that the Chinese began making economic conditions less than ideal for white laborers which later started social uproar in the latter half of the 19th century. Because Canada is directly adjacent to the United States, Canadians witnessed the economic woes of native-born laborers along the west coast. As a result, they became increasingly wary of Chinese currently in or the increasing number now entering Canada. Between January 1881 and October 1884, approximately 17,00 Chinese entered Canada. A Canadian fear of succumbing to the same economic

The word immigration means an “action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country” . The people of China started their immigration to Canada before Canada joined confederation; various factors forced the people to leave their country such as wars, floods, and tsunami while many people were attracted because of “shortage of workers” in new Canadian industries and even “new settlement” attracted them . After Canada was officially announced as a country, Canadian Pacific Railway and the gold rush in British Columbia were the main factors that motivated Chinese and other Asian people to immigrate to Canada . During the “Fraser River” gold rush and Canadian Pacific Railway many workers were required for constructing roads, cutting down trees, mountains and clearing the area, making the railway lines; Chinese workers agreed to work at low wages and consequently were hired . The Chinese are Canada 's “oldest” community of Asian immigrants and they played a historical role in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which was a key to Confederation . Despite of Chinese workers contributions to building and completing the Canadian Pacific Railway, they faced racial discrimination, especially in the form of the Chinese Head Tax, which was enforced to prevent and discourage Chinese immigration to Canada, and it was a complete racism.

For one thing, the Chinese head tax was collected on Chinese immigration to Canada between 1885 and 1923, under the Chinese Immigration Act (1885). With a couple of special cases, Chinese individuals needed to pay $50 (later raised to $100, then $500) to come and live Canada. The most messed up, most devastating thing was that they left their families back in China. The head tax made it impossible for a Chinese worker to bring their families to Canada. The Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper (in 2006) apologized to Chinese immigrants, and their families, “symbolic payments to living head tax payers and living spouses of deceased payers.”.

They are more likely than any other Canadian to be married. In 2001, 56% of people aged 15 and over in the Chinese community were married. They were also less likely to be in a common law relationship, as there are 2% of Chinese origin living as common law in comparison to 10% of all Canadian adults. Furthermore, Chinese Canadians are less likely to be lone parents, as 4% of Chinese adults were lone parents compared to 6% of adults in the whole population. This information may not be as significant for a psychologist, however they may look at how each individual has been conditioned to be against a common-law relationship. An anthropologist might look at how the culture of Chinese immigrants has grounded their beliefs in marriage. They might look at their traditions as well, to give them a better idea as to why majority of the Chinese community get married as young as 15. Lastly, a sociologist might compare China’s societal norms and values regarding marriage and identify the similarities portrayed among the Chinese community in Canadian society. They may also look at the spread in such values and norms through interracial marriages between a Chinese individual and another ethnic