Summary
- Asian Heritage Month has been officially celebrated in Canada in May since May 2002.
- One of the most distinctive features of the Canadian society and state is diversity.
- Diversity has made Canada strong because the Canadian society benefitted greatly from the knowledge and expertise of the immigrants.
- Chinese immigrants were racially discriminated against and had to pay a “head tax” in Canada. It started in the 1880s at $50 and jumped to $500 by 1903, which was a huge sum in those times.
Asian Heritage Month has been officially celebrated in May since May 2002. Although its history goes back over three decades, as it was unofficially celebrated by different organisations.
Canada is one of the most diverse nations in the world. More than 7.5 million, or 22%, of Canadians are born outside of Canada. Many of these new immigrants in Canada have Chinese, South Asian, or Southeast Asian ancestry.
Why is Asian Heritage Month Celebrated?
Asian Heritage Month is celebrated to recognise the valuable contributions that the people from different Asian countries have been making to Canadian society.
Canada has been benefiting from the immigrants who have arrived from various regions in Asia, such as East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Western and Central Asia, etc. People from these countries have brought in valuable knowledge, experience, languages, and other traditions for over two hundred years.
Today, people from all these Asian regions are serving Canada in science, arts, sport, government, businesses, etc.
Discrimination against the Chinese Immigrants in Canada
Asian Heritage Month is an ideal opportunity to read about the history of Chinese immigrants in Canada.
The Chinese immigrants had to face significant official discrimination during the 19th and 20th centuries in Canada. The early Chinese immigrants in Canada arrived in British Columbia during the 1850s, and they faced discrimination because, at that time, the Canadian society was not inclusive.
These Chinese immigrants had to pay a “head tax” in Canada. It started in the 1880s at $50 and jumped up to $500 by 1903. It was a significant amount at that time, and it was officially and deliberately slapped on to discourage immigration from Asia.
The Chinese immigrants have been serving Canada for over 200 years. They served in the Canadian armed forces during the Second World War in large numbers with a hope that one day the discrimination against the Chinese immigrants would end. Their sacrifice in the Second World War helped them, as they were allowed to vote after the war.
The hard work and dedication of the Chinese immigrants have earned them the respect they deserved, and today they are playing a significant role in shaping Canadian society. Currently, the Chinese immigrants make up the largest non-Caucasian ethnic group, with over 1.3 million residents, contributing immensely to the rich cultural exchange between the two countries.
What is the Komagata Maru Incident of 1914?
The Komagata Maru was a ship that reached Vancouver harbour on May 23, 1914. It was carrying about 376 passengers of South Asian descent who wanted to settle down in Canada. The ship was coming through Hong Kong and Japan and was carrying Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims.
The ship and its travellers received a harsh welcome, and the Canadian authorities did not allow the passengers to leave the ship. The locals were completely against due to prevalent ideas of racial superiority and exclusion of those who had non-Caucasian ethnic backgrounds.
Since Canada and India were both British colonies at that time, the passengers of the ship argued that they were British citizens and should be allowed to move freely throughout the British Empire.
The ship stayed at the harbour for about two months, and subsequently the local South Asian community started a fight back against this racial discrimination. Despite a long legal battle, the passengers of the ship lost the case in the Canadian courts. Eventually, the Canadian authorities returned the ship to India.
This incident has a significant resonance in Canadian history. The South Asian community has not forgotten it and has been continuously demanding the government of Canada tender an official apology for this racial discrimination.
Eventually, on May 18, 2016, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau officially accepted the mistake made by the Canadian authorities regarding the Komagata Maru.
How Does Diversity Make Canada Stronger?
One of the most distinctive features of Canadian society and state is diversity. For over two hundred years, people from different countries and regions have been arriving in Canada and calling it their home.
The Canadian society has benefitted greatly from the knowledge and expertise of these immigrants. In short, diversity has made Canada strong.
The openness and inclusive nature of the system in Canada have been at the core of scientific growth and innovation, and this was not possible without providing opportunities to people coming from different countries.
Conclusion
Multiculturalism has made Canada a strong country. This success would not have been possible if the country did not provide equal opportunities to immigrants who come from all over the world.
It is important to recognise this core strength of the Canadian society as we celebrate the Asian Heritage Month this May.
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