New Westminster first municipality to seek reconciliation with Chinese-Canadians

New Westminster, BC – The City of New Westminster is the first municipality in Canada to seek reconciliation with the Chinese-Canadian community for discriminatory practices and actions that occurred in the past. The recommended steps towards reconciliation are the result of a year-long process initiated by the City in response to a request by the Canadians for Reconciliation Society that involved consultation with the Chinese community.

“It’s appropriate that we engage in this reconciliation process as New Westminster was one of the earliest destinations of Chinese people coming to Canada,” said Mayor Wayne Wright.

The Chinese Reconciliation Process, initiated by City Council in July 2009, involved two phases. The first involved extensive research on the history of racism and discrimination against the Chinese community in New Westminster and the role the City may have played in these events. The second phase involved a consultation process with the Chinese community that included a public forum, online feedback and meetings with organizations representing larger constituencies. The City of New Westminster’s Multiculturalism Advisory Committee also played a role.

“The research found that discriminatory practices against Chinese were commonplace at the time, not only here in New Westminster, but in other municipalities too,” said Wright. “Council felt that, given the history and the positive results the reconciliation process has had so far, that endorsing a series of steps and actions towards reconciliation with the Chinese-Canadian community is the right thing to do.”

At a June 28, 2010 Committee of the Whole meeting, New Westminster City Council endorsed the following:

• A public acknowledgement that City actions contributed to past injustices involving the Chinese community in New Westminster
• A public apology, in both English and Chinese, to the Chinese community for these injustices
• Review the current use of the Chinese Benevolent Association site in the City’s downtown core and explore more appropriate and respectful uses of this site
• Use recently located land use maps which show former Chinatowns in downtown New Westminster to inform future excavations with the purpose of unearthing and protecting historic artifacts related to early Chinese settlement
• Work with the Province of British Columbia and New Westminster School District to explore opportunities for a memorial at the former Chinese cemetery site at New Westminster Secondary School and explore ways to erect plaques at the sites of former Chinatowns in downtown New Westminster
• Explore ways to further augment research completed to date, including incorporating a Chinese perspective
• Explore ways of developing a museum exhibit showcasing the Chinese Reconciliation Process and the results of the research and consultation
• Post information relating to the process on the City’s website
• Work with New Westminster School District to explore opportunities for curriculum development relating to contributions of the Chinese community in the city and the Chinese Reconciliation Process
• Continue to consult with the Chinese community around the implementation of reconciliation steps and actions and explore opportunities to work together on their implementation

City staff are now implementing the steps and actions listed above and it is anticipated that a formal public apology will be issued by the City of New Westminster in the Fall.

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Contact:
John Stark
Social Planner
City of New Westminster
604-515-3777 or jstark@newwestcity.ca