We Were Here: Stories From Early Chinatown
Get a QR Code for this tour
Description
The Chinese community has been in Calgary since the early days of settlement. Chinese immigrants were initially attracted to Western Canada for the gold rush in the mid-1800s and then to work on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the early 1880s. After the train line was completed, many of these immigrants moved into the nearby towns, including Calgary. By 1885, the year after Calgary became incorporated as a town, the first Chinese residents were settled in the town centre. These early Calgarians set up small businesses, mostly rooted in the service industry, and founded social institutions to support the growing Chinese community. Restaurants, grocers, a tailor, and many laundries were established. Many social organizations, including fongs, secret societies, and clan associations, some of which are still in existence today, were founded in early Chinatown. Chinese Calgarians are an integral part of Calgary’s history, culture, and economy. This exhibit tells their stories, explores some of the places that were important to the Chinese community, and highlights the community’s contributions to Calgary, past and present.