We Were Here: Stories From Early Chinatown - Clio

Entries on This Tour

1. Introduction

Calgary’s current Chinatown is located along Centre Street just south of the Bow River. But did you know that was not the original location of Chinatown? We now often think of Chinatowns as vibrant places where all people can go to learn about and celebrate Chinese culture. But that hasn’t always been the case. Chinatowns have faced opposition since they were first established. As culturally distinct enclaves where Chinese people have historically resided, worked, and gathered, Chinatowns serve many purposes. Chinese people have often relied on Chinatowns for community, protection, and cultural preservation. Specific Chinese goods and services are more readily available and accessible in Chinatowns. Sometimes they have clear geographical boundaries, but sometimes not. In the case of Calgary, there have been Chinatowns in three different locations, and at one point in history, all three Chinatown locations existed simultaneously. In 1885, the year the railway was completed, Chinese immigrants began arriving in Calgary. Chinese residents were concentrated along 8 Avenue between 2 and 4 Street SE, where Arts Commons and City Hall now stand. [Image 1] There were residences, laundries, restaurants, a grocer, and a tailor. Despite discriminatory immigration laws, the Chinese populations slowly grew and eventually required more space for their businesses and residences. The second Chinatown developed on 10 Avenue between 1 and 4 Street SW, centred on the Chinese Mission at 215 10 Avenue SW. The Chinese Mission was established to teach English to Chinese immigrants and became an important gathering place for the community. This map from 1911 [Image 2] shows the location of the Mission, and a concentration of restaurants and laundries along 10 Avenue and 1 Street SW. Note the living quarters attached at the rear of the building in this photo [Image 3] from a 1912 fire in the second Chinatown location. This was a common living arrangement in Chinese businesses to accommodate long work hours. In 1910, property values in the area increased due to new developments related to the railway and the planned Palliser Hotel. Many of the Chinese tenants were priced out or expelled, forcing them to move to the third, and current, location of Chinatown. Today, despite the ongoing risk of new development, Calgary’s Chinatown is a thriving community and an important part of Calgary’s cultural landscape. Let’s keep it that way! *Author's Note: The locations in this tour are approximate, as the buildings themselves are extant.All exhibit illustrations by Jarett Sitter.

2. His Gift by Dale Lee Kwong

This fictional story is inspired by the life of a Chinese immigrant known as Jimmy Smith. Details of his life vary from account to account, with only his English Christian name being known. Contracting and eventually succumbing to tuberculosis in 1890, he made a substantial donation in his will to The Hospital Fund upon his death. It helped establish the second Calgary General Hospital at 632 13 Avenue SE, a place we now know as the Rundle Ruins. Jimmy Smith is buried in Union Cemetery among early founders and other prominent people in early Calgary. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research to learn more about ‘James Smith, Chinaman’. Illustration by Jarett Sitter

3. Train Car by Jessica Szeto

Tuey Tai was the first Chinese woman to settle in Calgary, and her son, the first Chinese baby born in Calgary. She arrived in Calgary in 1905, 11 years after her husband, Louie Kheong. Louie (also known as “Luey”) had arrived in Calgary in 1894 and soon became Calgary’s first Chinese merchant. During the 1890s, the back of his store functioned as a fong, a community room that gave Chinese immigrants, who originated from the same geographic locality in China, support and a place to socialize with their peers. Along with George Ho Lem, he was one of the businessmen who initiated the building of the third, and current Chinatown. At his funeral in 1939, over 600 people attended to pay their respects, and his funeral procession was four blocks long. Illustration by Jarett Sitter

4. From Canton to Calgary by Lexie Angelo

Ho Lem was a Calgary businessman and a leader in Calgary’s Chinese community. Arriving in Vancouver in 1901, he was attracted to Calgary by the Chinese Mission’s free English classes. He initially found employment as a dishwasher, which led to Ho Lem eventually operating his own restaurant (or two), the Savoy and Belmont Cafés. Historical records about when the two cafes and an associated rooming house were in operation are conflicting, but we do know that Ho Lem successfully grew his small business to the point that he expanded into the laundry and wool-knitting mill businesses, as well as erecting the Ho Lem Block in the third and current Chinatown in 1911. Illustration by Jarett SitterCURATOR'S NOTEMuseum research is always ongoing, and as new information arises we make updates to reflect these changes. We Were Here: Stories from Early Chinatown was researched and curated in 2021 using the City of Calgary Chinatown Context Paper, published in 2018. In 2022, several updates were made to the paper, including the updating of the Ho Lem name. The story "From Canton to Calgary" tells the tale of Ho Lem's involvement in early Calgary history and his place in the building of the current Chinatown. Although this story refers to ‘George Ho Lem’ in the original text, the name 'Ho Lem' should be used to refer to this pioneer and founder of Calgary’s third Chinatown. Ho Lem should not be confused with his son, George Ho Lem, who was an MLA from 1971-1975.

5. The Disease by Angelica Ng

One of the worst instances of anti-Chinese hostility in Alberta occurred in the first Chinatown, the 1892 Smallpox Riot. One Chinese resident had contracted smallpox in Vancouver and fell ill upon his return to Calgary. Despite the authorities’ attempts to quell the disease by burning the laundry in which the man lived and quarantining its other occupants outside of town, nine Calgarians were infected. Fearing the spread of the disease after several smallpox-related deaths, a mob of 300 men attacked a Chinese laundry, vandalizing property and ultimately injuring two men. The North-West Mounted Police eventually stepped in and offered their barracks as refuge for the targeted Chinese community and for three weeks, the area was patrolled day and night to dissuade further disturbance. Illustration by Jarett Sitter

6. Dry by Mormei Zanke

After the railroad was completed in 1885, one of the few jobs Chinese immigrants were permitted to hold was in a laundry, due to the perception of laundry being considered ‘women’s work’ and the exhausting labour required. As a business that required little start-up capital, Chinese-owned laundries quickly became ubiquitous in Calgary. In 1910, there were 23 laundries listed in Henderson’s directory, at least 19 of which appear to Chinese-owned and operated. The work was hard and typically required long days of grueling manual labour washing and ironing by hand. By 1947, all the laundry businesses in Calgary had closed. Illustration by Jarett Sitter

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

We Were Here: Stories From Early Chinatown

Created by Lougheed House National & Provincial Historic Site on June 18th 2021, 10:10:55 pm.

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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.

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