05/09/2026
Since first arriving in Canada in the late 1700s, the Asian community has made an indelible mark on British Columbia. From helping build the Canadian Pacific Railway, industry and military contributions, and poignant work in the arts, to running delicious restaurants and vital grocery stores in towns across the province, the impact of Asian migrants on daily life is felt each and every day in all corners of BC.
Each May, we recognize Asian Heritage Month and the ongoing contributions of Asian Canadians to life in Canada. Take a look back through the archives at what life was like for the Asian Canadians who helped create the BC we know today.
1. Hong family on steps in Barkerville, c. 1910, C-09725
2. Chinese children on the sidewalk on Fisgard St., Victoria; Chinese new year, 1910, C-06727
3. Chinese workers canning salmon, c. 1900, A-04437
4. Sam, a Chinese vegetable vendor in Vancouver, c. 1900, B-03625
5. Chinese prospector crossing the Ashcroft Bridge, c. 1882, C-01274
6. Chinese crew on the construction of Kootenay Canal at Canal Flats, 1887, C-04284
7. A Chinese beekeeper and apiary in Union Bay, 1911, A-03972
8. Ladysmith Bakery and Hop Lee Grocery, July 1907, D-07239
9. The 21st anniversary of the organization of the Chinese and Japanese Auxiliaries in Victoria, May 1930, C-07945
10. Class picture of Japanese Language School in Victoria, 1931, C-07915
11. Car on the right is taxi of Wee Ton Louie which served ducks in Kamloops, 1919, C-08247
12. A Japanese-Canadian logger with the Cameron Lake Logging Co. Ltd, 1937, B-07875
