Chinese Workers - Ashcroft, British Columbia
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T0SHEA
N 50° 43.176 W 121° 16.746
10U E 621477 N 5620056
Ashcroft Chinese Cemetery is in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and is located off Barnes Street in Ashcroft.
Waymark Code: WM1459N
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 04/19/2021
Views: 1
In Memory of
The Chinese Workers
Who Helped Build The
Canadian Pacific Railroad
In
British Columbia
As many as 17,000 Chinese men were brought to British Columbia between 1881-1884 to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway from Port Moody to Eagle Pass near Revelstoke. They were paid $1 per day, from which they had to purchase their own food, cooking and camp gear. White workers were paid $1.50 to $2 per day and were given room and board.
The Chinese workers were also given the more difficult and dangerous tasks, such as clearing and grading the roadbed, and blasting tunnels through the rocks. It is estimated that accidents, fires, landslides, dynamite blasts and lack of proper medical care killed at least 600 Chinese workers during that period of construction.
This cemetery on CPR owned land is the final resting place for many Chinese workers who helped build Canada's national railway.
transcribed from sign
In 2017, the Joss Temple was dedicated with guest from the Chinese community. The Joss Temple was created through consultations between the Lions Club and the Rotary. Marina Papais and husband Daniel Collet were cooperative artists for the design and beautifully crafted etchings. Attached to the front is a plaque that acknowledges the apology made by the BC government for the hardship and suffering that was imposed on the Chinese community.
“In British Columbia, on May 15, 2014 Premier Christy Clark delivered the legislative assembly’s apology signifying the deepest regret for the hardship and suffering our past provincial governments imposed on Chinese in British Columbia. The apology recognized the perseverance, grace, and dignity Chinese in British Columbia demonstrated throughout our history while enduring discriminatory historical laws.”
transcribed from plaque
Ashcroft Chinese Cemetery is located in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. Though not currently active, the cemetery was neglected for decades. It was a period of over 15 years, that the dedicated members of the Chinese community, Ashcroft Rotary and Lion Club membership made possible the restoration of this historic cemetery completed in 2017.
This is the final resting place of at least 49 members of the Chinese community many of whom came here to help build the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Cemetery is on CPR property, and open to the public.