In the 1850s, a significant number of Chinese individuals began to arrive in Canada for the first time. In the 19th century, many people in China were impacted by poverty, famine, and political upheaval, making it appealing to emigrate to other places, work there, and attempt to send money back to China. Events in China such as the First Opium War (1839–1842) and the T'ai P'ing Rebellion (1850–1864) led to increased push factors and emigration. Some of these events coincided with the California Gold Rush (1848-1855), and made California an appealing destination for the first wave of Chinese immigrants, who worked as gold prospectors. When gold was discovered in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia in 1858, Chinese gold prospectors began to move to the region as well. Gradually, more Chinese immigrants began to come directly to British Columbia. Chinese immigrants often encountered racism and xenophobia, and tended to live in specific neighborhoods, which became known as Chinatowns.
In 1871, British Columbia entered into Confederation, and became part of Canada (formed from the amalgamation of three British North American provinces in 1867). In order to connect British Columbia to the eastern parts of the countries, a project began to build the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The CPR was built between 1881 and 1886, and many Chinese laborers were hired to work on the railway. Most of these Chinese workers were poorly paid, and worked under dangerous and harsh conditions. An unknown number lost their lives in the construction of the railroad, especially since they were often given the most dangerous jobs to complete. Nonetheless, many of the Chinese immigrants who worked as either gold prospectors or railroad laborers were able to eventually settle in communities with their families, primarily in British Columbia.
The rise of more permanent and settled Chinese communities led to increased racial tensions; in 1885, the Canadian government passed a law imposing a duty or "head tax" of $50 on any Chinese individual hoping to enter Canada. This head tax was increased to $100 in 1900, and $500 in 1903. Finally, in 1923, the Canadian government passed the Chinese Immigration Act, later known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, which made it virtually impossible for Chinese individuals to enter the country. The period between 1923 and 1947 (when the legislation was repealed) is sometimes known as the exclusion era. Many laws and policies restricted the action and freedoms of Chinese individuals during this time; for example, Chinese individuals were barred from practicing professions such as law, pharmacy, and accounting. Chinese Canadians also could not vote until 1947. At the same time, Chinatowns in neighborhoods such as Vancouver and Victoria became thriving cultural hubs for members of the Chinese Canadian community.
In 2006, the Canadian government issued a formal apology to Chinese Canadians impacted by the head tax and their descendants. Some descendants received financial compensation. In 2015, the province of British Columbia offered its own formal apology for the head tax and other anti-Chinese immigration policies.
