Other Communities
The Chinese Community in Calgary
With the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, thousands of Chinese workers were left without employment or the means to return home. Many moved eastward to the praries. Calgary soon had a sizeable Chinese population, which initially concentrated near the CPR station at 9th Avenue and Centre Street.
Strong public opinion against the Chinese kept the community segregated from mainstream society. Restrictive immigration laws prevented families from joining their male relatives in Canada. THe Chinese population in Calgary wokred mainly at menial jobs in laundries, cafes, groceries, and as domestic servants. By 1911, however, there were almost 60 Chinese-owned businesses, including market gardens, restaurants and tobacco stores.
The Japanese Community
in Southern Alberta
In the 1880's, young Japanese men immigrated to the Canadian west coast and worked in lumbering, mining, and fishing. Beginning in the early twentieth centry, many Japanese men also worked in the hotel industry as bellmen. Often, their families sent photographs of perspective brides. A young Japanese man selected a girl from the photos and the chosen girl was sent to Canada as a "picture bride".
Initally, the Japanese immigrant provided much needed labour for the British Columbia economy. As English settlement increase, however, resentment against the Japanese and Chinese workers increased as they were felt ?? taking away jobs from the "white" population. Legislation limited the number of Japanese fishermen and restricted access to lumbering jobs. Many Japanese becan berry farms in the Okanagan and Fraser valleys, ran small businesses catering to other Japanese settlers, or continued to work in hotels.
There was a very small Japanese population in Calgary from 1901. Most immigrants to southern Alberta came to work in specific factories or coal mines or for hte Canadian Pacific Railway building on irrigation system.
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