Historical Legacy of Racism

Chinese and East Asian people in Edmonton face racism and misunderstanding that stem from the historical legacy of racism towards Chinese immigrants to Canada, language barriers, pre-existing stereotypes, and lack of cultural understanding. The roots of Chinese racism in Canada lie in the Fraser River Gold Rush starting in 1858 and construction of Canadian Pacific Railway from 1881-1885 that brought early Chinese immigrants to Canada, who at the time were met with discrimination and hostility. Later, the Chinese Exclusion Act prohibiting Chinese immigration, enacted in both the US (1982) and Canada (1923), further institutionalized anti-Chinese racism throughout North America. This legacy of systemic racism continues to influence how older generations understand racism and belonging in Canada.

How Racism is Experienced by Chinese and East Asian Communities Today

Racism today towards Chinese and East Asian communities can be both overt and subtle. Examples from the direct experience of engagement respondents included derogatory slurs in childhood, objects being thrown, and casual comments such as suggesting immigrants should “go back to their own country.” Stereotypes around people of East Asian descent persist, such as assumptions that Asian drivers are unlicensed or unsafe, or that Chinese people are “loud” or “rude”. Language barriers also persist and prevent some individuals from defending themselves when they encounter racism.

Challenges related to anti-Chinese racism are compounded by cultural and community factors. That includes reluctance to speak up, different understandings of what racism entails, and the vast diversity within the Chinese immigrant community itself that leads to differing understandings of and approaches to addressing racism.

Status of Current Anti-Racism Efforts in Edmonton

Respondents generally feel positively towards Edmonton’s anti-racism efforts and view them as an encouraging start, but acknowledge they do not yet fully meet the needs of the city’s Chinese and East Asian communities.

Community cultural events such as Edmonton’s Edmonton Heritage Festival, as well as Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, are valuable opportunities to build cross-cultural awareness and reduce racism. Chinese and East Asian-specific community centres and support groups were described as essential in combating racism and reducing isolation; however, these programs are currently too few to comprehensively address the problem.

Many newcomers to Canada lack a clear understanding of how racism and discrimination are defined and how to recognize them when they occur. Respondents said communities need accessible information about relevant laws, reporting channels, complaint processes, and possible consequences. Some participants expressed skepticism about whether current diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives represent genuine anti-racism efforts.

The Role of Storytelling in Anti-Racism Efforts

Storytelling helps people understand racism by turning abstract concepts into relatable human experiences. Personal and community stories build empathy, make the impacts of discrimination more tangible, and provide historical and emotional context that facts alone cannot convey. By encouraging compassion, reflection, and solidarity, storytelling is seen as one of the most effective tools for raising awareness and supporting meaningful anti-racism work.

Respondents emphasized the need to listen to a wider diversity of voices and lived experiences. The vast majority of records about immigration and history are written from the non-Chinese perspective, which means these perspectives are often missed. Seniors, newcomers and those with limited English proficiency, and mixed-race and mixed-culture individuals and families were all highlighted as specific groups whose stories should receive more attention. Other groups identified as underheard include international students, temporary workers, children, workers, small-business owners, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Respondents emphasized that experiences vary greatly depending on class, industry, education, age, gender, and immigration background, and that broader storytelling is needed to build understanding across communities.

The Role of East Asian Values in Anti-Racism Efforts

East Asian philosophical traditions such as Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism encourage self-reflection, emotional balance, humility, integrity, and collective understanding. These values can be valuable tools for helping people better understand the roots and complexity of discrimination, distinguish between different forms of racism, and respond thoughtfully rather than reactively. At the same time, respondents felt these values can sometimes enable racism; for example, ideals of harmony and maintaining peace can discourage people from addressing it openly. In some cases, communities may downplay discrimination, avoid confrontation, or feel pressure to “be the bigger person,” which can weaken advocacy efforts and reinforce harmful stereotypes such as the “model minority” myth. Therefore, anti-racism efforts can be best served by carefully balancing the advantages and disadvantages of East Asian ways of thinking.