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Chinese Canadian recognized in Asian Heritage Month

By RENA LI in Toronto | China Daily Global | Updated: 2022-05-12 11:11

Monday was the 20th anniversary of May being officially declared Asian Heritage Month by the Canadian government of Canada, and a group of noteworthy Canadians of Asian heritage have been recognized.

Among those honored on the Department of Canadian Heritage website are Chinese Canadians who have made significant contributions to Canadian society. They include Won Alexander Cumyow, the first Chinese Canadian born in British North America, which later became Canada. 

Won knew several languages, which assisted him in his work as a Chinese community leader and court interpreter. Despite being ambitious and skilled, he faced considerable racism and discrimination. 

Like many Chinese Canadians of that time, Won had to live with unjust policies created by white-dominated communities and governments. These policies included the Chinese Head Tax, the disenfranchisement of Chinese Canadians, racial segregation and others. 

The experiences with racism made Won become an activist for the rights of Chinese Canadians for much of his life. After decades fighting for the right to vote, Won was finally able to cast his ballot in 1949, at age 88, following the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1947.

Tiffany Dowd, Won's great-granddaughter, a Boston-based travel writer, said her great-grandfather was a humble man who built bridges between Canada's Chinese community and others.

"My great-grandfather was a formal and very proper man who gave his 10 children music lessons and education. They became lawyers, musicians, bankers and notary publics — fields that help the Vancouver's Chinese community integrate," Dowd told the Vancouver Observer.

The Bank of Canada is currently selecting a new Canadian to replace Sir Wilfrid Laurier, prime minister from 1896 to 1911, on the $5 bill. Won is among a list of eight candidates drawn from more than 600 nominees.  

Others included Terry Fox, Pitseolak Ashoona, Robertine Barry, Binaaswi, Lotta Hitschmanova, Isapo-muxika and Onondeyoh.

"Won Alexander Cumyow, the first known Chinese-Canadian born in Canada, lent his voice and bridged the divide between Vancouver's English-speaking and Chinese communities," Bank of Canada tweeted.

A petition to ask the finance minister to select Won for the $5 banknote redesign concluded last weekend with more than 15,000 signatures, which were mainly collected from Chinese communities across the country. 

Han Dong, Member of Parliament for Don Valley North, who is championing the national petition, said that though Won may not be a household in Canada, his story represents the struggle, opportunity and hope that has shaped the Canadian identity.

"I recognize this as an important opportunity to showcase to Canadians, newcomers to Canada and the entire world the rich history of Canada's immigrant heritage —  heritage that formed the foundation of our country and which is woven into the fabric of our society today," Dong introduced the petition on his website.

According to Dong, one of the root causes of rising anti-Asian racism in Canada is a lack of understanding and appreciation for the contributions of Asian Canadians throughout Canada's history. So, featuring Won on the redesigned $5 banknote is a significant and important opportunity to combat that, Dong said.

Although the decision by the Minister of Finance has not been announced, "it would ignite the important conversation amongst Canadians about our history and contributions Chinese Canadians have made in shaping our multicultural society today", Dong said.

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