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Kelowna  

Celebrating Chinese culture

Dozens of people, including many members of Kelowna's Chinese community, gathered in Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery Saturday morning for the unveiling of the first of 15 monuments in B.C. that recognize the contributions Chinese-Canadians have made to the province.

The ceremony involved a dragon dance performed by students at Mar Jok Elementary and an incense ceremony to show respect for the ancestors of many in attendance who have passed away.

The monument stems from a report on the province's Chinese historical wrongs consultation, which addressed past injustices the community faced, like the discriminatory working conditions and pay faced by many Chinese while building the Canadian Pacific Railway between 1881 and 1884.

“Today's event is a reminder of that dark time and a celebration of how far we have come,” said Teresa Wat, minister of international trade. “Let's continue to work together to stamp out racism and discrimination and ensure this shameful chapter in B.C.'s vibrant multicultural history is never repeated.”

The monument in Kelowna is the first of 15 different markers that will be built in different communities around B.C.

The provincial government provided $100,000 in Chinese legacy funding for the projects.  



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