CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A new organization is aiming to document the lived experiences of 155 Chinese immigrants throughout Canada.
The Chinese Immigrants Oral History Preservation Organization launched the Here We Stay project on Monday at The Guild in Charlottetown. The initiative will involve documentation of stories of Chinese immigrants living on P.E.I. and elsewhere in Canada through video, photography and a published book.
“We would like to celebrate the 155th anniversary of Canada, our new home, by interviewing 155 Canadian-Chinese (people) and recording their stories - how they came here, how they lived here and what their dreams are in their new home in Canada," said He Ke, a local photographer who is working on the project.
Fred Wang, who has published oral history books in China, is helping to plan the effort, which will take place between now and 2022. He said the number 155 was chosen for two reasons.
First, 2022 will mark 155 years since Canada’s formation. Second, the number has special significance in Chinese numerology and represents integrity and co-operation.
"The Island is the birthplace of Confederation, so we’ll just begin here and then we'll go to other areas," Wang said.
The project aims to foster a connection between the Chinese-Canadian community and mainstream Canadians, as well as between Chinese-Canadians and Chinese individuals living overseas in many countries.
“We would like to celebrate the 155th anniversary of Canada, our new home, by interviewing 155 Canadian-Chinese (people) and recording their stories - how they came here, how they lived here and what their dreams are in their new home in Canada."
He Ke
"Our plan includes all Chinese," Wang said.
"Maybe they are from Vietnam, from Malaysia."
Participants in the project’s videos describe their initial experiences seeing P.E.I.
“Cross the bridge, you have the feeling of that Peach Blossom Island, as if you were in a garden of peach flowers,” Island resident Ken Wu said in one of the videos, referring to a popular island in Zhejiang, China.
Wu, the video notes, is the only firearms safety instructor of Chinese origin in Eastern Canada.
Wang said he believes the stories of Chinese-Canadians need to be shared.
“We are part of Canada. We just want our brothers to know each other," he said.
