H. Chinese Canadian Fisheries Workers Association/ Clothing Store

Category: Sites from the 'Labour, Work and Working People' booklet

Many Chinese men worked in the first canneries producing can and processing fish. The labour of Chinese immigrants was crucial to the establishment of BC's economic base in the 19th century as white labour was in short supply and most production work was labour-intensive. Chinese were paid one half to two thirds of the wages of white workers. An 1887 race riot saw the homes of 90 Chinese burnt or damaged. Racist policies also prevented Chinese entrepreneurs from participating fully in the fish market. For example, the city did not allow Chinese fish dealers to lease stalls in the local market until 1943. The Chinese community established this association in 1978 to support its workers in the fish industry and moved to this location in 1985.