Critical Task
Infer how the Chinese community in British Columbia might have viewed selected events in late nineteenth and early twentieth century Canada.
Overview
This critical challenge nurtures understanding of the beliefs, values, and identities of Chinese immigrants in British Columbia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. After examining primary documents from the Chinese Benevolent Association collection, students develop a profile of the collective mindset of the Chinese community and its likely perspectives on three general issues. Students use these perspectives to infer the likely level of support within the Chinese community in British Columbia on selected historical events (for example, Canada’s entry into World War One, creation of a separate Chinese school in Victoria). In identifying plausible perspectives on these events, students explore the contributions of Chinese immigrants, living and working conditions in British Columbia, and key aspects of this period in Canadian history.
