| Chinese Islanders |
| Making a Home in the New World |
| Hung-Min Chiang |
From tenuous beginnings in the closing days of
the 19th Century to the blossoming of a vibrant
new Chinese community in the 21st, Chinese
Islanders: Making a Home in the New World
tells the story of one of Prince Edward Island's
smallest immigrant communities.
The first Chinese settlers came to Prince Edward
Island as early as 1850. Over the years they
suffered racism and poverty. They were
subjected to the infamous "head tax", as well as
the more severe Chinese Immigration Act (also
known as the Chinese Expulsion Act). But
through it all, they and their descendants have
largely adapted to and succeeded in mainstream
Island society, and are proud today to be
recognized as true Islanders.
Dr. Hung-Min Chiang brings these immigrants
stories to life with the same compassion and
attention to detail he brings to teaching, painting,
and tending his garden.
John Cousins, Prince Edward Island’s one of
preeminent folklorists, writes this in his
introduction: Hung-Min Chiang set out to write
this history of the Chinese Canadian community
in Prince Edward Island because, as he was told,
“no one else would do it.” What a daunting task
it must have been.
the 19th Century to the blossoming of a vibrant
new Chinese community in the 21st, Chinese
Islanders: Making a Home in the New World
tells the story of one of Prince Edward Island's
smallest immigrant communities.
The first Chinese settlers came to Prince Edward
Island as early as 1850. Over the years they
suffered racism and poverty. They were
subjected to the infamous "head tax", as well as
the more severe Chinese Immigration Act (also
known as the Chinese Expulsion Act). But
through it all, they and their descendants have
largely adapted to and succeeded in mainstream
Island society, and are proud today to be
recognized as true Islanders.
Dr. Hung-Min Chiang brings these immigrants
stories to life with the same compassion and
attention to detail he brings to teaching, painting,
and tending his garden.
John Cousins, Prince Edward Island’s one of
preeminent folklorists, writes this in his
introduction: Hung-Min Chiang set out to write
this history of the Chinese Canadian community
in Prince Edward Island because, as he was told,
“no one else would do it.” What a daunting task
it must have been.
|
No group of Islanders would be harder to document than these few Chinese settlers, who, for obvious reasons,
preferred to remain anonymous, and to live below the social horizon, leading “quiet inconspicuous lives.”
There were few records, fewer accurate ones, no personal biographies for guidance, negligible letters, and no
survivors from the early days.
Added to that was a “discontinuing of generations,” a period of decline between the 1940s and 1960s when the
community came close to disappearing. Nevertheless, Chiang has accomplished a series of minor miracles.
These were the realities of the Chinese community and the author does not avoid them. Rather, he recounts
them with a serenity that carries with it the sublime sadness of the human plight. And this, in my opinion, is the
work’s great strength.
preferred to remain anonymous, and to live below the social horizon, leading “quiet inconspicuous lives.”
There were few records, fewer accurate ones, no personal biographies for guidance, negligible letters, and no
survivors from the early days.
Added to that was a “discontinuing of generations,” a period of decline between the 1940s and 1960s when the
community came close to disappearing. Nevertheless, Chiang has accomplished a series of minor miracles.
These were the realities of the Chinese community and the author does not avoid them. Rather, he recounts
them with a serenity that carries with it the sublime sadness of the human plight. And this, in my opinion, is the
work’s great strength.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS |
List of Illustrations, Chapter Dividers Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Chapter 1: First Arrivals Chapter 2: Historical Background Chapter 3: Early Chinese on Prince Edward Island, 1891 to 1947: An Overview Early Chinese Settlement in Charlottetown Early Chinese Settlement in King's County Early Chinese Settlement in Summerside Chapter 4: Early Chinese Islanders and Their Families John Ling Family John Ling, 1870 to unknown William John Ling, 1904-1977 Jim Hoe, 1865-1977 Harry Thom Family Harry Thom, 1884-1966 Norma Thom, 1921-1962 Mona Lucille Thom, 1923-2004 Benjamin Lam Thom, 1890-1962 George Ling Family George Ling, 1895-1987 Chapter 5: Transition Period, 1947-1967 Chapter 6: New Immigrants, 1967-present Conclusion Appendices: Timeline of Chinese Islanders Gravesites of Early Chinese Islanders Chinese Canadian Association of Prince Edward Island Notes Bibliography Index |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Hung-Min Chiang |
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ RELATED INTEREST |
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