Gim Wong (centre) with Jack Layton MP, at Canadian War Museum – photo courtesy of Robert Yip
Category Archives: Chinese Canadian History
Gim Wong's “Ride for Redress” arrives in Winnipeg
Gim Wong completes his “Ride for Redress” in Montreal – flying back to Vancouver for Wednesday
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It's been a long ride for 83
year old Gim Wong, starting from Victoria BC on June 5th to Calgary,
Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa for July 1st, and finally Montreal on July
5th.
The Chinese Canadian National Council had asked for meetings with Prime
Minister Martin on Wong's behalf, to discuss redress and discrimination
issues for Chinese Head
Tax and the 1923 Chinese “Exclusion” Act, but received no response..
While he only managed to view Prime Minister Paul Martin from the
Canada Day Celebrations VIP section, before being escorted away by RCMP
officers because he approached the stage area. . Gim Wong had
made headlines all across Canada.
Click here for all the collected stories about Gim Wong on www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/
ChineseHeadTaxissuesGimWongsRideforRedress
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Here is the latest on Gim Wong's “Ride for Redress”
courtesey of William Dere in Montreal.
Gim
Wong successfully completed his cross Canada ride for redress in Montreal
tonight at a fundraising dinner attended by over 100 people.
Various
community leaders spoke to thank Gim for his heroic efforts and leadership
in mobilizing the community to pressure the government for redress. A
representative of the City of Montreal gave a solidarity message on behalf
of the City. Over $3,000 were raised to help pay for Gim and his
son Jeff's
expenses.
Prior to the dinner tonight, Gim visited James Wing, Montreal's
youngest surviving Head Tax Payer at the hospital. They had a very good and
long discussion (hour and a half). Walter will forward the photos of Gim and
James as well as from the dinner later.
Yesterday, Monday, the
reception and signing of the Montreal City hall Book of Honour was a
success, as we got good media coverage from CFCF television and the Montreal
Gazette. Also representatives from all the different
Chinese community
associations in Montreal participated and the City of Montreal reiterated its
support of the Redress campaign.
Much thanks to the main organizers,
Walter Tom, Jack Lee, Timothy Chan and Kenneth Cheung. The unity of the
various community organizations including the Quebec Chapter of the National
Congress of Chinese Canadians, the Chinese Canadian National Council, and
the Chinese Canadian Redress Alliance was strengthened by Gim Wong's valiant
efforts for Redress.
The organizers in Montreal purchased a plane ticket
for Gim. He will be flying back to Vancouver tomorrow.
All of us
involved in the Redress Movement in Montreal owe a great debt of thanks to
Gim and his son Jeff for sucessfully and safely competing their ride for
redress. Gim is an inspiration for all of us.
William Dere
for the
organizing committee in Montreal
click here for more stories on this website about Gim Wong and Chinese head tax redress go to:
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/
ChineseHeadTaxissuesGimWongsRideforRedress
BC Highland Games June 25, 2005- With Sunnette Jones and Bruce Jarvis – photo by Margaret Ferguson –
Ming Pao (Vancouver) article on Gim Wong's Arrival in Winnipeg
Gim Wong: 2002 Burnaby Now interview
Here's an interview with Gim Wong back from 2002.
Click here for the Gim Wong Ride for Redress updates on this webpage.
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Head tax took its toll on Chinese veterans
By Julie MacLellan,reporter, Nov 6 2002
Tears glint in Gim Wong's eyes as he dons the wool coat he wore nearly 60 years ago.
The coat belongs to the uniform that marks him as what he is: a loyal Canadian.
It wasn't so very long ago that his government saw things differently.
For Wong, who'll be 80 in two months, the Chinese
head tax and the Exclusion Act aren't just a nearly forgotten chapter
in Canadian history books. They're part of his past, part of his
family's story.
Wong was born in Vancouver's Chinatown.
His parents both came from China: his father in 1906 at the age of 15,
his mother in about 1921.
She made it into the country in a brief
window of time in which men could send home for brides, after the First
World War and before the Exclusion Act that prohibited Chinese
immigration starting in 1923. NEXT
http://saltwatercity.bc.ca/ccmgimw02.htm
Gim Wong in Calgary: motocycle ride for Chinese Head Tax Redress
Gim and son Jefferey at “Mile 0” in Victoria
Here is the report on Gim Wong's arrival in Calgary AB, from Sid Tan
Yo All. Great news Gim and Jeffrey are in Calgary. I feel quite relieved the difficult part of the trip is over and they are in the Teresa's capable hands. Am getting b-roll together of Mile 0 and Vancouver events. I've added Bernie Yen, Andrea Lum, Todd Wong (Vancouver) and Cary Chiu (Victoria) onto list. They have been very supportive of redress and the ride. We are currently brainstorming a welcome home event and/or fundraiser to help Gim with expenses. Except for updates of national importance, we will limit our emails on organising this to Vancouver and Victoria. Todd has already put photos, G&M article, etc on his weblog. www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com On the Wong home front, I noted the Globe and Mail article stated Gim banged his face in motorcycle mishap. It's quite distinguished in the 8X10 photo in a macho way. Hmmm, wonder what's going to happen when Jan (his wife) finds out the banged face was not from walking into a door. Jan has scolded me about Gim not getting enough rest and sleep and consequently banging his head into the door! This after getting scolded for Gim's, "Jan, honey, I'm only going to Calgary" and not getting out of town fast enough. Damn that westcoast rain!!! Take care. anon Sid
Calgary Press Release for Gim Wong's Ride for Redress by CCNC
Gim and son Jeffery in Vancouver's Chinatown – photo Chow Gim Tan
On Fri, 10 Jun 2005, CCNC National wrote:
Press Conference Saturday, June 11, 2005
Gim Wong's Ride for Redress A Call for Justice Now. The
83-years old World War II air-force veteran is riding his motorcycle across Canada for Chinese head tax and exclusion redress
When: Saturday, June 11, 2005 3:30 p.m.
Where: Outside of the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre
197 – 1 St. S.W.
For information: contact Teresa Woo-Paw (403) 870-0430
Gim
Foon Wong has a dream of riding his motorcycle across Canada. He will
try to fulfill his dream and bring a message to all Canadians about
Canada's infamous Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Acts and the
devastation they caused Chinese Canadian families over generations.
"I
want to do this ride for the Chinese railway workers and all those
Chinese pioneers. I want to do it for my good friend Charlie Quan, who
is a 98-year old head taxpayer living in Vancouver. I want to do it for
my family."
"This is a pensioner's call on the on the government
to quit dragging its feet. This ride is about respect for the
generations of Chinese Canadians who build this country. It's time
for the government to apologize and make the tax refund."
Gim
Foon Wong, born in Vancouver's Strathcona neigbourhood over 83-years
ago and a World War II air-force veteran, is riding his motorcycle
across Canada for Chinese head tax and exclusion redress. With
his son Jeffrey, Gim left Mile 0 in Victoria's Beacon Hill Park on June
3. His stops will include Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Sudbury,
Toronto and Montreal. He plans to arrive in Ottawa on July 1,
2005 - Canada Day.
Gim's father and uncles paid the head tax
when they came to Canada as 11 and 12-year olds in the early
1900's. Gim Wong's Ride for Redress is a pensioner's call to
Canadians of good conscience to join and assist him in this struggle of
almost a quarter century. Many of the affected
seniors are over ninety and redress will lose much of its meaning if they do not
survive to receive it.
On July 1, 2004, Gim made a successful "shakedown" run to Craigallachie, BC, site of the last spike completing the trans-Canada railway. Canada Day marks a significant anniversary for Chinese Canadians. It was on July 1, 1923 that the Canadian Government enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act and until it was repealed in 1947, the Lo Wah Kiu (old overseas Chinese) referred to it as Humiliation Day. Background: History of Racism Towards the Chinese in Canada When the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was constructed between 1881 and 1885, Chinese workers were brought in from China as a source of cheap land reliable labour. They were also willing to perform the most dangerous tasks in building the railway. Due to the racist public sentiment against more Chinese immigrants arriving in Canada when the CPR was completed in 1885, the Canadian government imposed a "head tax" on them. In 1923, the Canadian government passed the Chinese Immigration Act, which virtually excluded all persons of Chinese descent from coming to Canada. This "Chinese Exclusion Act" was repealed in 1947. Chinese workers made a major contribution to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). Chinese labourers were paid about half the wages of other railway workers, and often performed the most dangerous tasks. After the CPR was completed in 1885, due to racist public sentiment, the Canadian government imposed a "head tax" on Chinese immigrants.
In 1923, the Canadian government passed the Chinese Immigration Act, which virtually excluded all persons of Chinese descent from coming to Canada. This "Chinese Exclusion Act" was not repealed until 1947. The 24 years of Chinese exclusion separated families, condemned generations of men to a life of isolation and loneliness, and acutely impeded the economic and political development of Chinese communities in Canada.
Gim and Jeffery at the monument to Chinese Canadian Pioneers in Vancouver's Chinatown June 5th – photo Chow Gim Tan