Hey, everyone! This weekend, the City of Burnaby took a huge step towards healing by officially apologizing for more than 50 years of systemic discrimination against people of Chinese descent. In a special council meeting on Saturday, Mayor Mike Hurley owned up to the city’s past policies – from barring Chinese residents from voting to restricting land ownership and employment.
These bylaws, enforced between 1892 and 1947, kept communities apart and limited opportunities. But Burnaby isn’t stopping at words. After a two-year historical review and community engagement in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, the council unanimously repealed three outdated bylaws that should never have stayed on the books.
Commitment to action 🤝
Mayor Hurley emphasized that this apology isn’t just symbolic. Burnaby is launching cultural competency training for city staff, boosting awareness of Chinese Canadian contributions, and creating digital archives so everyone can access this history online. It’s about making sure this chapter never repeats.
For young leaders and activists in South and Southeast Asia, this move is a reminder: local governments can and should confront past mistakes head-on. When communities come together – online or offline – change is possible. Shoutout to Burnaby for setting an example! 🌟
Reference(s):
Canadian city apologizes for decades of anti-Chinese discrimination
cgtn.com
