Barkerville Highlights Chinese Connection

Thursday, February 03, 2011 03:48 AM

Prince George, B.C. - While Vancouver has Canada's largest Chinatown, the historic site of Barkerville can lay claim to the title of oldest Chinatown...

The Chee Kung Tong building in the heritage town is the oldest known ethnic structure in the country. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the lodge was built in the 1870s during the gold rush by a secret fraternal society that offered membership to migrant workers. At the height of the rush, as many as 5,000 Chinese people lived in Barkerville.

With today marking the start of Chinese New Year and B.C Tourism Minister, Margaret MacDiarmid, says, "B.C.'s Chinese heritage sites are powerful reminders of the valuable contributions Chinese-Canadians have made to build a prosperous British Columbian, which continues today."

Barkerville's Manager of Visitor Experiences, James Douglas, adds, "The hard work and sacrifice of Barkerville's Chinese community has been recognized as an irreplaceable contribution to the forming of British Columbia as we know it today."

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Posted on Thursday, February 03, 2011 03:48 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Eagleone on February 3 2011 9:03 AM

I don't believe it. Sure there were Chinese at Barkerville... but 5000.. ya right. In a few years time I'm sure they will tell us Barkerville was a Chinese town and China will lay claim to the Central Interior like the zionists do with Israel.... I think its really all about marketing our heritage for potential tourism dollars.

Posted by: western2 on February 3 2011 9:59 AM

The reporter of this article embellished the number partly due to not doing their research, I'm sure, but actually there was at one time nearly 3000 Chinese people and with many transient Chinese visitors who did not stay for the harsh winter (in those days) I'm sure the number was temporarily much higher. So the writer wasn't too far out, even for short periods.

Posted by: seamutt on February 3 2011 11:54 AM

Eagleone the use of the word Barkerville is now most often used to discribe the area. Take in the area and the population is correct.

Posted by: Howrd_B_Stern on February 3 2011 2:02 PM

Wasn't Barkerville the largest city North of San Francisco at one time?

Quite plausible that there were 5000 Chinese people in Barkerville.

Posted by: HD on February 3 2011 6:59 PM

5000 chinese in Barkerville?
That must have been a typing error!
Maybe 500 at the most!

Posted by: NoSeverance on February 3 2011 9:40 PM

Must of been a typo as their website says "The population peaked during these early mining years, reaching about 4600 people in the time between 1864 and 1866. 1866 also marked the completion of the Cariboo Wagon Road, extending from Yale to Barkerville"

Posted by: HD on February 4 2011 8:18 AM

Goes to show you: Don't believe half of what you see on some news sites.