[BCMA] For Immediate Release: Exhibit Opening “Chinese Legacies: Building the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia”

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

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*Summary of Press Release*

Who: Port Moody Station Museum – 604-939-1648

What: Exhibit Opening “Chinese Legacies: Building the Canadian Pacific
Railway in British Columbia”**

When: May 14 to November 16, 2012

Where: Port Moody Station Museum, 2734 Murray St., Port Moody, BC

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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*



*PORT MOODY, BC, May 23, 2012 –** *The Port Moody Station Museum is proud
to present the exhibit *Chinese Legacies: Building the Canadian Pacific
Railway in British Columbia* from May 14th to November 16th, 2012.  This
traveling display was created by the Revelstoke Museum & Archive in
partnership with the Revelstoke Railway Museum and portrays the history of
the Chinese labourers who contributed to the building of the CPR between
Port Moody and Craigellachie, BC.  In order to celebrate the arrival of
this exhibit, the Museum will be hosting weekly family days every Sunday in
July and August starting Canada Day weekend.**



As the original terminus for the CPR, Port Moody has a deep historical
connection to the Chinese railway workers. To provide additional labour to
build the railway from Port Moody to Kamloops Lake, Andrew Onderdonk
recruited thousands of men from China. These men, along with other supplies
for building the railway, came by ship into Port Moody before traveling
onto the construction site. Many of these workers tragically fell ill with
Beri Beri disease upon their arrival and were buried on the hillside in
Port Moody, later to be exhumed and brought back to China for final
burial.



The exhibit recounts the difficulties that faced the some 15,000 Chinese
workers between 1880 and 1885 and includes a diorama of a typical Chinese
worker’s campsite, artefacts such as opium pipes, coins, incense burners,
as well as a slide show of historical photos.  It is estimated that between
600 and 2,200 workers lost their lives due to malnutrition, dangerous
working conditions, and disease during this time. Discrimination was a
daily reality for these workers, who would be paid half the salary of the
white workers and were forced to do the most dangerous work in the camps.



The exhibit speaks to our national story and recognizes the countless
contributions and sacrifices the Chinese workers made for Canadian nation
building. Many of the items on display were loaned by the Port Moody
Station Museum. Jim Millar, Manager at the Port Moody Station Museum is
excited to present the exhibit. “We feel privileged to host such a
professional exhibit about an important part of BC’s history. We look
forward to connecting with local Chinese Canadian communities in our area
to share our common history.”



Cathy English, curator from the Revelstoke Museum and Archive, commented,
“This part of our history has been largely forgotten for many years, and it
was an honour to be able to share at least a part of that history.  I am
pleased that Chinese Legacies will be hosted at Port Moody Station Museum.
This will allow many more people to understand this important aspect of our
country’s history.”



Translations of exhibit text are available in French and Mandarin.





For more information please contact:



Rebecca Clarke, Museum Coordinator

Port Moody Station Museum

604-939-1648

rebecca at portmoodymuseum.org

www.portmoodymuseum.org

-- 
*Rebecca Clarke, Museum Coordinator*

Port Moody Station Museum
2734 Murray St.
Port Moody, BC V3H 1X2
604-939-1648
www.portmoodymuseum.org
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