Author Adrian Ma remembers Asian Canadian Veterans in talk

Timeline By Cassandra Argoa

Article By Olivia Burwell

Remembrance Day is about recognizing veterans and there are efforts to help recognize the contribution and significance of Asian Canadians during the wars, which is often overlooked.
Events such as Adrian Ma, author of How The Chinese Created Canada highlight these contributions.

There were few ethnic Chinese and they were not considered Canadian during World War II.Chinese Canadians majorly contributed towards the war effort.
“In the second world war there were more ethnic Chinese that enlisted in the armed forces, they didn’t take them because they were not caucasian,” said former senator Dr. Vivienne Poy.
“Neither the Chinese or the Japanese could vote or were encouraged to see themselves as truly Canadian,” said Adrian Ma,
Ma said that during their time of immigration Chinese and Japanese people were referred to as “sojourners, temporary workers that were seen as too alien to fit in.”
Chinese Canadians were enlisted in the SEO as the British government needed people who looked asian. They were going to train them as the special forces behind enemy lines.

Timeline: History of Chinese Canadian Veterans. Story continues after interactive

History professor Dr. Jonathan Vance from Western University described the systematic racism that Chinese Canadians faced.
“National narrative has always been focused on majorities, the people who run things and the economic and social leaders. In the history of the second world war for example Chinese Canadian people had to do the work themselves to make sure that they are part of the story,” said Vance.

Video by Jenna Winger