Dart Coon Club, told the city council that some of the oldtimers wanted to build the tea house as a reminder of the new and old cultures.
I can agree heartily with the Vernon News which commented in one of its editorials: "Chinese Canadians should be saluted on their desire to play a part in celebrating the 100th anniversaries of B.C. and Canada. In this way their part in the building of a nation, which we tend to overlook, can receive the recognition it deserves."
The first Chinese arrived at Vernon 60 to 70 years ago and the community reached 700 people around the time of the First World War. The News states that they went to Vernon in force with the building of the railroad and earlier some took part in the Cherry ville gold rush. "They stayed to provide the labour needed to operate canneries and the agricul-utal industry. It was menial labour because they lacked the education and knowledge of the language to get better jobs.
"But the Chinese established themselves as hard workers and good citizens. Many became prosperous businessmen and played a significant role in the community's development." I might add that, whenever the Chinese were allowed to bring up families in Canada, they strove to give their children higher education.
It is easy to see that the Centennial is not only an occasion of celebrations. It is a time when we are reminded that Canadians of all backgrounds have developed this country and that we cannot afford to think that any group of us can be self-sufficient in isolation. I believe that the Centennial projects—the big ones being conducted on a national scale and the small ones like the Vernon tea house—will remind us that Canadians originated from societies and cultures all over the world and will increase our understanding of each other's way of life and point of view.
Some day we hope to see a waiter with enough of what it takes to lay the cheque face-up on the table.
CHINATOWN NEWS, MAY 18, 1966
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