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The City of Burnaby has formally apologized for more than 50 years of discriminatory policies targeting residents of Chinese descent, pledging long-term action to address the deep harm caused by past municipal practices.
Burnaby has officially acknowledged decades of historic racism against people of Chinese descent, marking a significant step toward reconciliation. During a special council meeting on Saturday, city leaders delivered a formal apology and voted to repeal three discriminatory bylaws that remained on the record, though no longer enforced.
Mayor Mike Hurley stated that Burnaby is accepting responsibility for policies enacted between 1892 and 1947, which restricted voting rights, land ownership, business opportunities and municipal employment for Chinese residents. “Our actions made life harder for them and for all community members of Chinese descent. For that, we are deeply sorry today,” he said.
Members of the Chinese Canadian community attended the ceremony, including Alfred Wu, a third-generation Burnaby resident whose grandfather arrived in 1910. Wu described the apology as a profoundly emotional moment, offering closure to families whose ancestors endured exclusion and paid burdens such as the Chinese head tax. “We lived with discrimination and still earned our place through the hard work of our forefathers,” he said.
Mayor Hurley said the event was emotional for him as well, noting the resilience of families who “endured so much and stayed positive through everything.”
As part of the apology, Burnaby committed to a series of concrete actions:
– increasing public awareness of Chinese Canadian contributions;
– providing cultural competency training for city staff;
– expanding community safety programs in Chinese languages.
The apology follows a two-year historical review conducted in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. The final report documented restrictive hiring policies, barriers to land ownership and limitations placed on Chinese residents attempting to operate businesses.
Hurley emphasized that the apology represents more than symbolic recognition. “Today, we commit to action,” he said, promising steps to ensure such discrimination is never repeated.
