Description
This book is a definitive history of Chinatowns in Canada. From instant
Chinatowns in gold- and coal-mining communities to new Chinatowns which
have sprung up in city neighbourhoods and suburbs since World War II,
it portrays the changing landscapes and images of Chinatowns from the
late nineteenth century to the present. It also includes a detailed
case study of Victoria's Chinatown, the earliest such settlement in
Canada.
Reviews
Much of the book is devoted to a kind of urban history of Victoria, where Dr. Lai lives, and in these chapters a good deal of local colour escapes through the bars, and there is a real feeling for the minority of Chinese who still inhabit Chinatowns.
- George Woodcock
Contains much that is applicable to the study of urban Chinese settlements in the United States, and has an excellent bibliography of Canadian sources.
- Asian Comparative Collection
'The Asian invasion' is a hot topic right now. It is ironic that the same issue was bruised about 102 years ago. Dr. Lai's book may not resolve the issue, but it may help one to a better understanding of the rise of ethnic communities in Canada.
- Nancy Chan