The Chinese Head Tax enacted in 1885 following the completion of the C.P.R and to stop the flow of Chinese Immigration the formation July 1, 1923 of the Chinese Exclusion Act.

By then Vancouver's Chinatown became a hub and Leonard's Grandparents on Father's side who arrived on tax exempt Card for Merchants the C.I.30.

Chun Wah Shuck and wife Ho Shee were owners of a successful Grocery Import store Guen Wo & Co. in Shanghai Alley's Canton Street around from 1914 onward and following had 6 children, born in Vancouver. The area was a hub of shops, Theatre and rooming house and at the height over 1,000 residents.  The area was lifeline social for the many Bachelor Men.  Guen Wo & Co. was a Rice Importer and selling Potatoes and Many Vegetables, possibly from Farms on Indigenous land notably Musqueam.

When the Chinese Exclusion Act. July 1, 1923 on Dominion Day became Law all Chinese including Native Born were required to Register with a form called C.I.44.

Where even young kids had to be registered with a Photo I.D card which included Birth Marks and the creation of the C.I.45 Card.

C.I. means Immigration and my father Harris Owen Chan (Chun Kwok On) had a birth certificate, born in Vancouver and this other card Department of Immigration and Colonization and on the bottom This Certificate Does Not Establish Legal Status in Canada.

Being born in Canada and listed as an Immigrant.  His C.I.45 was issued in 1924 when he was 9 years old.  Failure to register all family would result in $500 fine each to my Grandfather.  Chinese had to scramble from all over Canada to be registered from July 1923 to July 1924 or face fines, deportation and Confinement. Since not many photographers available another problem. Many went back to China as well leaving for good.

No other Group born in Canada or Naturalized Canadians were Mass Photographed, Registered and carded in Canada were British Subjects except Chinese were not. We were ?????   Back then Canada was called Dominion of Canada.

During that time frame from the Head Tax era - The Chinese faced one obstacle after another with continuous Levies and By Laws like for arrivals detained at the Chinese Detention Shed in Victoria and Vancouver even with proper documents like the C.I.9. and for days and crammed in like as one recorded a Pig Pen being blamed for possible carrying Virus. The mindset from Government and many Politicians are Chinese are not adaptable  with their features, language, clothing style and should not remain here and Medical Dr. at the time Dr. G.L. Milne wanted better treatment in the Building and said Chinese are adapting and can.  But voted down in his application. Chinese were also extorted by some Officials such as the Poll Tax for the right to remain here.

Other non-Chinese coming via Ship were not held passing thru Immigration area. Chinese were not allowed property ownership outside Chinatown area, Medical treatment only in the Basement of Hospitals or not at all.

Not allowed to be buried in local Cemetery and had to be returned to China.  The Chinese Farmers made a pact with Indigenous to farm on Indigenous land and Chinese burial.  Some Chinese farmers married Indigenous Women and became part of traditional ceremony.  The Chinese also began forming Unions with great success against their Employer in Laundry and Mill gaining the same wage and benefits following lengthy strikes.  Additional Levies were added to Vegetable Peddlers to keep them from expanding and continuous restrictions keeping the Chinese to sustain their living.  Restrictions where they can operate their business location and some Civic Officials apposed the restrictions but voted down.

Not until 1949 were the Chinese able to properly vote.  Civic Employment not allowed till 1952 and in 1953 When Burnaby hired its first Chinese Staffer.  Before able to vote, Chinese Professionals were denied entry and membership into Professional Associations such as Law, Accounting, Pharmacy and later extended to Nursing and other areas and not until mid 1960s allowed to open their own Professional Practice.  Several areas in Greater Vancouver had Covenants on Title Deeds on their homes not to be sold to Asians, Blacks, Indigenous and this was on going up to the 1960s and could be longer in time allowed. Vancouver and Burnaby has issued an Apology to the Chinese Community. The 1st Chinese Bank Manager in Canada was not till May 1966 when Tommy Mah was appointed by BMO Chinatown Branch.

My Grandfather and family did return to Hong Kong and China and some trickled back due to the expiration time of their Travel Document called the C.I.9.

Grandfather and some did not return to Canada.  His home was on 1870 Keefer St. and later changed to Francis street. Lot of history in our family is lost like so many families from the Humiliation of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which we were not told.

This is what my father saw from his childhood during the discrimination era from Civic and Business.

Harris later on worked in many areas from Cannery, Taxi Driver, Cafe and Grocery owner and was father to 3 boys and 1 daughter.  Harris's sister Lily was also registered with the C.I.45 and document still around and other family members never mentioned and perhaps threw them out on the ending of the Chinese Exclusion Act.  Lily's story is in the Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver. Indigenous and Chinese Benevolent Associations and those forming Unions during those years showed that Team work against all odds have made a difference. There were many By-Laws and Mob mentality against Chinese and too many to show.

Photo 212 House on 1870 Keefer St. Later changed to Francis St. Photo taken in 1922. My Grandmother Ho Shee holding Baby, My Dad is wearing the tie. Grandfather with other relatives.

I also lived in this house till my Grandmother Passed on.  Very big house, luxury with back garage and big yard.

Grandmother had another child in 1925.

Photo 216 My Grandfather's business was on 26 Canton Alley St. The 1920 Store Clock is now in Chinese Canadian Museum.

Photo 579 My Dad's registration for C.I.44 taken when he was 9.

Photo 235 My Dad's C.I.45

With the names Chun,Chin,Chan  Confusing to Canadian Officials because of Dialect and how Chinese use last name first and name descriptions for family members like 1st born, 2nd born. etc.

Courtesy of Leonard Chan(Len) to provide to Fung Ling for Archives use