Cumberland Chinatown (1888-1968)

Cumberland’s Chinatown was built on wetlands just west of the settlement of Union on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Chinese workers were brought in by the Dunsmuir family (Union Colliery Company) to build and then work in the mines and to build the Wellington Colliery Railway to transport the coal to the seaport of Union Bay. At the site of #2 mine (1891-99) they drained the swamp; built houses, businesses and market gardens; and became one of Canada’s largest Chinese communities by the end of WWI. Over the course of the town’s existence, 100 Chinese miners were lost in coal mining disasters, and many suffered losses from flood and fires, including one in 1943 that destroyed 43 buildings (one-third of the town). The Chinese were banned from voting in 1872 by the British Columbia provincial government. Subsequent legislation banned them from working p on public works projects such as road building. They were barred from working in pulp and paper mills in 1922, and prohibited from working underground by the federal Chinese Immigration Act in 1923.
The head tax of $50 initiated in 1884 increased ten-fold to $500 by 1905. Paid half of the wages of their European co-workers, Chinese miners were hard pressed to repay the company loan of the head tax, send money home overseas and eke out a living. They worked in the worst conditions and were the first to be laid off in hard economic times. The Great Depression of the 1930s saw the end of mining jobs for Chinese workers and the population continued to decline into the 1960s, many moving to Vancouver. The tailings pile of No.2 mine (1888-1899) are barely visible in the forest on the southern boundary
In 1963 an unsuccessful attempt was made by the Village of Cumberland to get funding to restore the town as an historical tourist attraction. Through the 1960s bottle diggers and collectors ransacked what was left of the site. In 1968 the dilapidated buildings were razed, with the exception of the home of one elderly Chinese man Hor Sue Mah (Jumbo). Jumbo’s cabin was moved up the hill to Comox Lake Road where it remains today. The site was leased to Cumberland Rod and Gun Club until 2001.

A 104- acre property containing Chinatown and No. 1 Japanese Town was eco-gifted to the Village of Cumberland by Weldwood Canada in 2002 with a restrictive covenant to protect its heritage and sensitive natural environment. A number of committees were struck to explore development of the park and a study commissioned to develop a plan. In 2007 the Park Projection Plan was adopted in principle by Cumberland Council and the Coal Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee appointed to recommend its implementation.

Cumberland Chinatown former residents and descendants have met yearly since 1972. From 1975 to 2006 they met in Stanley Park. Following extensive damage to the park they moved the event to Vancouver's Riverside Park. Over 100 were in attendance at the 2010 reunion. The Advisory Committee consults with, and takes direction from the picnic reunion group on plans for the Park. At their request the name was changed in 2008 to Coal Creek Historic Park, the common name for the creek until 1947.

Little remains of this formerly thriving community other than Jumbo's cabin. Several photo easels showing the buildings that once stood there have been created by descendant John Leung. A picnic shelter pavilion will soon be situated at the junction of Hai Gai and Shan Gai Roads, once a popular gathering place where news was posted on a public notice board. The pavilion will accommodate 4 picnic tables, welcoming visitors to rest, visit and enjoy the natural beauty of the forest and wetlands. Storyboards and photos will complete the structure, giving a sense of the historic community. The Advisory Committee holds regular work parties to clear the site of invasive broom and woody debris and to tend gardens at the entrance and in the open area to the south.

More information on Cumberland Chinatown is available at the Cumberland Museum and Archives. Please also visit www.thecumberlander.ca , Special Sections: Coal Creek Historic Park, for information on the work of the Coal Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee and a copy of the Park Projection Plan. The Chinese Cemetery is located on Union Road, which connects Cumberland and Royston Roads leading into Cumberland.

If you have additional information or photographs please contact the museum staff or me. We welcome your contributions.

The grand opening of the picnic pavilion will be held April 30. Details to follow.

Grace Doherty, Chair
Coal Creek Historic Park Committee
gdohertyshaw.ca ;(250) 336-8921

*Sources: Cumberland Museum and Archives, Cumberland Heritage by Jennifer Nell Barr, discussions and correspondence with former residents and descendants.

Additional references: Chinese immigration act, 1923
http://www.canadiana.org/ECO/ItemRecord/9_08043?id=404dc1a4a445dad0&Language=en
The Early Chinese Canadians: 1858-1947
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/chinese-canadians/021022-1400-e.html