The Chinese Story in Early British Columbia: 4 Part Series– Arrival and Early Encounters” with Dr. Barry Gough
Welcome to the BC History Series – The Chinese, where we journey through the overlooked chapters of British Columbia’s past. Today, we begin a four-part series exploring the Chinese role in shaping early British Columbia—an essential yet often underappreciated story of migration, resilience, and contribution.
In this first episode, we focus on the earliest Chinese arrivals and their initial encounters with British Columbia. From the late 18th century, Chinese sailors and laborers were already making their way to the Pacific Northwest as part of the global maritime fur trade, connecting China’s markets to British, American, and Indigenous traders. By the mid-19th century, the Fraser River Gold Rush of 1858 brought thousands of Chinese prospectors from California and directly from China, seeking fortune but instead facing a rugged land, unfamiliar customs, and deep-seated discrimination.
We will explore their experiences in the goldfields, the communities they formed, and the first restrictive laws aimed at limiting their success. We’ll also look at the cultural bridges they built—through trade, language, and cooperation with Indigenous peoples and other settlers—laying the foundation for a lasting presence in British Columbia.
