Crossing the River Over Generations

A presentation by Wendy Mah

Wendy is a descendent of the first generation of Chinese labourers who came to Canada during the late 1800s to 1900s.  However, her search for her family’s history was complicated by the impact of restrictive policies and legislation that explicitly targeted Chinese immigrants via head taxes, exclusion legislation, and restrictions on the ability to sponsor relatives.  Through archival research, social media connections, and family sleuthing among three generations, she was able to unearth a rich family history over three generations interwoven through China, Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States 

Her presentation will cover an overview of Canadian Chinese immigration history, Chinese clan relationships and genealogy, and accessing archived files on Chinese immigrants from 1885 to 1952. This presentation will also address her experiences in accessing records in China, Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States.