The Basin Record Newsletter Vol.2 Issue 1

City of Cranbrook Name: _______________________________________ Mailing Address:_______________________________ ____________________________________________ Phone Number:________________________________ Email Address:_ _______________________________ Become a member of the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History Individual: $25.00 Family: $40.00 Institutional: $50.00 Corporate: $200.00 Annual Membership Fee: Please drop-off or mail this form - with payment in cash, cheque or money order to: Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History, 21-A 10th Ave S, Cranbrook BC, V1C 2M9 Phone: 489-9150 Chinese workers were initially brought to Canada to work as labourers on the Canadian Pacific Railway. On completion of that project in 1885 many Chinese dispersed to the gold camps in British Columbia, such as the one on Wild Horse Creek. Many Columbia Basin towns were not very welcoming to the Chinese migrants. They were viewed as competitors and as people who lowered wages and the price of services. Settling in Cranbrook in the early 1900s Chinese men did some manual maintenance work on the railroad, ran a few commercial businesses such as laundries and restaurants, and provided domestic services. Cranbrook’s Chinatown grew to a fair size, covering much of the area between Van Horne and Edwards Streets between Durick and Clark Avenues. Each year the New Year celebration, on the start of the first new moon of the year, centred in this area. The New Year for the Chinese was a time of forgiving enemies, and clearing debts. In doing this they cleared their conscience and congratulated themselves with celebrations. The festivities included the scaring away of devils by lighting firecrackers and burning scented tapers. They wore costumes, paraded their art, played music using a Chinese band, drank Sam-sooey and smoked cigars. The laundry businesses were transformed into gambling Gung hei fat choi The Natural Side of History Historians speak of a ‘living history’ – history that maintains its relevance, integrity, and accessibility through time. A strong component of living history in East Kootenay is seen and heard by residents daily. We invite you to consider the legacy of natural history at Elizabeth Lake in Cranbrook, B.C. as you read the following piece submitted by the Rocky Mountain Naturalists. People have recorded and observed many of these birds and animals for centuries: they are featured in mythic stories of the Ktunaxa Nation, the jottings of David Thompson from the early 1800s, and the records of Hudson Bay Company officials when they established a trading post at Tobacco Plains in the 1860s. Common inhabitants of the Elizabeth Lake area include: the endangered Western Painted Turtle, our only B.C. native freshwater turtle, seen May to Sept basking on logs; the endangered and beautiful Copper Butterfly; as well as the Striped Skunk, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Coyote, Muskrat, Elk, Deer, and Moose. Birds commonly sighted include the diving ducks: Ring- necked, Lesser scaup, Common & Barrow’s Goldeneye, Redhead, Canvasback, and the Ruddy Duck. Dabbling ducks include the Mallard, Pintail, American Widgeon, Blue & Green-winged Teal, and Gadwalls. The shorebirds include the Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Sora Rail, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs and Grebes (Pie-billed, Horned and Red-necked). There are three species of Blackbirds, including the Red- winged, Yellow-headed and Brewer’s. Many Swallows are also found, including the Rough-winged, Tree & Violet-green. As well, the Canada goose nests on islands in the Lake. Marsh Wrens, the CommonYellowthroat and Black Terns nest in cattails. Found nesting in shrubs on the shores, one can find the Bullock’s Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Red-eyed & Warbling Vireo, Sparrows such as the White- crowned, Chipping, Savannah, and Song. The American Robin, Townsend Solitaire, Gray Catbird, House Finch, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird are also inhabitants of the Lake area. Hawks and Falcons such as the Red-tailed, Sharp-shinned, Merlin, andAmerican Kestrel can also be found. Even the rarer birds, such as the Great Egret, White-faced Ibis, American Avocet, Wilson’s Phalarope and Black-necked Stilt are occasionally sighted. Once a swamp destined for development, Elizabeth Lake is a special place where human and natural history meet. resorts and the sound of the celebration, gambling chips, and hooting could be heard throughout the night and into the next few days. In February of 1912 many non-Chinese residents of Cranbrook joined in the New Year celebration. Boxes of cigars, liquid refreshment, candies and nuts were shared around. A picture of Sun Yat Sen, the first president of the new Chinese Republic, was hung in the street and his name was decorated with coloured electric lights. The Cranbrook Band attended this particular event. A speaker’s stand was constructed and, according to The Cranbrook Herald of Feb. 12, 1912, “Several of the local Orientals addressed the public and E. Wilson, P. DeVere Hunt and R.E. Beattie spoke on behalf of the New Republic.” The paper went on to speculate that this might be the last Chinese New Year celebrated as the Chinese community intended to abandon the use of the Chinese Lunar Calendar and adopt the Gregorian Calendar. Cranbrook’s Chinatown area was eventually consumed by fire and Canadians of Chinese descent became an integral part of the communities of the Columbia Basin and the nation of Canada. Their history, however, is unique and, in some ways, separate from the Basin communities in which they resided. The Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History intends to research the challenges faced and the contributions made by the Columbia Basin’s early settlers of Chinese origin.