On November 15, 2025, Burnaby City Council issued a formal apology for decades of systemic discrimination against the Chinese Canadian community.
From 1892 to 1947, a series of municipal bylaws barred residents of Chinese descent from city jobs, land ownership, certain businesses and voting rights—a policy of deliberate exclusion that lasted more than half a century.
Mayor Mike Hurley took responsibility on behalf of the city, calling the intent behind these laws “exclusion.” In his apology, Hurley acknowledged the strength and vital contributions of Chinese Canadians who, despite these barriers, built businesses, worked on railway lines and farms, and enriched Burnaby’s cultural fabric.
Commitment to Action
The apology caps a two-year historical review and an extensive community engagement process, featuring dialogue events and multilingual materials delivered in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. By unanimous vote, the council repealed three outdated bylaws that remained on the books as a reminder of past wrongs.
Looking ahead, the city has pledged to promote awareness of the Chinese Canadian community’s history in Burnaby and to provide cultural competency training to all staff, ensuring this chapter of exclusion is never repeated. For young global citizens and changemakers committed to equity, Burnaby’s move offers a powerful example of municipal reconciliation in action.
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Canadian city apologizes for decades of anti-Chinese discrimination
cgtn.com
