Volume 2, Number 4, July-August 2006

Partnerships

Genealogy Website Helps Chinese Canadians Explore Their Roots

A grocery store in Chilliwack, B.C., 1930s Source

A new partnership between Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) allows Chinese Canadians to explore their roots as never before. The new Chinese-Canadian Genealogy Website (www.vpl.ca/ccg) of the VPL celebrates the contributions of Chinese Canadians to Canada and provides community members with a powerful tool to assist them in accessing their heritage.

The VPL site, sponsored in part by LAC, offers a variety of practical tools and resources to support all levels of genealogical research, from basic techniques commonly used by genealogists, to more advanced guidance. Tips for searching indexes and records are featured in an easy-to-read format. The site explores complex topics, such as how to locate information about individuals and families whose Chinese names might have been transcribed incorrectly upon their arrival in Canada. It also features milestones in Chinese-Canadian history, links to stories of Chinese-Canadian pioneers, and patterns of migration and settlement.

Although the site uses Canadian-based English-language sources, references to Chinese-language materials and to resources available in China are also included.

While Chinese Canadians have been well established in Canada since the 19th century, there have been few resources developed for those wishing to explore their connection to Canadian history. The Chinese-Canadian Genealogy Website acknowledges this gap by offering them the means to explore the story of our nation.

Chinese-Canadian Genealogy Website: www.vpl.ca/ccg

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