Documents & Records
Chinese Cemeteries
Basics
Although many people of Chinese origin have been buried in Community and Church Cemeteries used by both Chinese and non-Chinese in British Columbia, there are also several historic Chinese cemeteries.
Harling Point (Victoria)
In 1891, the Chinese Benevolent Association in Victoria purchased a 3.5 hectare piece of land with the intention of establishing a private Chinese cemetery. However, local farmers chased mourners away at the first planned burial, and they never returned.In 1902, the Association purchased another piece of land at Harling Point and established a Chinese cemetery. The first burial took place in 1903. Over 1000 Chinese were buried there. Adjacent to the cemetery are 13 communal graves containing unmarked remains that were to have been returned to China, in keeping with Chinese custom.
The last burials occurred in 1950, and the graveyard was subsequently neglected and fell into disrepair. It has been restored and was declared a National Historic Site in 1996.
Kamloops Chinese Cemetery
A cemetery was created off Lombard Street in Kamloops for the Chinese community about the time that the city's main graveyard, Pioneer Cemetery, was established in the 1880s. The cemetery is being upgraded through a partnership between the Kamloops Chinese Cemetery Heritage Society and the City of Kamloops.
Cumberland Chinese Cemetery
Cumberland at one time had the fifth largest Chnese settlement in British Columbia. The cemetery is located on Cumberland Road, east of the town. It can still be visited, although much of it has been destroyed.
Nanaimo Chinese Cemetery
The coal company in Nanaimo, which employed many Chinese people, gave land for a Chinese burial ground on Stewart Avenue around 1890. It was in use until 1924, at which time the Chinese community contributed $2 per person for new burial grounds on Townsite Avenue. The City of Nanaimo's Heritage Register provides more information.
Other Chinese Cemeteries
In addition to the cemeteries in Victoria, Kamloops, Cumberland, and Nanaimo, there were Chinese cemeteries in Duncan, Prince George, and Vernon.
Finding the Records
Records for B.C. Chinese cemeteries have not been transcribed or indexed. The only way to find out if a particular person was buried in one of the Chinese cemeteries is to visit the cemetery.
Grave markers may be in Chinese characters only, or both Chinese and English.
Top of page: Detail from VPL 8584
