Asians in Vancouver
by Ken Lundgren
The people of Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei are represented in increasing numbers in the Greater Vancouver area. Some come to live, some to invest their wealth and many more come each year to visit.
KOREANS
In 1995 there were over 100,00 vacationers from Korea alone. The Korean consulate and the department of applied science at SFU promise this number will triple in the years to come. There are also some 40 Korean churches, three Korean-language newspapers, a community centre and self help groups offering everything from language training to legal aid. The Korean community, which now numbers about 25,000 in the Lower Mainland, has established dozens of restaurants along with tour bus companies, hotels and retail stores. The relaxed trade agreement of 1994 between Korea and Canada, coupled with the economic growth that has propelled it from fourth poorest to twelfth richest nation in the past two decades, indicate it will become an even greater partner in Vancouver’s future development.
FILIPINOS
In the mid 1950s, a handful of “pioneers” from the newly liberated Philippines found their way to British Columbia in search of an improved way of life and a means to help their families back home. In the sixties a first wave mainly consisted of nurses, medical technologists, managers and engineers. Following them were clerical, sales, manufacturing and garment workers. Then, in the 1980s, desperate conditions under a state of martial law sent more than 30,000 Filipinos to work in Canada as domestics. Of these about 7,000 live in the Greater Vancouver region out of a total Canadian Filipino population of 45,000.
The Philippines is the third-largest English-speaking country in the world and boasts a literacy rate of 96 per cent. Many Filipinos still struggle to create a new home, far from a familiar culture and climate. They uphold a strong feeling of community, evidenced by the annual Filipino Days celebrations and active participation in cultural events. There are now Filipino television programs, newspapers, a Filipino-Canadian business directory and public-minded community groups. Discriminatory treatment of domestic workers and accreditation for professional qualifications are still a concern of many.
MALAYSIANS
There was very little immigration by Malaysians to Canada, or anywhere else for that matter, until the 1960s, when political stability and economic expansion made travel abroad not only practical but attractive. The Malaysian population in Vancouver is primarily of East Indian or Chinese descent and numbers about 7,000. They are mainly business and professional people and tend to keep to themselves even on national Malaysian holidays. As Malaysia continues to ride the crest of Southeast Asian prosperity, some are opting to return home for financial reasons.
SINGAPOREANS
If you’ve ever been to Singapore, you may be surprised to learn that the notorious Bugis Street in the nightlife district is named after one of the Malay peoples. (They don’t particulary reflect the lifestyle of that street!) The Bugis and other ethnic Malays by and large make up the Lower Mainland’s Singapor-ean contingent. There is an active Singapore and Malaysian Society and they often bring in entertainers from Asia.
INDONESIANS
Indonesia’s economy is the largest in Southeast Asia thanks in part to huge natural resources such as mining, oil and gas, and also to recent growth in industry and manufacturing. Indonesia is also the country with the world’s largest Muslim population.
As the diverse people of Southeast Asia and the similarly well concocted population of Greater Vancouver continue to mingle, we find ourselves in what has become anthropologically known as a “new growth circle.” It means we shall be seeing a lot more of each other as these interesting times unfold.
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