Kudos to our PM

I am delighted that Stephen Harper has formally apologized to Canadians of Chinese descent over the Head Tax issue.

And while that chapter in Canada’s history is grim, it got even worse in 1923 with the Chinese Exclusion Act, when Chinese immigrants were banned altogether from coming to Canada.

Ironically, 1923 was the same year that Canada’s Noble Experiment took place — our first international relief effort with the saving of 50 Armenian boys who were orphaned during the genocide in Turkey when 85% of the Armenians in Turkey were massacred. My book Aram’s Choice, is about these boys, who are now known as the Georgetown Boys.

And my friend Gillian Chan has written a fabulous novel about one girl and her family and how they were affected by the Chinese Exclusion Act, called An Ocean Apart.

Author: Marsha

I write historical fiction, mostly from the perspective of young people who are thrust in the midst of war.

2 thoughts on “Kudos to our PM”

  1. I was following this as best I could, Marsha, as I was away at the cottage and somewhat isolated.

    I am very pleased that the apology was made, even if I do think that the offered compensation is more than a little cosmetic than meaningful.

    Thanks you for the kind words about An Ocean Apart

    1. Hi Gillian,

      As you know, An Ocean Apart is one of my all time favourite novels. I love all of your novels and short stories.

      I wouldn’t say cosmetic so much as symbolic. What was key was an actual apology.

Comments are closed.