Yi Fao: Speaking Through Memory

This is the fascinating and complex story of the Chinese-Canadian community in New Westminster, British Columbia, told in text and photographs that relate a range of individual experiences and stories. Yi Fao is the citys Chinese name; it means second port, a reference to New Wests place as the second port of entry to British Columbia after Victoria. The book documents the history of Yi Fao and preserves and celebrates the voices and personalities of the Chinese immigrants who contributed so much to the citys development, focusing on four key families of settlers: Law, Lee, Quan and Shiu. In each familys story, children, siblings, grandchildren, grandparents and in-laws recount their memories of life in New Westminster. While the historical narrative helps place the stories in a broader context, the personal reminiscences offer a history not just of facts and dates, but of personal experiences and emotions. This intimate glimpse into daily life and the citys old Chinatown is compelling and poignant, revealing a story of struggle, adventure and achievement.