Documents & Records
Petition of Chinese Residents of the City of Victoria, British Columbia for an Amendment of a Certain Act
Basics
In 1894, Chinese residents of Victoria petitioned the Governor General of Canada to amend a law passed in 1892 (55-56 Victoria, Chapter 25, Section 1) requiring Chinese residents who left Canada to return within six months. The petition requested that the time be extended to eighteen months. It was signed by 34 Chinese Victoria residents, all of whom identified themselves as wholesale and retail merchants. The list indicates the number of years each signatory had resided in Victoria, a period ranging from 2 to 34 years. The petition does not record the birthplaces of the individuals listed.
Finding the Records
At Library and Archives Canada
The original petition can be viewed on-site at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa. For more information, see How to Access Library and Archives Canada Records. The reference for the Petition is File no. 1629, RG174-26-2-E.
Online
The Library and Archives Canada online archival inventory description of these records is linked to a high-quality complete digital copy of the original petition.
Photo banner: Detail from VPL Historical Photograph 78362
