Tip: This monument is on Blue Jays Way. You can see it when you look north from Bremner Boulevard.
The Canadian Pacific Railway was built between 1880 and 1885. It was Canada's first transcontinental railroad that ran between Lake Nipissing in eastern Ontario to the coast of British Columbia. This railroad helped unite the country and support the development of western Canada.
Thousands of Chinese immigrants worked on this railroad. They worked hard. They sacrificed.
During this five-year railroad development phase, 17,000 men emigrated from China, most from Guangdong province. It is estimated that more than 4,000 workers died during the construction. In addition to facing racism, the immigrants were often given the most dangerous jobs in the already dangerous task of blasting through the Rocky Mountains to lay the Western section of the track. Many were killed by landslides, cave-ins, disease, and explosions.
Yesterday, I was walking to Rogers Centre for a company event. I noticed this memorial and took a photo. Little did I know until I got home that I had taken a photo of the Chinese Railroad Workers Memorial.
I like discovering a piece of history wherever I am. This one was a good find, as it allowed me to do some research.
The Chinese Railroad Workers Memorial in Toronto was erected in 1989, roughly around the same time that SkyDome, the original name of Rogers Centre, next door was also established. The former was created to commemorate the contribution and sacrifice of these Chinese workers.
The memorial has a plaque that states, "With no means of going back to China when their labour was no longer needed, thousands drifted in near destitution along the completed track."
Tragic. I appreciate that their efforts were noted and their sacrifice has not been forgotten.
Eldon Garnet and Franicis LeBouthillier designed this monument. It's a sculpture of two railroad workers lifting timber, and using pulleys and ropes. The boulders at the base are from the Canadian Rockies.
This monument was a solid find. I learned so much. I hope to return to pay my respects when I'm not trying to get to a Jays game.
(163) read more