*Between 1887 and 1947, a number of discriminatory laws restricted Chinese immigration to Canada. (It was 1967 before Chinese-Canadians were granted equal status with whites. Only recently has compensation been offered for head tax paid by early immigrants)

Chinese labourers were among the unsung heroes of the development of Canada. British Columbia was enticed to join Confederation with the promise of a rail line linking it to eastern Canada.

More than 15,000 Chinese immigrants labored to build the transcontinental railway link.

Most were uneducated, unskilled, single men, who came here on temporary work permits, hoping for a better life.

Construction of the western section of the CPR began in 1879; and by 1881, 1500 experienced Chinese railway workers had arrived from California.

Although anti-Chinese prejudice in B.C. led to racist legislation, at least 15,000 Chinese workers were eventually recruited for the project.

At first they worked at grading and leveling land for tracks, but soon they were using explosives to open tunnels through the mountains.

Despite the dangers of their work, the Chinese labourers received only $1 per day, while white workers were paid from $1.50 to $2.50 per day, plus benefits.

Low pay and harsh conditions took their toll.

Many Chinese died from exhaustion, exposure and malnutrition.

Others perished by drowning, were killed in explosions or buried alive in collapsed tunnels.

Contemporary estimates suggest that there was at least one Chinese death for each mile of the completed track.

But once the rail line was complete, the Chinese were let go.

When the Last Spike was driven in November 1885, there were no Chinese among the invited guests.

About half the survivors returned to China, while others remained to build a vibrant Chinese community on the B.C. coast.

Recently, Cheng Ging Butt was selected by CPR as a typical representative of these largely unknown workers, and honoured in a special ceremony.