A Chinese man named Sam Sing was the first merchant in Townsite. A respected business partner of the Powell River Company, he opened a grocery, butcher shop, general store and bachelor accommodations in 1923 at the Shinglemill on Powell Lake.
Sing’s sons carried on his business after his death and the Penny Profit store, the last retail store owned by one of his sons, closed its doors in 1987. Some of Sing’s grandchildren have remained in Powell River.
Xenophobia is the dislike of people that are perceived to be foreign or strange. It usually involves the perceptions and actions of local residents towards people moving into a given area. Xenophobia, like a lot of social ills, is rooted in ignorance and fear. Sometimes it manifests itself in blatant racism, often it is much more subtle.
Unfortunately, xenophobia has again arisen in Powell River as more and more Chinese people move to our community for business, studies or just because, like a lot of people settling in our area, it’s such a beautiful place to live.
In November, racist posters were plastered on community poles and nasty notes were slipped under the doors of Chinese business owners.
Since then, a number of local businesses have been bought by Chinese people and City of Powell River has recently signed a partnership agreement with two cities in China after a large sale of land to a wealthy Chinese businessman from Zhuanghe, one of the cities in the agreement.
With Sino Bright School already teaching Chinese students at Oceanview Education Centre and planning to build a campus near Brooks Secondary School, and another Chinese university planned for the recently purchased lands on the Wildwood bluffs, more Chinese people will be living in this area.
When faced with newcomers, there are two types of reactions. One is to welcome them, appreciating the cultural and economical enrichment they will bring to the community. Two is to assume the worst, building figurative and sometimes literal fences to keep outsiders away.
Sing was an important part of our community in the early 1900s. He was welcomed by some, shunned by others, and managed to create a life for himself and his family for many generations.
While the cultural and economic climate has changed radically in Powell River since then, the fact remains that Chinese people are coming to Powell River because the area has drawn them here.
Why would we want to risk turning them away when they can bring us so much in return?
