Parks Canada nixes historic status for monument

The Chinese Head Tax Monument in Brandon will not be given national historic site status, according to Parks Canada.

A statement from the federal agency said sites need to be at least 40 years old to qualify for the designation. The monument, located in the Brandon Municipal Cemetery, was completed in 2011.

“Any aspect of Canada’s human history may be considered for designation of national historic significance under the National Program of Historical Commemoration,” media relations officer Megan Hope wrote. “If the site is younger than 40 years old, it is not eligible.”

Dennis Hurley, who spearheaded the application to Parks Canada, said he’s disappointed by the statement.

“It’s a shame,” he said. “It’s disappointing for a number of reasons.”

While the monument was sculpted only 14 years ago, it memorializes the federal government’s actions against Chinese newcomers from the 1880s until 1947. Hurley said that context needs to be taken into account.

“It sounds almost like this is just a poor interpretation,” Hurley said. “Sounds more like a technicality than anything.”

The federal government started charging new Chinese immigrants $50 per person (about $1,749 in 2023 dollars) in 1885, after the immigrants helped complete the Canadian Pacific Railway. That cost slowly ballooned to $500 by 1903 (equal to $18,000 in 2023).

In 1923, the federal government effectively banned Chinese immigration, up until 1947.

“The monument (itself) shouldn’t be the determining factor,” Hurley said.

He said he will continue to work to get national historic site status for the monument, especially with a letter of approval coming from the city. Brandon City Council at its July 7 meeting said it will write a letter of support for the monument to receive the designation.

“I don’t think I’m going to give up on it,” he said. “It’s my intent to submit it again and get a written rationale. Because in my view, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, especially when you consider how long ago this started.”

The Sun asked Parks Canada if the historical events that the monument is commemorating are taken into account when a designation is considered, but the agency reiterated that the site must be at least 40 years old.

Hurley said it’s possible the decision can be reversed.

“I used to work for the federal government, and oftentimes once they consider all the details, sometimes decisions are changed,” he said. “I’m optimistic.”

City of Brandon senior planner Andrew Mok wasn’t available for an interview on Tuesday because he was on vacation, but sent an emailed response.

“We intend to honour the initiative and submit the support letter to ensure the application is complete and to make clear to the federal government of the city’s support of this initiative,” Mok said in the email.

“Regardless of the status as a national historic site, the city will continue to maintain the monument and honour the subject of the Chinese Head Tax, a part of Canadian history that is still not generally known amongst Canadians.”

Hurley said he will make sure to point out the fact that the monument is “representative of the Chinese impact on small prairie towns,” and that it was created by “famous Manitoba sculptor” Peter Sawatzky.

» alambert@brandonsun.com