Burnaby North MLA Richard Lee is calling attention to the contributions the Chinese community has made to the province.
In a private member's statement delivered in the legislature recently, Lee highlighted historical contributions Chinese Canadians have made.
"While the economic contributions to our province by British Columbians with British, Dutch and Russian origins are often documented, the history of those with Asian ancestry, especially Chinese, is not well known," Lee said.
Some of his examples included the 1850s Gold Rush, which was linked to a surge in Chinese migration, and construction of the Canadian Pacific Railroad.
"The commitment to build the CPR was a precondition of British Columbia joining Canada, and this should have been a source of pride for all who worked uniting our country and creating an economic corridor that linked the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean," Lee said.
Lee also dropped some big names from the Chinese community: David Choi, CEO of Royal Pacific Realty; Cindy Lee, CEO of T&T Supermarkets; and renowned architect Bing Thom. He also mentioned H.Y Louie, a company that started with Hok Yat Louie's general store in Vancouver's Chinatown. It is now the second-largest family-owned business in B.C.
