Kamloops Chinese Cemetery

The history of
Canada is written on 
the bones resting here

~ carliewired

This site began as a burial site for Chinese workers in 1860. The land was donated by a local rancher, George Bower, so that his Chinese workers could be buried. They would not be accepted in the city cemetery. Chinese workers had come for the gold rush and found work in the area. 

From 1880 to 1886, a second wave of Chinese workers came to this area to work on the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This railway was key in uniting the western provinces and in the founding of Canada as a nation. 

Originally, the cemetery served as a temporary burial site, as the Chinese would wish to have their bones returned to their native land to be included with their ancestors. By WWI, it was no longer possible to return the bones, so the cemetery became a permanent one. 

The last burial took place in 1976.

The Kamloops  Chinese Heritage Cemetery Committee is entrusted with the care and maintenance of this cemetery.