Jack Yee makes regular visits to the Chinese Cemetery located in Erlton, southwest Calgary, to pay homage to his parents and the early Chinese immigrants who settled there in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The cemetery, dating back to 1908, stands as one of Calgary’s oldest cultural burial sites with historical significance.
Over time, deterioration has affected several original headstones, causing them to tilt or collapse due to issues such as placement and ground shifting. Yee emphasized the importance of the cemetery to the Chinese community, recognizing it as a place of ancestral reverence and a symbol of continuity for future generations.
In his role as President and CEO of the Calgary Chinatown Development Foundation, Yee collaborated with the City of Calgary to initiate the restoration and revitalization of the cemetery. A feng shui expert from Vancouver evaluated the grounds, leading to a decision to rejuvenate the site.
In a collective effort spanning two summers, the city and numerous volunteers from the local Chinese community safeguarded 343 historic grave-sites and refurbished 177 monuments, securing them on fortified soil foundations. Gary Daudlin, overseeing cemeteries management for the City of Calgary, highlighted the restoration’s aim to honor the buried individuals and allow future generations to appreciate their contributions to the community.
Restoration activities involved meticulous monument removal, crack stabilization through epoxy application, inscription identification with the help of community translators, and proper repositioning of the stones. Members of Calgary’s Chinese community played a crucial role in cleaning monuments and enhancing the landscape by loaming, seeding, fertilizing, and watering.
A commemorative monument from China was also erected to commemorate the restoration efforts at the cemetery. Recognized as a dedicated site of remembrance and community, the Erlton Chinese Cemetery holds historical significance as a place of remembrance for Chinese residents during a time when they were excluded from other burial grounds.
Despite challenges such as discriminatory policies like the head tax imposed on Chinese immigrants, Calgary’s Chinese community thrived and contributed significantly to the city’s development. The revitalization of the Erlton Chinese Cemetery stands as a tribute to the early Chinese pioneers, acknowledging their sacrifices and accomplishments while preserving a vital aspect of Calgary’s heritage and fostering lasting connections with the Chinese community for future generations.