The Oriental community in Cumberland was a major influence in Dunsmuir's force. Since 1888, mines in Cumberland have had many Chinese working in them, many of whom were previously employed by Dunsmuir in his rail and Wellington development. When Union camp was built, a swampy area was set aside for the Chinese. Here the Cumberland Chinese built a thriving community to supply the associations and activities of the traditional Chinese. At first glance, Cumberland Chinatown may have looked like a collection of haphazardly constructed shacks connected by a maze of boardwalks and narrow streets, when in actual fact it was an organized and self-contained business centre that catered to the needs of all its residents. Within its boundaries were several boarding houses, grocery and dry goods stores, laundries, bakeries, butchers, tailors, druggists selling herbal medicines, theatres, and clubs or halls which were the centre for community events.

The older part of Chinatown was known as Shan gai or Upper Street and it was established by the Chinese who came to Cumberland as miners and those who came to provide service for the first miners. The newer part of Chinatown was known as Ha gai or the Lower Street. There was much competition between the business, and the Societies of the two streets. The Societies and Association were exceptionally important as they assumed business, political, and welfare functions within the community. They ultimately brought the community closer together and helped the Chinese look after themselves and settled both criminal and civil disputes. Law and order were handled and dealt with within the Chinese community and outside forces were rarely contacted.

1923 in Chinatown saw the passing of the Chinese Immigration Bill, which had a shocking impact on the Chinese Canadian population. Even though head tax was abolished by this Act, immigration numbers were extremely limited. The Exclusion Act was also introduced A.W. Neill who was a local representative. Even though it was opposed by the Chinese community, it was still passed. Changes were also made to the Mine Act, prohibiting Oriental workers to work underground. This was due to the explosion that occurred in Mine No.4 in 1922 that took the lives of many miners. With the Exclusion Act, changes to the Mine Act, and a general decrease in coal markets, Chinatown soon became no more. Many families moved away because of lack of jobs. Some, especially those with wives and families waiting for them, went back to China. Others chose to move to areas with Chinese communities in larger cities, such as Nanaimo, Victoria and Vancouver. Some stayed in Cumberland Chinatown where they continued to operate their businesses and market gardens. There are a few Chinese families remaining in the Comox Valley who are extended family of some of the initial businessmen in Chinatown.

After several years of hardship and desertion, Cumberland Chinatown was eventually considered a ghost town. Only a few elderly Chinese gentlemen stayed "too old to move away from the place that had been their home for decades."

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Copies of the following books used to research this article are available for use and/or purchase at the Cumberland Museum:


One Hundred Spirited Years: A History of Cumberland
D.E. Isenor, E.G. Stephens, D.E. Watson

The Friendly Port: A History of Union Bay 1880-1960
Janet Glover-Geidt

Cumberland Heritage: A Selected History of People, Buildings, Institutions & Sites 1888-1950
Jennifer Nell Barr

Voices from Bevan
Betty Annand

Land of Plenty: A History of the Comox District
D.E. Isenor, W.N. McInnis, E.G. Stephens, D.E. Watson