A century after the Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese women still face challenges in Canada

People visit the Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act exhibit at the Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver on June 30, 2023. The exhibit features hundreds of special identity documents called C.I. certificates that were issued to Chinese residents by the Canadian government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

This July marks a century since the Chinese Exclusion Act was introduced in Canada. On June 23, a plaque was unveiled in the Senate in Ottawa to mark the centenary.

While the act was in force, Chinese immigrants to Canada faced strict restrictions that made it near impossible for many to enter the country. During the 24 years the act was in place, Canada admitted fewer than 50 Chinese people in total.