Old Hillcrest Chinese Cemetery Heritage Designation

The Old Hillcrest Chinese Cemetery, located in Cowichan Valley near Duncan, is an invaluably significant site to the history of diasporic Chinese communities in British Columbia, Canada. This cemetery has direct connections to a historically marginalized group, the Chinese labourers, who were instrumental to the forestry industry both locally and throughout the province. Yet, despite its nomination in 2015 as part of the Historic Places recognition by the Legacy Initiatives Advisory Council, which came out of the Government of BC's apology for the historical discrimination against Chinese people, the cemetery did not have a heritage designation at either the municipal or provincial level. The Foundation for Chinese Dignity set out to ensure that this crucial location would not fade into obscurity and gain the heritage designation as well as formal recognition it deserves.

Gate at the Entrance of the Old Hillcrest Chinese Cemetery. Photo: Melody Ma, 2025

Historical Context

The Old Hillcrest Chinese Cemetery was first formally established in 1945 by Jung, Sue Lem Bing 鄭忠梅, a labourer-contractor and foreman of Hillcrest Lumber Co., who obtained the land from Carlton Stone, the founder and owner of the same company, for the purpose of interring deceased Chinese labourers. The majority of Chinese people buried at the cemetery came from the Province of 廣東 (Gwóngdūng / Guǎngdōng) in southern China, specifically the counties of 開平, 恩平, 台山, 新會, 中山, and 番禺, with no family in Canada to attend to them in life or in death. As with other Chinese migrants in that era, they lived through the Head Tax and the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act, which would have prevented them from sponsoring any of their family in China to join them in Canada. They also faced other systemic barriers such as wage discrimination, employment exclusion, and disenfranchisement.

The cemetery is also the only known Chinese cemetery in the Cowichan valley, remaining largely intact without any major modifications to its physical architecture or its original purpose as a burial ground for Chinese people. Descendants continue to visit those interred and sustain their cultural practices.

At least 127 Chinese labourers associated with the sawmill industry are interred at the cemetery, and it is currently held in trust by the Duncan Chinese Community Association (DCCA) with various community stewards.

A rose on a grave marker at the Old Hillcrest Chinese Cemetery. Photo: Yao Xiao, 2025

The Problems

Lack of Heritage Designation

Through correspondence with the municipal and provincial governments in the area, we quickly discovered that the cemetery lacked heritage designation at both the municipal and provincial levels. This absence of official recognition means the site remains excluded from the formal histories and narratives of the Cowichan Valley. Furthermore, without heritage status, obtaining grant funding for interpretive signage, restoration funding, or even directional road signs in the future will be more challenging, as such funding typically relies on formal institutional recognition to validate a site’s significance.

Degrading Grave Markers

Additionally, over time and due to exposure to the elements, many of the Chinese grave inscriptions of the remaining grave markers have eroded to the point of being indiscernible. While community members have documented the grave markers and cross-referenced them with death and burial records, the Chinese inscriptions, containing vital information such as individuals’ original Chinese names and places of origin down to the village level, have yet to be fully transcribed or recorded. Furthermore, this information remains unarchived and inaccessible to the public. It is not available in Anglo-centric records.

Graves at the Old Hillcrest Chinese Cemetery. Photo: Melody Ma, 2025

Our Approach

Securing Heritage Designation

Our immediate goal was to secure heritage designation for the cemetery to enable funding for additional conservation and archival work. To achieve this, we collaborated closely with the volunteer caretaker, community members, and the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) heritage department, submitting an application with the support of the cemetery’s stewards, the Duncan Chinese Community Association (DCCA).

We anticipate a successful designation by October 2025, which will grant the cemetery heritage recognition at both the regional and provincial levels. The application process involved preparing a detailed Statement of Significance, based on research through primary sources including oral history interviews, site visits, and grave transcriptions.

Through ongoing engagement with the community centered around the heritage designation, we have also fostered renewed interest in developing a long-term care and management plan for the cemetery.

Archiving Grave Markers

At the same time, we have been working with the community to transcribe the Chinese characters on the grave markers and make this information publicly accessible through technology. Due to the physical deterioration of many inscriptions, the process with challenging. We had to employ a variety of visual and linguistic techniques to restore the information from the graves, using death and burial records for additional assistance. To the best of our abilities, we have salvaged what we can of the names and places inscribed on the graves, reprioritizing Chinese voices and experiences for the cemetery.

Grave marker of 黃杰文, from 廣東台山白沙東村. Photo: Yao Xiao, 2025

Key Findings

Through our research and work, we were able to document the historical significance and background of the cemetery, as well as confirming its current importance to the local Chinese community. Meanwhile, our research and transcription efforts have preserved what remains of the original Chinese names and information on the gravestones. By connecting to various individuals and communities, we have also reignited interest in care for the cemetery, ideally prompting more institutional attention to the site.

Outcomes & Impact

Heritage Nomination In Progress

Our nomination for heritage designation is still being processed, with formal recognition expected in the fall before the tomb-sweeping day of the 重陽節 Chongyang Festival in 2025.

Grave Marker Transcriptions Well Under Way

We are actively working on transcribing the grave inscriptions and matching them with relevant records. Once complete, the information will be compiled into a publicly accessible database and properly archived. Previously, this data was available only through unclear photographs and, at times, inaccurate anglicized names. By presenting the inscriptions as originally intended, we aim to refocus attention on the Chinese diasporic culture for which the cemetery was created and broaden public awareness.

Statement of Significance for Old Hillcrest Chinese Cemetery, July 2025

See Statement of Significance

What’s Next

Heritage Education

For our next steps, we hope to help the community explore options on erecting interpretive and directional signage to educate people about the formation of Chinese communities and cultures of the Cowichan Valley and the history of the cemetery.

Expansion of Grave Marker Archival Work

Additionally, we are finalizing the initial transcription of the grave markers and developing a public digital database that will allow everyone to view and read the inscriptions. We also plan to expand this work to include multiple historic Chinese cemeteries across British Columbia and nationally, creating a comprehensive archival resource to preserve these grave markers before they are lost.

With increased public awareness of the identities, cultures, and histories of Chinese people who once lived and worked in the Cowichan Valley, we can ensure their dignity and legacy is entrusted to those who came after them.

Prototype for The Chinese Cemetery Project public archive

Partners & Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Neil A. Dirom, Wendy Jang, Mike Tippet from the Cowichan Valley Regional District, Wai Dai (Willie) Chow, Daniel Ng from the Duncan Chinese Community Association, Tim Spencer, and Nancy Dirom for their contributions.

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