Dear Editor,
Re: “See benefits of immigration,” Letters, Aug. 14.
I would like to thank Emilie Henderson for her letter. Had these points been raised by someone of Chinese descent, I fear the person would have been rebuked as Coun. Chak Au was in the letter, “Where’s the patience for long-timers?” (Aug. 12).
I have called Richmond my home for 25 years and I was only asked for the first time recently, “No, where are you ‘originally’ from?” Not only did this statement seem to imply that I somehow wasn’t from Richmond despite growing up and spending most of my life here, but after discovering I was born in Hong Kong, this person went on to assume (and I quote), “...then you must come from money.”
It is unfortunate that there are increasing incidents like these that create division among people of different cultural groups in our community.
Our city continues to face issues about development and affordability that affect immigrant and non-immigrant middle class families alike who call Richmond home. I also reminisce about Richmond when it was less developed, when my neighbourhood felt friendlier. But to blame these problems solely on newcomers is to absolve myself of my responsibilities as a Richmondite.
A community that makes Richmond a great place to live requires all of us who live here to build and maintain it.
Irene Yu
Richmond
