Family Environmental History
January 30, 2022 By: wei zhang
Although I was born in Canada, my parents emigrated from China in the 1960s. In this section, I focus on my parents from my father’s side, who I believe are an accurate representation of persons who have experienced Asian life both in the past without technology and in the future where technology is everything. Historically, the Chinese economy has long been characterized by widespread poverty, extreme income inequalities, and insecurities in people’s livelihoods. However, things began to change at the end of the 1970s as China experienced a surge in its economic growth supported by an increase in its population.[1]. When the communist political party led by Deng Xiaoping got into power, various market reforms were introduced, enabling China’s economy to grow rapidly.[2].
This was a sign of hope for my grandparents since they struggled to meet their daily needs to survive. My grandfather had to work various odd jobs while my grandmother, through her nursing education, could sustain a large part of their livelihoods. My grandparents were able to sustain four kids, one of them being my father. While raising their kids, my grandfather also decided to go back to school since he was an adamant admirer of education. He went to study accounting since numbers to him were quite easy to follow compared to other subjects. After finishing his studies, my grandfather obtained a job at a government office, enabling their lives to take a turn for the best.
After a few years, my grandparents wanted to move to the countryside to live out their days in a place of peace and tranquility. As a result, the government gave them enough cash to buy a huge parcel of land in the rangelands, which they sought to convert into a ranch. In the 1940s, my grandparents and family migrated to the rangelands to settle as farmers and businesspeople. After moving to the rangelands, my grandparents lived off produce like dairy and meat products they produced within their farm. However, after years, this proved to be quite difficult since climate change affected the area. As a result, my grandparents decided to send my dad to the city since he was the only one to receive a college mission. Besides being proficient in education, my father also participated in various sports that increased his recognition among government officials. When my father finished his education, he worked as a teacher in a local college. Besides being a teacher, my father was also tasked with translating for foreigners seeking to partner with the school for various activities. The above role allowed my father to get to Canada and settle there.
There were already many Chinese immigrants living in the region in reaching Canada, which enabled my father to have a sense of belonging and community. One major difference that my father could point out in Canada is abundant opportunities, including jobs, food, land, and housing, unlike in China, where there was a high competition. The Chinese community in Canada was also where my father and mother met and married. Looking at my parent’s life right now, I could say that Canada has done well for us. For instance, my father could live up to his full potential, which could have been impossible if he had remained in China. After with fur children, my father decided to try out agriculture by leasing acres of land. My parents practice organic gardening on this land, where every waste is recycled and made for other activities. This land has provided abundant amounts of organic fresh foods year after year in return. In looking at the above activities that my parents have gotten involved in, it is clear that they are connected to the land since they protect the environment. Still, they also pay attention to the natural balance of life.
In conclusion, my family has a huge heritage that will be passed on to future generations. One major trait that resonates with my family is that our Chinese culture makes us appreciate the environment with its natural beauty and attempt to maintain today’s balance. However, the major challenge we face is that the model of sustaining economic growth practiced with most Canadians is unlikely to change until major environmental reforms are developed and implemented.
[1] Lam, Lawrence. “The Chinese-Canadian Families of Toronto in 1970’s.” International Journal of Sociology of the Family (1982): 11-32.
[2] Lam, Lawrence. “The Chinese-Canadian Families of Toronto in 1970’s.” International Journal of Sociology of the Family (1982): 11-32.