In 1988, Edmonton’s sister city, Harbin, donated a Chinese PaiFang called the Harbin Gate to us. It became a landmark of Edmonton Chinatown, and a symbol of friendship between China and Canada. It held a special connection in the hearts of the Chinese community in Edmonton. It was a piece of home they could see and visit.

In 2017, the Gate was removed to make way for the LRT construction. City Hall promised to re-install the Gate.

There’s an old saying, if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind. It’s been eight years, and the China Gate is still waiting. The Gate has been dismembered and discarded in the city storage facilities.

What does 8 years mean to me?

For me, in that time, my daughter finished university and law school. 8 years was also the length of the Chinese fighting against the Japanese invasion and occupation during the Second World War. During these 8 years, there was also a Canadian surgeon who joined the war and saved counties Chinese soldiers. He spent 19 months and 17 days there and ultimately died saving a Chinese soldier’s life. His name was Norman Bethune. The Chinese nation was grateful towards him and named hospitals and schools after him. His story became part of our textbooks. We were brought up to cherish his heroism and his country Canada.

The Harbin Gate was one such symbol of our friendship.

From my poem “Where Are You, China Gate?”

Restore the gate,

The faith innate.

Click to listen to the poem read by the author – “Where Are You, China Gate?”