Arrowleaf balsamroot seeds planted to mark start of mural dedicated to Kelowna's early Chinese settlers

Arrowleaf balsamroot seeds have been planted to mark the official beginning of a Kelowna mural project devoted to the city’s early Chinese settlers.

The Okanagan Chinese Canadian Association (OCCA) joined executives from Kelowna’s Gospel Mission in Leon Avenue for the ceremony.

Arrowleaf balsamroot is Kelowna’s official flower.

The mural, when completed, will depict some of the stories of the Chinese settlers who came to the city between the early 19th century and 1960s.

It will feature the historical Chinatown which was once on Leon and Harvey between Water and Abbott.

The mural, which has been funded by the City of Kelowna and the Central Okanagan Foundation, is expected to be unveiled at the end of June.

Charles Chau, an artist from Hong Kong who lives in Kelowna, has been commissioned to work on the project.

"I was thrilled and honoured to be part of this,” he said.

“When I started on this project, I began researching on the history of early Chinese settlers in the Okanagan region and was thrilled by the many contributions they made".

The Gospel Mission site was chosen as the facade for the mural because it is one of the few remains of the old Chinatown.

Dr. Meng Hua from the OCCA said: "We are extremely grateful for the funding of City of Kelowna and the Central Okanagan Foundation to make this happen. We hope the mural project when completed will depict a visual history of early Chinese Canadians in Kelowna and the Okanagan region."

Dr. Hua added: "We are particularly grateful to Kelowna's Gospel Mission for their warm support for the mural project to be happening there," added Meng.

The Gospel Mission’s executive director Randy Benson, meanwhile, praised the planting as a representation of “nurturing, growing, and harvesting”.

“Not only does it signify one of the important economic activities of our region and that of early Chinese farmers especially after the mining and railway building periods, but it also shares our similar values of planting hope within the hearts of those we serve through the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he added.