The Chinese in Toronto from 1878. Arlene Chan

were active in running their schools and mission. The Chinese mission of the Presbyterian Church in Toronto was part of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and was intended to help with the integration of Chinese into Canadian society. English classes were the big draw for attendance at church. The early Chinese immigrants had little to no contact with Christians in their homeland, and they did not seek out local Christian communities upon their arrival. A definite attraction was the offering of language lessons. From the missionary perspective, English language instruction was the prerequisite to instilling religious doctrines and Christian values. For the Chinese, English was the key to success for acceptance and greater access to Canadian society.