As an Asian resident of Whistler since 2015, I never anticipated experiencing racism in such a vibrant and diverse community.
Recently, I had an unsettling experience on the chairlift at Blackcomb Mountain, and I feel compelled to share it. While snowboarding and waiting for a friend, I had the opportunity to ride the Catskinner chairlift with three random kids. They appeared to be local children, around 10 to 12 years old, possibly part of a team due to their matching black ski attire.
As we ascended, the kids engaged in casual conversation and jokes. However, my shock came when they started teasing people below the chairlift, urging them to attempt backflips, followed by racial mockery using the words “ching, chang, chong.” As an Asian resident of Whistler for about 10 years, I was deeply disturbed by their use of these racially insensitive words, something I had never encountered in Whistler before.
I attempted to address the situation, explaining to the kids that using “ching, chang, chong” is hurtful and inappropriate for Asian people. They brushed off my concerns, claiming it was merely a song on Spotify and not to be taken seriously. Despite my efforts to educate them on the seriousness of their words and actions, they continued to trivialize the matter.
Even though my English skills were limited, I persisted in trying to reason with them during our chairlift ride. However, I was unable to persuade them to understand the gravity of their actions.
Feeling frustrated by the encounter, I’m now sharing my experience with Pique. Thank you for providing me with this platform to share my story.
