Elsie Albinia Mokrzycka Sculpture Christine Tang What Happened

Elsie Albinia Mokrzycka Sculpture Christine Tang

What Happened? Polish 10 year old Elsie was murdered by Fong Yong, a Chinese immigrant who was mentally ill. This murder occurred in Toronto on March 30 th, 1927.

What Happened? When Fong Yong found out his family was captured by bandits in the local Chinese newspaper, he went beserk and stole a large knife from a butcher shop. He managed to stab Elsie, who happened to be passing by in order to do an errand for her sister.

What Happened? Fong Yong later said that the reason he killed Elsie was that “her people killed his people”. His feelings lead him to using violence against Elsie, which ended up taking her life. This can reveal how separated and divided different ethnic groups were in the Ward.

What Happened? ● This event impacted the Chinese and Polish communities in the ward, resulting in a tense relationship between both groups. ● Strong racism that was present in the 1920 s was also revealed with this event, as shown by the wording on Elsie’s grave.

What Happened? ● This event is historically significant because it is the first hate crime that has occurred in the ward. ● Although this event had a very negative effect on the ward and people in it, it should be commemorated because it represented social conflicts between different ethnic groups. ● Viewers can also think about how tensions between these groups have changed from the 1920 s compared to now.

Evidence & Research ● Info that was used to put together this commemoration came from an article that was given in class where the event was described by Elsie’s sister’s granddaughter. ● On the trip to what used to be the ward, one task that was given was to find the spot of where the murder took place. This helped me decide where to place the commemoration.

The Commemoration ● The commemoration will take form in a statue of Elsie. ● Elsie was stabbed at the corner of Elizabeth and Albert street, which is now part of Nathan Phillips square.

The Commemoration ● The statue will be wooden, and significant phrases engraved and painted into her dress in different colours. ● It will also be accompanied with a QR-code which will lead to an app. ● The app will provide more info on the significance of each phrase or word.

The Commemoration ● The app is a helpful addition to those who are viewing the commemoration because it gives a deeper explanation of key words and phrases that seem unclear at first. ● Dividing up the story of Elsie’s murder into small segments will make it easier for viewers to understand.