Key Figures

1861-1955

WAITING 88 YEARS FOR UNFETTERED RIGHTS TO VOTE, HE REPRESENTS THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS IN CANADA.

1896 – 1960

A LEADER OF THE CHINESE CANADIAN CLUB, ADVOCATING FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES, INCLUDING THE FIGHT AGAINST RACIAL SEGREGATION IN VICTORIA SCHOOLS.

Jean Lumb

1919 – 2002

COMMUNITY LEADER AND RESTAURATEUR

Kew Dock Yip

1906 – 2001

FIRST CHINESE CANADIAN LAWYER, WHO WORKED WITH A JEWISH CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE TO FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS.

Margaret Jean Gee

1927 – 1995

THE FIRST FEMALE CHINESE CANADIAN LAWYER TO OPEN HER OWN PRACTICE AND FIRST CHINESE CANADIAN FEMALE TO SERVE AS A PILOT OFFICER.

Douglas Jung

1924 – 2002

JUNG WAS A SOLDIER, POLITICIAN, LAWYER, SUPREME COURT JUDGE AND THE FIRST CHINESE CANADIAN TO BE AN ELECTED MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.

Wong Foon Sein

1899 – 1971

A TIRELESS ACTIVIST AND JOURNALIST WHO HELPED TO REUNITE CHINESE CANADIAN FAMILIES, OVERCOME GENDER DISPARITY AND LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE 1967 IMMIGRATION ACT.

Fred Wah

1939 –

AWARD-WINNING, POET LAUREATE FRED WAH WROTE POETRY ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES WORKING IN HIS FATHER’S CHINESE-CANADIAN CAFE IN RURAL BC, AND HELPED TO FOSTER OTHER VOICES IN THE LITERARY CIRCLE ABOUT PLACE AND RACE.

Vivian Jung

1924 – 2014

WITH THE HELP OF ALLIES, VIVIAN JUNG OVERCAME SEGREGATION AT A SWIMMING POOL IN BC IN ORDER TO BECOME THE FIRST CHINESE CANADIAN SCHOOL TEACHER IN VANCOUVER.

Linda Ann Loo

1947 –

LINDA LOO BECAME THE FIRST CHINESE CANADIAN FEMALE JUDGE AT THE SUPREME COURT IN BC IN 1996.

Norman (“Normie”) Kwong

1929 – 2016

CANADA’S FIRST CHINESE CANADIAN FOOTBALL PLAYER IN THE CFL AND ALBERTA’S FIRST ASIAN CANADIAN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

The Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy

1941-

FORMER SENATOR, LIFELONG LEARNER AND CHAMPION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION