canadian days

MRS FONG

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MRS FONG

CANADIAN DAYS

Reminiscences Of A Chinese ImmigrantPresented By Her Daughter Cairine

Carnets ofRhinoceros jrApril 2008

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My father, John Fong, came to Canada from China with his adoptiveparents in the late 1940’s for a better life. Much later he tried to lookfor information about his natural parents in Southern China but didnot find any.

When my father was in his mid-twenties he went to Hong Kong tofind a wife. Within a short timehe met my mother, married her andbrought her back to Canada.

My father as a teenager, Canada, circa 1949. Passport picture.My mother had pictures taken at a professional studio for her own personalenjoyment, Hong Kong, 1955.

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Wedding, Hong Kong, 1958.

Departure from Hong Kong, 1958.

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Most immigrants at that time had very little formal education. Mygrandfather opened a restaurant that served both Chinese and westerncuisine in the city of Hull in the province of Quebec. My mother recallsthat only two professions were allowed to Chinese immigrants :laundry and restaurants.

My father and cousinin front of myGrandfather's res-taurant in Hull,Quebec, 1950's(The cousin camealone; my father washis only relative)

My Grandfather and his daughter behind his restaurant.

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My parents and my young aunt, 1958

My parents lived with my grandparents and their younger daughter inthe apartment above the restaurant.

My mother discovers Canada, 1958

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My mother and cousin touring Ottawa, 1958

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My mother in Ottowa, 1958

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My mother and brother, 1960

Between 1959 and 1963 my mother gave birth to 5 children.

My parents and brother at the beach, 1960

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Our small family moved when my father opened his own restaurant inthe east end of Ottawa in 1960. Many of the Chinese immigrantslived in the downtown area close to each other, however, my fatherpreferred to reside in the suburbs of Ottawa.

Mother and brother, with aunt, cousin and relative, Ottawa, 1959

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We moved often and for my brothers and I it was always difficultattending new schools especially in the early years as we were visibleminorities. For many school children we were the first “foreigners” theyhave met although my brothers and I were born in Canada. I did notlearn to speak English until attending kindergarten at the age of 5 asthe spoken language at home was Cantonese.

In front of our house, 1964

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My brother, aunt and the babysitter, Hull, Quebec, 1959

My first best friend and me at a sleepover at my house, 1965

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With my brothers and our snowman, 1966

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Family road trip, 1969

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With my mother at the Parliament Hills, Ottawa, 1969

Posing with a dinosaur on a road trip to the east coast of Canada, 1971

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Swimming with my swan, 1971

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My brothers and myself, Ottawa, 1964

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My parents and brother in front of the restaurant sign, 1960

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My father cooking in his first restaurant, Ottawa, 1959

My mother among the booths, 1960

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Our new chinese take out restaurant, Ottawa, 1964

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My mother becameacquainted with the ChineseCentre in Ottawa, aninformal organizationoperated by Catholic nuns.The nuns kindly assisted theimmigrants to acclimatize tothe Canadian culture.Many Chinese immigrantsand university Visa studentsgathered at the ChineseCentre for social functions.It was a place to meet peoplefrom similar backgroundsand to feel less homesick.

My brother and I outside the Chinese Centre, 1965

Mother and brother with Sister Nina at the Chinese Centre, 1965

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My mother and my brother's godmother at the Chinese Centre, 1959

Chinese immigrants gathering at the Chinese Centre, 1965

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My cousin joined the Canadian Armed Forces, becoming one of very firstChinese Canadians in the military, 1965

Over the years as multiculturalism took hold it was easier toassimilate into the Canadian community. By the 1970’s most urbancities in Canada have a Chinese population. The bigger, cosmopolitancities have a Chinatown where authentic Chinese cuisine and importedgoods can be obtained.

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My brother as ringbearer, me as flowergirl at my piano teacher’s wedding,Ottawa, 1968

It was my mother’sdesire that I learnto play the piano,1967

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This notebook was printed on April 1st, 2009the 7th anniversary of the foundation ofthe Academia dei Venti in Ventotene

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