Chiu-Lin Tam

Mrs. Chiu Lin Tam was born into a prominent family in Hong Kong. She was the eldest child in her family with 7 brothers and sisters. Chiu Lin’s father(Dr. Fuk Cho Tsang) was a doctor practising western medicine in Hong Kong, one of the first doctors who graduated from the University of Hong Kong. Her mother(Hin Ying Chan) was a full time homemaker.

Chiu Lin got to know Kwan Wo Tam when she was a teenager, as both of them lived in the same area in Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island. After the war, Kwan Wo was sent by his parents to study in the United States. Kwan Wo was born into a very traditional Chinese family. His father (Mr.Chuk Ming Tam ) was also a very successful business man, his business was mainly in trading paper and importing paper from the western world. His business was in the famous South North Hong Kong area. Kwan Wo had 7 brothers and sisters.

Chiu Lin and Kwan Wo were married in 1951, the wedding event was one of the main celebrations among the socialites. I think you can get the picture from the photo slide. Chiu Lin and Kwan Wo started a new life as a couple. Chiu Lin and her husband both had a long career in the banking industry. During the early years of their marriage, they started a family with 4 children (Helen, Jesse, Mabel and Raymond). Chiu Lin was an entrepreneur. After working in the banks for years, she decided to start her own jewellery business.

Chiu Lin and Kwan Wo had experienced a period of financial difficulty when their children were in high school. Chiu Lin believed that if the children would have a better education, then they all will have better lives in the future. No matter how difficult it was, she had sent all 4 children abroad to complete university education.

In the 1980s, Chiu Lin and Kwan Wo Tam immigrated from Hong Kong to Canada, to join their children to start a new life in North America.

Chiu Lin was an adventurer, she liked to explore new things and build a fuller life with new experiences. She knocked on doors of Canadian banks to look for a job. She believed that her banking experience would help her land a job at a Canadian bank. With the height of Chinese immigration into the Vancouver area at that time, TD Bank hired her and Chiu Lin worked at TD for over 10 years until she retired. All customers and bank employees liked her. She was hard working, built a lot of friendships alongher career in Canada.

After she retired, she focused on babysitting her grandchildren (she has 10), enjoyed travelling with her husband, and learned never ending new things. She would ask her grandchildren to teach her how to use the computer, operate an iPad, or explore new online games.

One exciting chapter of Chiu Lin’s life was when she became an actress in western Hollywood movies. In 2006, she was Granny in the Canadian Movie named “Everything’s gone green”. In 2007, she became Hollywood’s star and was filmed with Robin Williams in the movie named “License to Wed”. She also filmed as Mrs. Yin in the TV series – “Dragon Boys”.

In the last 10 years, she had been an active participant in the senior communities. She volunteered in such organizations as:SUCCESS, Cameron Community Center, Confederation Park Community Center, Fall Prevention Communities and many, many other volunteer positions. All these engagements contributed to her meeting new friends and having a much fulfilled life in her golden years.

She tried to keep her independence until the end by living on her own. She kept busy by continuing to participate in senior community events, until 2 weeks before she passed away peacefully at Burnaby General Hospital on September 12th.

Chiu Lin lived an extremely fulfilling life and brings a smile and much joy to those lives she has touched. She’s even had the opportunity to be a great grandmother 4 times in her lifetime. She will be missed by all of her liveliness, giggles, and never ending energy.