Clifton Yu Lam Chiu

Clifton Yu Lam Chiu, also known as Cliff, peacefully passed away on August 1, 2023, at the age of 89 in Canada. He was born on August 27, 1933, in Hong Kong. Cliff was both a scholarly and devoted family man who dedicated his life to self-education.

Cliff's educational journey began at Ying Wa College, where he completed his secondary school education achieving the second highest marks at the end of every school term. He then pursued his passion for learning further at the University of Hong Kong where he studied English and History for his Bachelor of Arts degree. With a Commonwealth scholarship in hand, at the age of 29 he chose to travel to Vancouver to attend the University of British Columbia based solely on a photo of Vancouver shown to him by a fellow student. Cliff went on to achieve a Masters of Education from the University of British Columbia in 1964. This was followed by a Doctor of Education in 1977 after years of research to form the basis of his thesis in the field of childhood education. He then became a Registered Psychologist in 1979.

Throughout his career, Cliff made significant contributions to the field of education. He served as an Education Officer at the Hong Kong Education Bureau and later became a Senior Psychologist at the Burnaby Health Department from 1970 to 1998. His expertise and dedication positively impacted the lives of thousands of children in the Burnaby school district.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Cliff had a vibrant array of hobbies. He enjoyed walking, practicing Tae Bo, baking bread and cooking curry and pasta. He continued expanding his knowledge with books on every topic he could ingest, listening to CBC radio and indulging in the purchase of classical music and opera records and CDs. These activities brought him joy and enriched his life.

Cliff is survived by his loving daughter Corinne, son-in-law Vincent, granddaughters Natasha and Gabrielle, two sisters, and one brother. He was preceded in death by his wife Jean and a younger brother.

A memorial service to honor Cliff's life will be held at Ocean View Funeral Home, located at 4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby, BC V5J1A4, on Friday, August 11, 2023, at 4pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Cliff's memory to the Parkinson Society British Columbia through the following link below.

Cliff will be deeply missed by his family and friends. May his memory be cherished and his legacy of knowledge and love of the English language live on in his cherished granddaughters.