Mr. Jack Lim Eng

Jack Lim Eng passed away peacefully on May 24, 2020 in his 98th year. Jack’s life reads like a history book of the Chinese Canadian toil, triumph and success through the last century. He was born in Vancouver, BC in 1922 and, at the age of 5, moved with his family to Zhongshan, China where he received a formal Chinese education at Zhongshan Middle School in Zhongshan, Sek Kee.

At age 15, Jack returned by himself to Vancouver. While the family had hoped to all remain in China, the political unrest, civil war and invasion by the Japanese forces prompted Jack’s parents to send him back to Canada to ensure continuance of the family legacy. Returning on the Empress of Asia steamship, Jack was greeted in Vancouver by his uncle’s family and their three sons Jack Foon, Eddie and Jackson who welcomed and treated Jack like a son and brother. Times were tough for all during the depression years. Jack helped out in his uncle’s grocery store Courtesy Market at Hastings and Nanaimo Streets where a good day’s income was $20. He went to Lord Strathcona Elementary and completed grade 9 high school at Britannia Secondary but then had to work full-time to support himself and send money home to his family in China.

It was from early life experiences working two to three jobs simultaneously that etched a strong work ethic and financial responsibility into Jack’s character. In the summers during herring season, he would work in a cannery up the coast. That first year he earned 15 cents per hour and less than $40 for the summer. At age 17, he was offered a job as deputy foreman and bookkeeper in Vancouver for a remarkable $40 per month. His ability to speak English and Chinese gave him an advantage over the older 60 to 70 employees whom he managed.

Notably, one of Jack’s many jobs was that of a Chinese school teacher. His bilingualism and, thus, ability to bridge the communication gap between the Western and Chinese cultures was one of his most valuable assets during his life journey. He later went on to work as a translator for the Chinese Times daily newspaper, eventually becoming the North American News Editor, Managing Director and Chairperson.

The Eng family was slowly reunited after World War II when Jack sponsored his mother, four sisters and brother and their families to Vancouver from Hong Kong and China. Eldest sister Jenny and daughter Mae arrived in 1979.

Jack entered the real estate business in 1958. A year later, he and his then wife started Success Realty Ltd. -- at a time when there were very few Chinese realtors. Their business thrived in the 1960s and 1970s, brokering sales of new homes to the early wave of Chinese immigrants. Jack was awarded Top 5 Selling Salespeople from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver three times. The business grew to include insurance, new-home construction and real estate investments. Success Realty & Insurance Ltd. remains in the family today on Keefer Street in Chinatown and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2020.

Jack was well recognized and respected as a community leader given his involvement in, and deep commitment to, various organizations. In the 1970s, he was the founding Vice-Chair of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Vancouver. In addition, he was President of the Ing Suey Sun Tong Association and was later elevated to the position of Life President of the Association. He was also “Senator” (a most venerable title) within the Chinese Freemasons National Headquarters. He represented the latter two associations both nationally and internationally. Jack was also Chair of the Dart Coon Club of Vancouver, Board Chair of the Chinese Times newspaper, and a director of the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver. A proud supporter of education in Zhongshan, China, a school wing continues to be named after Jack today.

Being well versed in English and Chinese, he was often the Master of Ceremonies at many weddings and celebrations. On the political scene, he was the campaign manager for Douglas Jung. Through his connections with the Chinese family associations in the community, Jack was able to mobilize a lot of the voters, which resulted in Jung being elected the first Chinese Member of Canada’s Parliament. Over the years, Jack’s insights and expertise were often sought by politicos, including Prime Minister John Diefenbaker; and Jack had the honour of accompanying many dignitaries and representing Canada abroad. The Prime Minister even invited Jack to join him on a visit to China because of his circle of influence, and the Chinese government subsequently invited Jack on official delegations. Other highlights during his career included meeting Canadian Prime Ministers Joe Clark and Kim Campbell.

All his life he worked hard. He would say: “Nothing comes to you for nothing. With hard work comes accomplishment.”

Jack’s friends and family have described him as charming and a doting grandfather. He had a great presence yet a calm demeanour. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and they loved being with him. He kept socially active and, back in the 1950s and early ‘60s, he was manager of the Hon Hsing basketball team and volleyball team, the latter of which went on to become North American champions. He delighted in bus trips to San Francisco with the team. In fact, Jack enjoyed spending his leisure time traveling the world with his family and friends. He had a passion for visiting new countries and exploring foreign cultures, and took his family on annual trips to Europe, Mexico and South America at a time when international travel wasn’t common. In later years, he travelled almost annually to Zhongshan where he grew up. Visits to San Francisco were frequent and he later purchased an apartment for longer-term stays.

Jack was also a talented calligrapher and a lover of classical music. He had season tickets to the VSO for many years. Classical music melodies could always be heard in his home and he encouraged his children to play the piano and violin.

Jack will be dearly missed by his family, relatives and friends, and fondly remembered for his warm heart, kind spirit and infectious smile.

He was predeceased by his sisters Jenny and Norrie. He leaves behind sisters Susie and Adrienne, brother Sam; wife Cynthia; children Andrea and Jordan and wife Polly, and grandchildren Chelsea, Jamieson and Michael; step-children Vincent Lum, Gina Lum, Gloria McBay and husband Paul; step-grandchildren Matthew Lum and wife Harleen, Rachel Lum, Brian McBay and wife Michelle, and Douglas McBay.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation would be greatly appreciated.