Tony Shek Chuen Louie

This is what I remember about Dad....

My Dad was born in Toi Shan, China. He went to Canton with his parents (business venture - Tailor shop).

The shop was doing well until the war arrived from Japan. Fortunately the family and the shop survived a very close bombing drop (across the street ) from the airplanes overhead.

This forced the family to leave Canton & the business, (with what they could carry).

Finding a safer location in the hills of Hong Kong.

Somehow my Grandfather got a loan for a small property to farm in the area north of Hong Kong (now part of Hong Kong district).

The family (with my Dad's grandmother) survived by selling vegetables to the market which my Dad used to walk and carry there.

Later when they had more money, he received a used bicycle.

Sometime later, Grandfather got another loan to buy a condo in Hong Kong.

My Dad continued working on the farm till they found someone to rent the farm.

Then an opportunity (early 1950's) for my Dad from our relatives who had emigrated to Vancouver earlier. My Dad’s uncle ‘urged’ my Dad to go work in Vancouver.

The relative’s restaurant needed a dishwasher & prep person.

Better than working on a farm and as a general laborer. He agreed to go.

Dad received just enough money from Grandfather to make the journey.

He had to be frugal on his meals on the boat bound to San Francisco. He was resourceful and found the train to travel to Vancouver B.C. at the train station there.

That started his new adventure here in Vancouver. A city he loved. A place to call home.

When he arrived in Vancouver, he found the relatives in Chinatown.

His first housing was a room with his “oldest” uncle at the Church in Chinatown. Our family started after Dad went back to Hong Kong to marry Mom in 1957.

When he arrived in Vancouver, Dad worked his way up as a dishwasher, to waiter, to prep-cook and eventually a line cook in the restaurant, for over 10 years. He then moved on, to a different restaurant for around 8 years before it burned down in a fire.

Dad mentioned he went to a US restaurant to cook for a short while, but he couldn’t stay and came back to Vancouver as he did not have a work visa. He had thoughts of emigrating to the US

Also mentioned he had a brief stint working as a cook in a Vancouver nightclub which he enjoyed due to his love for music, particularly singing.

He liked both Chinese and English singing. He had many favorite Chinese singers, songs and Chinese sayings and quotes / Proverbs.

Dad was frugal and stubbornly loyal. But he had my Mom to eventually lead him to other opportunities. We had a café for just about 4 years. Mom steered him to his last job as a meat cutter at Olympic Meats in Vancouver ( 14 years ) which kept him in great shape and he ate well.

After retiring, Dad liked to fish for smelt on the shores of the west side of Jericho Beach.

He is survived by his wife, 3 sons, 3 daughters-in-law, and 5 grandchildren.

In memory of Tony, and in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following charities (links below):

1) Red Cross

2) BC Diabetes

3) Children's Hospital

4) Heart and Stroke Foundation