Finding My Roots to Canada
Grandfather William Wong

I was 4 years old when my grandfather asked me to get a paring knife from our restaurant kitchen.  He was always kind to me, and he sat at the corner of the restaurant while my parents, aunt, and uncle were fulfilling food orders.  During that time the Royal Cafe was incredibly busy.  Grandfather was 86, too old to work, but whipped everyone including his own family and troublemakers who came into the restaurant into shape.

​

I ran to the kitchen, saw the paring knife, and somehow, I got in a tussle with my sister Nancy.  A fight for the knife ensued.  She had the handle and I had the blade.  My finger was sliced open and blood was everywhere.

​

I remember Dad and Uncle Jong pouring tobacco on the wound to clot the blood and rushing me to the doctor’s office down the street.  I blacked out.  My finger is fine today.

​

Shortly thereafter, Grandfather passed away.

 

------------------

​

Unfortunately, my family was not able to gather any information about my grandfather’s life before the Royal Cafe.  My dad Kong, who is still alive today, doesn’t know much – he was too young, and I am sure the pressure of restaurant life was more important.

​

I started piecing together his life with the help of the Government of Canada Library and Archives.  They provided me with some crucial details that are accessible online from the late 1800s to the 1930s.  I learned what a C.I. certificate was and how each type of certificate was used to track Chinese immigrants in Canada and those returning from China and abroad.

​

Similar to many first Chinese immigrants coming to Canada in the early 1900's, life would be extremely tough especially at 16 years old.  Grandfather could not write Chinese nor understand English.  He must have been scared, many times hungry, and yearned for companionship but he knew life in China would be worse.

​

From 1910 - 1938, grandfather returned to China at least four times to see his family, court, marry, and have children - 3 boys.  He had a family in China but was not able to bring them to Canada due to the Chinese Immigration Act.  There were not many available-to-marry Chinese women in Canada due to this Act and mixed marriages were completely frowned upon. 

 

I can see the impact this discriminatory Act had on his wives and sons.  Grandfather sends money to his family but there still isn't enough money for food and safe lodging AND it was World War II.  They were starving in China and one of his sons died.  He couldn't protect his family or bring them to Canada.  Very sad!

​

The abolition of the Chinese Immigration Act in 1947 allowed my dad, my uncle Jong and his family, to finally come to Canada in 1950.  Between 1923 and 1947 only 50 Chinese immigrants were permitted into Canada - his first son Jong was born in 1925.

​

Working hard, and saving his money to return to China to start a family was his singular purpose.  He wanted the Wong name to continue through his sons in Canada.  He would be proud today.

​

The information gathered is not perfect, but it is a great start.