Vancouver, Friday, August 17, 2001
I am happy to be here to visit the Chinese Canadian Military Museum. The Museum is a wonderful document of the history of Chinese-Canadians in this part of Canada.
I am also very pleased to see the honouring of Chinese veterans. As many
of you know, my father served as a Lance Corporal with the Hong Kong
Volunteer Militia and was decorated with the Military Medal. I know that
there are many ex-servicemen here who served in Hong Kong, in Europe, in
Asia, and I wish to say that I thank you on behalf of all Canadians for what
you did and for the example you set for future generations.
I noticed with great interest the photographs of Doug Sam in the Museum.
Doug Sam was somebody I knew from Ottawa. After the Second World War, our
family lived in Ottawa, and Doug used to come and visit and eat dinner with
us. I had no idea that he'd stayed in the Regular Forces and ended up as a
Lieutenant Commander. Doug Sam was a remarkable person and was always
determined to become a pilot, which he did and had a wonderful career – an
extraordinary one – as a result.
The exhibits tell a remarkable and important story for all Canadians. I
was very moved by what the Chinese-Canadians did for this country. Not just
during the First and Second Wars, in which they served with great
distinction. But also what they did to bring about a change in attitude in a
society in which prejudice and bigotry was still deeply entrenched. It was
not easy, but I think you did it. To have been veterans who have fought for
their country – which was your country, you were born and grew up here – and
then to return and be told that you couldn't vote was pretty terrible.
But you continued, you persevered, you broke down barriers. You were
finally able to go into accounting, into pharmacy, law and, eventually, into
medicine. To me, it's one of those stories that shows that Canada, despite
the less noble parts of our history, is a most wonderful country, because it
is capable of evolving. It's sad when you realize what the situation was for
about 60 or 80 years for the Chinese in this country. But when you see the
changes, the rapid changes, that have happened, you have to say that it's an
optimistic story, a hopeful story – and it's one to which all of you have
strongly contributed.
Just look at my circumstances. After we had escaped Hong Kong and were
living in Ottawa, my father took a small job in the Canadian government.
Then, as the war was still on, he decided that he'd like to sign up again. I
don't know if my mother ever knew that he wanted to join the active forces
again. He went to the air force recruitment place, where he a very good
interview. Having been born in Australia, his English was perfect. And the
man said to him, "Well, you have a wonderful record, you've already been
in Hong Kong Volunteers, but I think for Canadian forces you might not fit
in." My father's 94 now, and I think that we're both very happy that his
daughter fits in!
Keeping as much documentation about all aspects of our country's past is
very important – history is important to us all. When we understand our
history, we understand our country. We understand not only our own
contribution to it, but we understand how other people have contributed. And
we understand where we fit in, because we have a diverse and complex country
of which we are all part. Like a living jigsaw puzzle, we are all making our
ways separately and yet together, because we grasp what our life's work has
meant when we see how we fit together with others. And that is a wonderful
thing.
Thank you very much for inviting me here. I've enjoyed the tour very much.
We would love to come back another time. I'm sure you'll have more things to
show us. In the meantime, I salute you all for the courage and perseverance
you've shown in your lives and for the time, energy and economic support that
you give to this Centre. What you've done here is vitally important – both
for Chinese-Canadians and for all your fellow citizens.