NAMING OF DOUGLAS JUNG BUILDING

It was a proud day September 7, 2007 when the federal government building at 401 Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver was named after Douglas Jung, a war veteran, a lawyer and the first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament.

All the Chinese Canadian community leaders were there: Milton Wong, former Chancellor of SFU, Bob Lee, former Chancellor of UBC, Dr. Wallace Chung, historian, Joe Wai, architect, Art Lee, second Chinese Canadian MP, Judge Randall Wong, Vancouver city councillor Raymond Louie, former city councillors Tung Chan and Maggie Ip, Consul Qui Wei Wei from the People's Republic of China and many others. Front and centre were the veterans from Pacific Unit 280.

The Honourable Jason Kenney, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) and Parliamentary Secretary James Moore, on behalf of Michael M. Fortier, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, were among a number of speakers praising Douglas Jung and his accomplishments.

A brief excerpt from Wesley Lowe's "I Am the Canadian Delegate" was shown followed by a thank you speech by Art Calderwood, the son of Douglas Jung. The following is from his speech:

The honor of naming this Federal Government building has special significance to our family — My Aunt Vivian Jung trained as an elementary teacher with a Physical Education specialty. As part of that training she attended a lifesaving course at Victoria's Crystal Pool. When her class arrived, the pool officials singled her out and informed the instructor that she could not enter since Chinese were barred from that public pool. The instructor, however, refused to accept this racist rule and successfully argued with the pool officials until my Aunt was allowed to join her classmates. Consequently, it is with great pride that today we celebrate the naming of this public building in honor of her brother in law. Canada has come full circle from a period where Chinese Canadians were barred from certain public buildings to one where we honor their legacy by naming a Federal Government building after them. Indeed this Federal Government building in particular has an even closer tie to our family since a relative works here in the Department of Environment Canada.

In closing let me quote from a speech my father gave in 1987 at the 40^th Anniversary Re-union of Chinese Canadian war veterans:

He said:

"...and to members of your families, I say this. Take pride in our accomplishments. Give to us the privilege to indulge a little bit in our comradeship and also give to us now, your support and understanding because what we did, we did for you.

Be proud of us, as we are with you. Be happy with us and take some time to spread the word and record of us among your friends, so that someone will once more be inspired to take up the challenge to be a voice for our community in elected assembly. Do not, I beg of you, let our efforts go to waste simply because no one cares. Our efforts, instead of being recorded as a mere footnote in the pages of Canadian history should, at the very least, be a blazing and inspiring chapter of the Chinese people in the history of Canada."