Person

Gee, David

• 朱朝俊

• Gee, Choe Doon

1911-1978

GEE Choe Doon (known in Canada as David Gee) was born in China on February 11, 1911. He arrived in Canada just after the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act went into effect. He was a 12-year-old son joining his father who was already in Canada and likely living in Cumberland's Chinatown on Vancouver Island, where David was headed.

David spent most of his adult life in Blairmore, Alberta. There he worked in restaurants, and later owned and operated his own restaurant called The Rex Cafe. It served both Chinese and Western dishes.

He married Sue San Wong from Hong Kong who was a mail-order bride. She was his second wife and arrived in Canada in 1958. Little is known about his first wife who remained in China and died there.

David fathered three children altogether.

When not at work, David would love to make colourful kites out of bamboo and crepe paper. They were fragile but flew with little wind. Children would marvel at his craftmanship and skill in flying the kites. He amassed a great collection.

He passed away June 16, 1978.

Description supplied by collector/curator