Person

Lew, Yue Wing

• 廖耀榮

1921-2016

LEW Yue Wing was born in Vancouver on March 30, 1921. He was the eldest son of Lew Ging and Hoy Moy who ran Sun Ying Grocery Store in Vancouver. In 1923, the family moved to Nanaimo’s Chinatown and lived there a few years before returning to Vancouver.

Wing attended Central School until age 10 when he and three of his siblings were sent to Guangdong, China for five years. It was customary at the time for families to send their sons to be educated in China. Due to racial discrimination, there were limited opportunities in Canada for those of Chinese descent. In 1936, when the Japanese invaded China, his mother returned with Wing, now 15, and two of his siblings to the safety of Vancouver.

Sadly that same year, his father died unexpectedly on a trip to Hong Kong for critical dental surgery. His mother, now widowed, worked at various jobs and took in boarders to support the family. Wing left home working up to three jobs a day, including as a waiter at the popular WK Gardens, delivered milk, and as kitchen help on the CPR ferries operating on the B.C. coast, until WWII. He studied to become a plate fitter and was hired to help build the Victory Ships.

Following the war years, recognizing the limitations of working for others, he learned the dry-cleaning business from his Lew relatives. He saved enough money to start Lew's Cleaners at 11th and Commercial Drive. He owned and operated a dry cleaning business that became a coin-operated laundry/dry cleaner for close to 40 years. Occasionally, he investing in real estate. Wing built the family home next to his business to avoid the need to commute to work. He also recognized the importance of community and providing opportunities for others. He retired in 1983.

Wing valued education and hard work and ensured both his daughters – Carolyn and Darlene -- had the opportunity to attend university to pursue a better life.

He always enjoyed music from a young age, particularly local band leader, Dal Richards. He collected records and played golf in his 40s and 50s at the Vancouver Chinese Golf Club when the Chinese were barred from playing at local Vancouver golf clubs. In his spare time, he liked to garden. His garden was immaculate! When he retired, he had the opportunity to add travelling around the world with his wife Anne (nee Lee), family and friends.

He passed away at the age of 95 on December 10, 2016 and is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Hoy, Moy (1900-1973)

Lee, Anne Wanda Mee Jen (1917-2007)

Description supplied by collector/curator