Person

Ling, Lun

1888-1991

LING Lun arrived in Canada in 1913 at the age of 25. Like many Chinese men in Canada, Lun was married but unable to bring his wife over from China. He lived in Nova Scotia as a “Chinese bachelor.”

Lun settled in Kentville, Nova Scotia and operated a hand laundry business. When he retired, Lun moved to Halifax and spent a lot of time with Ling How family, where he was referred to as “uncle.” It is unclear how he was related to the Ling family.

Lun vehemently opposed the marriage of his “niece” (Mary Ling) to a Black Canadian man of Jamaican descent. There were few mixed-race marriages at the time, and even fewer marriages between Chinese and people of African descent. It was only years later, as Lun was ailing and his niece Mary was caring for him, that he softened his attitude toward her marriage.

Ling, How (1883-1963)

Description supplied by collector/curator