At age 16, Fred went to Hong Kong to work as a construction labourer. It was hard work, and often he slept on the concrete floors of the structures under construction. Desiring a better life, Fred set his sights on Canada at age twenty and embarked on a slow boat to Canada. The journey took him from Hong Kong to Hawaii and San Francisco where a train carried him to Vancouver. Then he made his way to Victoria to join his 88-year-old grandfather and started work in a laundry on Pandora Avenue.
In 1956, an opportunity arose with Robert Wong and Jack Wong, friends from the homeland, to operate a restaurant in Golden, BC. He married Mei in 1958. Mei took a long flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver to marry him. The first two of five children were born in Golden.
After the opening of the Roger’s Pass in 1963, Fred moved his family to Salmon Arm where he operated the Greyhound terminal restaurant along with Jack from Golden. Two more children were born to Fred and Mei in the ‘60s. In 1965, Fred and Jack bought a restaurant at the corner of Highways 1 and 97B. The Poplar Grove Restaurant would operate at this location for 24 years until 1989. It was one of two Chinese food restaurants in town during most of this period. The youngest child was born in the ‘70s; it was a busy time running the business and raising the family. All five children worked at the family restaurant amongst school time, earning money for their future schooling.
Fred retired for a year, but in 1990 decided to open yet another restaurant, the Fortune Restaurant, this time in downtown Salmon Arm. Fred and Mei operated this business until 1995, when they both decided to retire for good. Fred spent the first 12 years of his retirement soaking up the sunshine and warmth of the Shuswap, spending time with friends, gardening, and visiting his children in Vancouver and Calgary. Fred and Mei moved to Calgary in 2007 to lend a helping hand at raising their grandchildren. Fred enjoyed his garden, cooking, baking and traveling to China in his retirement. He always loved to treat his kids and grandkids to dinner.
For the past two years, Fred fought a brave battle against lung cancer. In his last few weeks, he became weak from related complications. On September 6, 2017, Fred passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.
We remember Fred for his playful nature, his curiosity, and his love of good food. Through his strong sense of adventure and entrepreneurship, Fred was able to make his way to a new country, learn a new language, own and operate three successful businesses, provide for his family, and financially assist his children in their post-secondary education. Family members in China, USA, and Canada will miss him. His devoted wife Mei, his children Norman (Dianne), Ted (Sandy), Linda (Fraser), Roy, and Brenda (Andy) and his six grandchildren will especially miss his support and love.
The family would like to thank Unit 62 staff at Foothills Hospital and staff at Dulcina Hospice for their loving care and compassion for Fred during his illness.
For those who desire, donations in the memory of Fred Wong may be made to the Calgary Health Trust (calgaryhealthtrust.ca/donate), Alberta Cancer Foundation (albertacancer.ca/donate), or to the Dulcina Hospice (Phone:587.230.5500).
A Funeral Service will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 - 4 Street NW, Calgary, on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery.
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