The immigration story of Frank Wong and his family parallels that of many Chinese immigrants. Their dream of a better life was achieved through hard work, citizenship, and perseverance.
Frank’s great-grandfather Wong Shai Non came to Saskatchewan at the turn of the last century. His grandfather, Wong Chok Yip (Jimmy Wong, 1897-1962), immigrated to Canada in approximately 1916. He left behind his wife, Yee (Yu) Mee Yee.
Jimmy and two of his brothers worked in southern Saskatchewan in the laundry and restaurant business. They eventually settled in Swift Current, Saskatchewan where they worked and finally owned and ran the Modern Café. A “married bachelor”, Jimmy worked to support his family in China. He returned to China every 3 or 4 years to visit his wife and family; thus each of his sons was born following his visits. In 1958, Jimmy and wife lived together for the first time in a long time when Mee Yee immigrated to Canada.
Frank was born Woon Woon Wong in December 1948 in the family village at Chow Buck Alley, Chow Tung 38 Village, in Toi Shan, Kwang Tung, China. As the oldest child of Wong Sut Ying (a communal farmer and bookkeeper) and Yee (Yu) Kwan Sin, Frank was chosen to join his grandfather in Canada. At the age of 5, he moved to Hong Kong with his grandmother. His family saved a year’s salary to purchase his identity papers.