111-Year-Old activist who lived through the Chinese Exclusion Act dies from COVID-19

ASAM NEWS

Foon Hay Lum is a renowned and well respected Chinese Canadian activist who at 111 years old passed away from COVID-19 on the evening of April 24 at the Mon Sheong Homes for the Aged. 

Lum is one of Canada’s oldest women and her life is a legacy of work advocating for the empowerment of Chinese Canadians.

Lum was instrumental in securing an apology and compensation from the Canadian Government in 2006 for all Chinese Canadians who paid the head tax, with the then Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper making an apology in the House of Commons. Lum herself was in the House of Commons on that momentous that day to personally witness the apology being made. She lived through the Canadian Chinese Exclusion Act 1923 which caused her to be separated from her husband for more than 30 years. Sadly, her death sees her final separation from her family due to the ban on visitors to long-term-care homes, and she wasn’t able to be with her family.

Lum spent most of her life talking about issues of racism and was not afraid to get real about it, as former National President for the Chinese Canadian National Council Amy Go stated (via The Star). This is an organization, which Lum was a founding member.

“Many people felt embarrassed and ashamed and didn’t want to talk about racism. But this was never a problem for her.

“You have to remember what generation she was a part of,” said Go. “That strength she had to name something that was wrong and to take action, that for me was amazing courage.”

Lum’s life reads like a story of love, loss, regret and then new beginnings. Her life of activism for the betterment of Chinese Canadians started when she was 60-years old. 

Born in 1908 in Xinhui, Guangdong, China, Lum married Chinese Canadian immigrant Nam Jack Lum when she was 18, when Nam Jack returned to China to find a bride. 

Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act 1923, Lum couldn’t follow her husband Nam Jack who had to return to Canada to keep his immigration status. This legislated racism against the Chinese ended in 1947. 

However, Nam Jack had to work hard in a Toronto laundry and it it took him another seven years before he saved up enough to return to China to reunite with Lum and they stayed together in Xinhui for three years where they had two children. He then had to return to Canada again and it was another 2-3 more years before Lum and her two kids could migrate to Canada to be fully reunited as a family. This took 33 years all up. 

Sadly, 12 years after the family was reunited in Toronto, Nam Jack passed away. Over their 45-year marriage, that 12 years was their longest period together.

12-year old golfer is the youngest player to compete in Canadian women's open

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBC

Vancouver's Michelle Liu expects to perform better next year.

After two days competing at the Canadian Professional Women's Open in Toronto, Michelle Liu missed the cut. That shouldn't be too surprising since she's only 12 years old.

Michelle was the the youngest to compete in the 47-year history of Canada’s national women’s championship is that she will be breaking the mark set by Brooke Henderson, who was 14 when she first played in the event in 2012.

“Definitely wasn't my best performance, I would say,” Michelle said after opening with a 9-over-par 81. “My chipping wasn't where it needed to be.”

She earned an exemption into the field as the top Canadian finisher at the Canadian Women’s Amateur last month. She tied for 12th at 1-over for the 72-hole tournament.

Despite her disappointing finishing, the youngster was in a good mood.

“It definitely makes me think,” Michelle told the Sun. “I'm happy that so many people are supporting me. I'm really glad I'm able to experience this sort of support.”

Her caddie and coach, Rob Houlding, who is based in British Columbia and has worked with other PGA Tour pros told the Toronto Sun that the 6,600-yard Magna course was just a bit too much for his star pupil, who missed the cut at 19-over par.

“The course is just a little too long for her to score like she’s used to, and it’s frustrating for her,” Houlding said.

“What mattered to her was that she felt it was below her potential, that’s her mindset.”

Michelle will have a year to practice for the next Open, which will be held on her home turf in Vancouver.

When a reporters asked the young golf star what’s next, the youngster looked into the television cameras and crowd of media microphones and said, “School is going on a camping trip to start the grade off,” she said.

_______________________________________________________________________

Canada's Anastasia Lin finally has her day and say in Miss World contest

Anastasia Lin testified in U.S. Congressional hearings about China's repression of Falun Gong followers.

IT TOOK an international controversy and a year's time, but Miss Canada, Anastasia Lin, finally got to participate in the Miss World contest after being denied by Chinese sponsors last year.

After the Chinese authorities blocked the Canadian beauty queen Anastasia Lin from attending the 65th annual Miss World pageant in China last year, the event’s British organizers offered her a consolation prize, of sorts: They allowed her a chance to compete in the 2016 finals, which was held in Washington, D.C.

Her participation hinged on the condition that she not be allowed to speak to the media during the contest. Pressure from international media is what finally prompted the pageant to let Anastasia speak.

“It was very scary and startling,” Lin said of her silencing. “I now feel more for the people who can’t speak up in repressive countries.”

Lin gained international attention last year because of her affiliation with Falun Gong, a practice not allowed in China. She was declared persona non grata by the Chinese government and barred from entering China when she tried to travel there to represent Canada in that year’s Miss World pageant.

Lin said it was her outspokenness about China's persecution of Falun Gong followers that led to her being blocked from participating int he 2015 pageant.

Using the Miss World stage to criticize the Chinese government didn’t go without consequence, however, especially since the pageant is sponsored by Chinese corporations. 

RELATED:

• Canada's Miss World denied entry into pageant
• Miss World Canada returns to Canada from China

“Public pressure works. We have way more leverage than we think we do,” she said. “We might think that China is this big, tough bully that just doesn’t listen to anyone. But that’s not true.”

“Despite 60 years of censorship, people don’t believe everything they hear on the news,” she said, referring to Chinese reports over the past year that have sought to demonize her. “I may end up standing in the last row this year, but if they are able to see me, I hope people will be encouraged.”

“My one goal was not the tiara,” Lin said. “I just wanted to be on Chinese television. … If they can see me on stage they will know (I have not given up), so neither should they.”

Lin, a classical pianist and actress, also wanted to be seen by her father, who she said has been barred from leaving China because of her activism.

Various media outlets sought comment from the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C. but their requests were not granted.

Miss World 2016 wrapped up Dec. 18, with the contestant from Puerto Rico taking the crown.

As for her pageant career, the University of Toronto grad says she’s “totally done” with it.

“It destroyed me,” she told Fashion magazine. “I’m moving on.”

Instead, Anastasia will focus on her acting career, and continue to raise awareness on human rights issues.

###