Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future: A Donor Story — Gordon R. Lee

For Gordon R. Lee, supporting the Chinese Canadian Museum (CCM) is far more than philanthropy — it’s an act of remembrance, a tribute to the courage of those who came before him, and a way of ensuring that their stories continue to be shared for generations to come.

Though he grew up in Toronto, Ont., Gordon holds a unique place in Canadian history: he was the first Canadian of Chinese descent to be born in Newfoundland. 

“I think that fact alone speaks to how unexpected my life’s path has been,” Gordon says. “I didn’t grow up in Vancouver’s Chinatown or in one of the major Chinese Canadian communities. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized just how deeply my family’s history is intertwined with the broader Chinese Canadian story.”

A Personal Connection to Vancouver’s Chinatown

Gordon’s family history connects back to Vancouver in quiet but meaningful ways. His maternal grandfather was the only member of the family to have lived in the city before Gordon himself eventually moved west. He worked as a houseboy for the Rogers family in Vancouver.

Gordon’s mother often shared stories from her childhood, including the time when her father took the whole family back to China for a year. 

“She remembered her father buying the Canadian Pacific tickets for their passage to and from Hong Kong on Pender Street,” Gordon recalls. “Most likely, this would have been at the Wing Sang Building.”

Today, the Wing Sang Building, the oldest brick building in Vancouver’s Chinatown, is home to the Chinese Canadian Museum. 

“It’s incredible to think that my family, in a small way, touched that building long before it became what it is now,” he says.

A Family Shaped by History

Like many Chinese Canadian families of the early 20th century, Gordon’s family lived through the profound injustices of the Head Tax and the Chinese Exclusion Act. All four of his grandparents and his Uncle Jim paid the Head Tax in order to enter Canada. His parents — born in Alberta and Ontario in the 1920s — were registered under the Chinese Exclusion Act as infants.

“They didn’t talk much about it,” Gordon shares. “I only found their C.I. certificates when we were cleaning out the family home after my father passed away. Holding those documents, the physical proof of the discrimination they lived through, was a powerful moment.” 

C.I. 45 Certificate of Jenny Pon, mother of Gordon Lee. Courtesy of Gordon Lee.

C.I. 45 Certificate of Roy Lee, father of Gordon Lee. Courtesy of Gordon Lee.

His Uncle Jim, James Pon, became a respected community leader who advocated for redress for head tax payers. Gordon later donated a copy of his grandfather’s head tax certificate to the Chinese Canadian Museum’s “The Paper Trail” exhibition. 

“That was deeply meaningful to me,” he says. “To have that piece of my family history preserved and shared with the public, it felt like honouring their struggles in a visible, lasting way.”

Photo of James Pon’s Head Tax Certificate, belonging to Gordon Lee’s uncle Jim. Courtesy of Gordon Lee.

Head Tax Certificate of Lee Gook Soong, Gordon Lee's paternal grandfather. Courtesy of Gordon Lee.

Service and Sacrifice

Gordon’s father’s story adds another layer to this family history. Although he wasn’t considered to have “legal status” in Canada, he was drafted during the Second World War. his father was near-sighted and had flat feet, so he was classified as “4F” — not suitable for combat — but spent his summers training with the Reserve Officers Training Corps at Camp Borden and at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds in Toronto.

During this time, his father developed a close friendship with Rev. Gordon R. Taylor, one of his godfathers and a remarkable figure in his own right. Taylor, a Chinese language scholar, had learned Chinese as a boy in Carleton Place, Ontario, from the owner of the local Chinese laundry. He would later go on to teach in the Far Eastern Studies Department at Queen’s University.

During the war, Gordon Taylor served as a naval commander with Far Eastern Intelligence under Chester Ronning. In collaboration with British Intelligence, he helped recruit and deploy Force 136 — a secret unit of Chinese Canadians who played a critical role in Allied operations in Southeast Asia.

“My dad used to have breakfast with Gordon Taylor at Murray’s Restaurant in Toronto during the war,” Gordon recalls. “On one of those mornings, Gordon told him he’d lost a man from Force 136. Even all these years later, that story stuck with me. It’s one of those quiet, human moments that tells you how much sacrifice there was, and how little of it was ever spoken about.”

Photograph of Rev. Gordon R. Taylor, godfather of Gordon Lee. Courtesy of Gordon Lee.

Growing Up Chinese Canadian in Toronto

Gordon’s childhood in Toronto shaped his early understanding of identity. 

“We were the only Chinese family in our neighbourhood,” he says. “My brothers and I were the only Chinese kids in our classes. Like many of our generation, our goal was to blend in.”

Their family would go to Chinatown for groceries, dim sum, or the occasional banquet, but otherwise, Gordon remembers his upbringing as very Canadian. 

“My mom cooked Chinese food maybe once or twice a week,” he laughs. “I loved steamed minced pork with Chinese sausage from my uncles’ factory in Montréal, and of course, wonton soup. Wrapping wontons together was a family tradition and one we’ve passed on to our children. But most of the time, our meals were ham, chicken, roast beef — classic Canadian.”

Ironically, Gordon became so well integrated into mainstream Canadian society that when he was being considered for a vice president position at Kwantlen University College (now Kwantlen Polytechnic University), a board member commented that he “wasn’t diverse enough.” He laughs telling the story now. 

“It shows how far things have come — and how complicated identity can be.”

Rediscovering Heritage

As Gordon grew older, he found himself increasingly drawn to his family’s history. Long conversations with his father and letters he left behind opened up a world of stories and details. His father had kept extensive documentation on their ancestral village, including a book tracing their family’s lineage back to the 13th century.

“He took me to St. Catharines to see his high school and his dad’s restaurant,” Gordon recalls. “He showed me the places where our family story unfolded in Canada.”

This journey of rediscovery also took Gordon to the town where his mother grew up. 

“As I learned more about their struggles and achievements, I realized how much I owed to their courage. They came to a country where they didn’t speak the language, where they faced discrimination, and they built a better future for us.”

Pon Family. Back row: Dr. George Pon, Louise Pon (James and Vera’s daughter), Roy Lee, James Pon; Front row: Vera Pon, Daisy Pon, Gordon Lee’s grandmother, Jenny Lee (née Pon), and Gordon Lee. Courtesy of Gordon Lee.

A Legacy of Courage and Contribution

Supporting the Chinese Canadian Museum is Gordon’s way of ensuring these stories are preserved, both his own family’s and those of thousands of others.

“I want to honour the courage, endurance, hard work, and legacy of Chinese Canadians who came before us,” he says. “They made it possible for us to thrive and prosper.”

Gordon is particularly moved by the “The Paper Trail” exhibition at the museum. “Seeing my grandfather’s head tax certificate there is deeply personal,” he shares. “It’s a tangible reminder of what they endured. And it connects my family’s story to a much larger, shared history.”

Looking Forward

Deeply resonating with CCM’s exhibitions such as “The Paper Trail” and “A Soldier for All Seasons”, Gordon believes the museum’s work is crucial for future generations. 

“Our history deserves to be remembered,” he says. “When we tell these stories, we keep the courage of those who came before us alive. And we give younger generations a sense of where they come from — something to be proud of.”

His hope is that the museum will continue to be a place where Chinese Canadian history is preserved, celebrated, and shared with the wider community. 

“This isn’t just about the past,” he adds. “It’s about creating a sense of belonging for the future.”

Gordon Lee (left). Photo by William Luk.

Support the Legacy

Gordon Lee’s story is just one thread in the rich tapestry of Chinese Canadian history. The Chinese Canadian Museum is dedicated to preserving these stories — but this work is only possible through the generosity and commitment of people like Gordon, and the broader community.

You can help ensure these stories live on.
Make a donation today to support the Chinese Canadian Museum and be part of preserving this vital history for generations to come.