From Chinatown Roots to Lasting Legacy: Teresa Mew’s story
For Teresa Mew, the story of her family in Canada begins in 1899, when her great-grandfather arrived and settled in Vancouver’s Chinatown. During the Depression he moved to Alert Bay to operate a general store, later returning to Vancouver after the war to purchase a building on Pender Street.
That building became a central hub for multiple Wong family businesses: A pawnshop operated by Teresa’s grandmother; Offices leased to local lawyers and real estate companies; Bing Wong & Associates, an accounting firm founded by two of Teresa’s uncles; and the well-known Pender Café. The building was eventually sold to the Bank of Montreal and today is home to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre.
Growing up in the Lower Mainland, Teresa recalls regular family trips to Chinatown to shop for groceries, celebrate special occasions, and enjoy favourite treats—BBQ pork hanging in the windows, apple and egg tarts, and lively Wong-family dinners at Ho Ho. These moments formed a deep and lasting connection to the neighbourhood.
When she learned that the historic Wing Sang Building would become the new home of the Chinese Canadian Museum, Teresa felt it was the perfect place to honour and preserve early Chinese Canadian experiences. The museum’s mission resonated personally, as a way to keep her father’s legacy alive and to share the stories of the community that shaped her family.
Back row: Frank (Teresa's dad), Tommy, Daisy Rosie, Bing Boon; middle row: Grandmother 2, Grandfather, Grandmother 1; front row: Bing Chew, Leah, Mary, May. Courtesy of Teresa Mew.
A Father’s Legacy of Service
Teresa’s father, Frank Wong, volunteered for the Canadian Armed Forces out of loyalty to Canada and in hopes that his service would help secure the right to vote for Chinese Canadians. After training in Vernon, Barriefield, and Ottawa, he joined the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, landing on Juno Beach one month after D-Day.
His unit followed the artillery through northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and eventually Germany, repairing vehicles, anti-tank guns, and machine guns as they advanced. He also took part in the liberation of the Netherlands.
During a visit to the Netherlands in 1995 for the 50th Anniversary celebrations, a child wrote in his autograph book: “Your blood, our freedom.” Teresa’s father never forgot those powerful words.
After returning to Vancouver, he joined Pacific Unit 280 and later became a founding member of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum (CCMMS). He served as treasurer and remained active with the museum until he passed away at age 94.
In honour of his legacy, Teresa now serves as Vice President and Treasurer of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society.
Photograph of Frank Wong. Courtesy of Teresa Mew.
Supporting the Chinese Canadian Museum
As a third-generation Chinese Canadian, Teresa views her support for the Chinese Canadian Museum as a way to ensure the resilience of early Chinese immigrants is never forgotten. Despite facing the Head Tax, racism, discrimination, and the Exclusion Act, they built foundations that future generations—including her own—depend on today.
Looking back, Teresa wishes she had asked more questions about her heritage. With the passing of her father, uncles, and aunts, many family stories are now lost. Supporting the museum is her way of helping preserve these histories for others.
“Knowledge is power,” Teresa says. “We must learn from the past so we don’t repeat the same mistakes. By understanding the experiences of those who came before us, we can work toward a world without discrimination or conflict.”
Because her father was a founder of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, Teresa also knew he would want her to support the Chinese Canadian Museum. Her gift is a continuation of his lifelong dedication to community history.
Wong Family – family photo taken May 2025 on an Alaskan cruise. Back row: Ming, Don, Braedon, Roger, Louise, Erica, Dan; middle row: Teresa, Carol, Joyce, Bill; front row: Gwen, Wesley, Arlen, Connor. Courtesy of Teresa Mew.
Stories that resonate
Two exhibitions in particular have deeply moved Teresa: The 1923 Exclusion Act and A Soldier for All Seasons.
While she was aware of the act, she had not fully understood the emotional toll it took—the trauma of separation, isolation, and the burden of registration. Although both of her parents and their siblings would have been required to register, Teresa could find only two certificates. “I think it was a time they all wanted to forget,” she says.
A Soldier for All Seasons holds special meaning as it commemorates her father, uncles, and the Chinese Canadians who volunteered to fight for Canada. “We stand on the shoulders of the greatest generation,” Teresa reflects. “Without their courage and sacrifices, we would not enjoy the rights and freedoms we have today.”
She believes the museum brings history vividly to life and plays an essential role in engaging youth. By presenting stories in ways that create personal connections, the museum inspires dialogue within families and across generations—ensuring that the past continues to inform and empower the future.
Gwen Wong, mother of Teresa Mew, in front of the Soldier for All Seasons display, with a photograph of Teresa's father, a WWI veteran, in the background. Courtesy of Teresa Mew.
Teresa Mew – in the "A Soldier for All Seasons" exhibition, with a photograph of her father and the Eiffel Tower. Photo courtesy of Teresa Mew.