Uncle Ken
Toishan, China → Brandon, Manitoba

• Photos at home
It was a real honour to meet my Uncle Ken, an actual uncle of mine. A blessing that he was 89 and I had a chance to ask him questions about his early days in Canada.
My hands were clumsy as I set up the video equipment.
Though he did not work at the Oxbow Cafe, he was one of the first (and longest) generations in my family to work in Chinese-Canadian cafés.
Uncle Ken came over to Canada in 1950. His first stop was Moosomin, Saskatchewan, moving between Prairie provinces.
For over 50 years, he helped opened a string of diners and restaurants in the Prairies, including Kam Lung in Brandon.
“Good friends together. That’s why. I try to make money”.
He was still living in the same town where he had opened Kam Lung, 70 years later. I only remember meeting him this one time, still active and lively, taking us out to eat at the local Chinese buffet. He seemed to know everyone at the buffet that day, full of smiles and warm hellos to people in town.

“All the time hard work.
All the time hard work. Long hours.
For that kind of business.”
“All the time hard work.
All the time hard work. Long hours.
For that kind of business.”
“I do all kind of work.
I’m the boss. I look after the tables. The kitchen. The waiter. All kind of work. The dishwasher even. I can do all kind of work. Exactly everyday. Hard work.”


“I not get my children to get involved in that business.
You ask your dad. I don’t like it. I like the kid to school you know but forget about that kind of business. Hard work."
