Asian Heritage Month – Celebrating Firsts

The Fong family is well-known in the early history of Chinese-Canadian communities in B.C. Rev. Fong Dickman arrived in Vancouver from Nanaimo, to minister to the Chinese Methodist congregation in Chinatown, 1906. That same year, Fong became founder and editor of Wa-Ying Yat-Po 华英 日报 (Chinese-English Daily Newspaper), Canada’s first Chinese daily newspaper (1906). Another first: daughter Anna Lam (née Fong Dickman) became the first nurse of Chinese descent to be registered in B.C., 1929.

The PMRC Archives holds the Fong Dickman papers. Our description of those materials – our very first bilingual (English/Chinese) description – can be found on our online catalogue.

Pictured are Rev. Fong Dickman, spouse Jane, and three of their children, ca. 1908. Anna sits on her mother’s knee. Photography by Yucho Chow Studio, Vancouver, B.C.

Blair Galston,
PMRC Archives

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