In 1948 my father Sue Yew Ming and his two brothers, two nephews and a close relatives went to the Chinatown Chow YuCho Studio for a group photo. I believed my father wanted a close family group photo to bring back to China the following year. In 1949 my father along with one of his nephews went back to his native village in Panyu Guangzhou to marry my mother.
This would be my father’s second marriage as he had married at the age of 15 yrs old before coming over to Vancouver BC in 1918. At that time he had to pay the Canadian Government imposed $500 Head Tax. Life in the new country was rough for him with the language barrier and going through discrimination in his new environment. He was working a lots of odd jobs such as gardener, cannery in North Van and farming. My father also received news that his wife and children had either died or separated during the war with Japan. In 1949 my first cousin Soo Bing Cheong then convince him to go back to China to find another wife.
Therefore after marrying my mother in 1949 my older sister Janice was born in the Pon Wu Panyu village. Afterwards he spent most of his earning in Canada to built a nice big house for his wife and daughter before returning back to Vancouver to officially sponsor them over. My mother finally arrived with my elder sister in March 1956 and the following year I was born [1957], followed by my younger sister Sherry Ann [Soo] Babcock and little brother Walter.
In sadness my siblings and I only got to enjoy our father for a few years as he passed away in 1962 when I was five years, my elder sister 12, younger sister 4 and my younger brother only 3. That 1948 Chow YuCho Studio was passed down to my younger sister Sherry to safeguard and preserves it memories. On November 8th, my younger brother Walter and I visited the Chinese Storytelling Centre and noticed the replica Yucho Chow Studio. Therefore in paying homage back to our father and his dear relatives we both decided to take back a photo to honour and respect these six precious gentlemen 47 years later. I sincerely appreciate the Chinatown Storytelling Centre for that opportunity.
1st photo:
In the 1948 Yucho Chow photo - Seated left to right - Soo Fook Jun, Soo You Quai [2nd Uncle] - back row standing left to right Soo Kung [1 st cousin], Sue Yew Ming [my father], Sue Yew Quan [3rd Uncle] & Soo Bing Cheong [elder 1st cousin].
Inset photo: Randy Sue [seated] Walter Soo [standing]
Submitted by Randy Sue