Cumberland BC: The Cumberlander Articles Section
Chinatown · 27th September 2009
May (Leung) Gee
Cumberland Chinese Cemetery, 1897 Deed returned to Cumberland
Shirley (Low) Tong of Port Coquitlam, BC is pictured transferring the original Cumberland Chinese Cemetery Deed to Cumberland resident, John Leung. Looking on at left is Ken Lowe of Vancouver, BC, youngest son of Low Hock Shun, who was one of the three Cumberland Chinatown businessmen who became the trustees of the Cumberland Chinese Cemetery.
John Leung will in turn transfer this original Chinese Cemetery document to the
Cumberland Museum, for safekeeping. John and Shirley are both Grandchildren of the late Low Hock Shun.
The Cumberland Chinese Cemetery site contained two acres. On September 21,1897, three Chinese businessmen acquired this site for the sum of forty dollars from the Dunsmuir Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Company. The three Chinatown businessmen are: Lai Yuen, Quong Me Lung, and Tai On. In actuality, these names are of three Chinatown businesses. The men were recognized at the time by their business names. Low Hock Shun was also called Lai Yuen, the name of his business.
It seems that the 1897 Conveyance was never registered in Victoria. So the cemetery title still legally rests with the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Company.
On Saturday, May 17, 2008, a special ceremony was held at the Cumberland Chinese Cemetery, when this historic Chinese Cemetery received an official Heritage designation.
May(Leung)Gee, Granddaughter of Low Hock Shun
Photo by May Gee
Shirley (Low) Tong of Port Coquitlam, BC is pictured transferring the original Cumberland Chinese Cemetery Deed to Cumberland resident, John Leung. Looking on at left is Ken Lowe of Vancouver, BC, youngest son of Low Hock Shun, who was one of the three Cumberland Chinatown businessmen who became the trustees of the Cumberland Chinese Cemetery.
John Leung will in turn transfer this original Chinese Cemetery document to the
Cumberland Museum, for safekeeping. John and Shirley are both Grandchildren of the late Low Hock Shun.
The Cumberland Chinese Cemetery site contained two acres. On September 21,1897, three Chinese businessmen acquired this site for the sum of forty dollars from the Dunsmuir Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Company. The three Chinatown businessmen are: Lai Yuen, Quong Me Lung, and Tai On. In actuality, these names are of three Chinatown businesses. The men were recognized at the time by their business names. Low Hock Shun was also called Lai Yuen, the name of his business.
It seems that the 1897 Conveyance was never registered in Victoria. So the cemetery title still legally rests with the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Company.
On Saturday, May 17, 2008, a special ceremony was held at the Cumberland Chinese Cemetery, when this historic Chinese Cemetery received an official Heritage designation.
May(Leung)Gee, Granddaughter of Low Hock Shun
Photo by May Gee
Original 1897 Cumberland Chinese Cemetery Deed
Original 1897 Cumberland Chinese Cemetery Deed
Original 1897 Cumberland Chinese Cemetery Deed
L to R May Gee, Marie Lowe, John Leung, Joyce Lowe examine the original 1897 Cumberland Chinese Cemetery Deed.