Spirit of the Dragon: The Story of Jean Lumb, a Proud Chinese-Canadian

By Arlene Chan

The Order of Canada, the country’s highest honour, is awarded to those who have made a distinct contribution to Canadian life. The late Jean Lumb received the Order of Canada, among other awards, for her role in changing Canada’s immigration laws that separated Chinese families, and for her contribution in saving Chinatowns across Canada. Through her dedication to helping others, Jean Lumb truly made a difference to life in Canada.

Spirit of the Dragon is well-illustrated with photographs of Jean Lumb in the company of her family and important people in her life, including John Diefenbaker, Queen Elizabeth, Governors General Roland Michener and Jules Leger, plus Lieutenant Governors of Ontario, Pauline McGibbon and Hal Jackman. A concluding section, as well as listing Jean’s extensive accomplishments and awards, cites sources of more information about her and other Chinese-Canadians.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dundurn
• Release date: Jan 1, 1997
• ISBN: 9781459715561

Arlene Chan

Arlene Chan is a third-generation Chinese Canadian who was born in Toronto and spent her early years in "Old Chinatown" at Elizabeth and Dundas Streets where she helped at her parents' restaurant. Her other books include The Chinese in Toronto from 1878 and Paddles Up! Dragon Boat Racing in Canada. She lives in Toronto.

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Introduction

The story of Jean Lumb is one among many that could be told about Chinese-Canadian women who were raised during the Great Depression and the Second World War. Despite the hardships of living in a Canada that did not welcome Chinese people, Jean grew and developed from being an outsider to being a leader not only within the Chinese-Canadian community but also in the whole of Canada. Like the mighty dragon in Chinese mythology, her spirit and determination have made her a symbol to be admired by all people. Through her leadership, Jean Lumb is a woman who has made a difference to life in Canada.

At right, Jean Lumb’s name written in Chinese characters.

Ferry Boat Tragedy

Help me! Help me! cried out the woman, her eyes filled with terror.

Just a moment earlier, she had been sitting quietly in the front seat on the lower deck of the ferry boat. Suddenly, there was a crash as the ferry was rammed by a larger ship, the Princess Alice. Now, she was pinned under the sharp bow of the Princess Alice.

Help me! Help me! Those were her last dying words.

I’ll never forget the screams of that woman, Jean Lumb says as she remembers the ferry boat tragedy of 1935. Fourteen-year-old Jean always sat in the same seat when she took the 7:30 A.M. ferry to work from Vancouver across the harbour to North Vancouver. She never failed to be the first in line at the dock for the ten-minute ride so that she could sit in the same seat the lady had taken that day. Although Jean was paid only