Report from Toronto             by Edward Sun

June is a beautiful time to visit Toronto. 

Weather is great.  Summer has just arrived, but temperature has not yet soared to the, at times, unbearable levels of August.  Humidity is not too bad, though not as dry as in California.  It even chose to rain only at night, once, during our stay!  And quite a show it was, with lightning and thunder.  Yet in the morning, it all cleared up!  How wonderful!

Compared to typical California cities, Toronto is so much greener.  Streets are lined with mature trees of all kinds, not just maples.  Most houses have large, well-groomed lawns in front and, an equal or larger one in back.  Green belts, most with cycle paths and trails, abound throughout residential areas.  Many of these green belts meander along ravines and creeks to link up the city's many major regional parks. 

Whereas in California, a "parkway" gives you a thoroughfare through an industrial or business park, a drive on Don Valley Parkway, a six-lane freeway going through Toronto's center, would have you think you are going through a national park - a true PARK-WAY!  In June, the leaves are still young with their lovely fresh new greens and wild flowers of all kinds are blooming everywhere.

If you say that we have picked the best time to visit Toronto, I cannot agree with you more!  And not just because of weather.

James Tang (鄧紹祺) of '64, with whom I have had some email correspondence, mostly about Mr. Cheung Poon (章槃) our former Chinese teacher, is vice president of QESOSA Ontario Chapter.  My visit to Toronto was a good opportunity for us to meet for the first time face to face.  So I gave him a call.

It so happened that they were having a board meeting that evening and James invited me to join them. 

The meeting started at 8pm, but due to other engagements that evening, I was only able to get there at 10:30.  James promised that the host, Lee Shiu-ki '58, famous for his congee (粥), will have a bowl of abalone chicken congee saved for me - the thought of that certainly helped hasten my steps/wheels!

The house was located in the northeast of the city, a suburb named Markham.  I was told that most new Hong Kong Chinese immigrants took up domicile in this area.  It certainly looked so.  Big, relatively new, houses, mostly of brick, lined the streets.  Many of them have grand entrances and equally large windows fronting the living room.  Being a newly developed area, not too many trees were in sight.

It was late in the evening when our car arrived and the street was quiet.  James was already standing at the doorway as I got out the car.

Around a large dining table were nine (9) people!  And I was told that Jerry Liu had left early.  In other words, they started the meeting with 10 participants!  Wow!  And on a Tuesday evening!  I could already feel the enthusiasm.

Lee Shiu-ki gave me a bowl of abalone chicken congee, as James promised.  One taste, and I started to understand a good part of the enthusiasm!

2004 is the 15th anniversary of QESOSA Ontario Chapter's founding.  That, obviously, was the main topic of the meeting.  All the arrangements, programs, logistics, etc.  Celebration Dinner will be on July 24th, a Saturday.  Anyone going to Toronto at that time?

As the meeting drew to an end, another James Tang (鄧漢傑 '61) arrived.  He was also promised a bowl of congee.  Obviously not here to participate in the meeting, did he come for the congee, I wondered.  As it turned out, he came to pick up his wife, Nancy '65, an enthusiastic board member working on quite a few projects, including the GJC Commemorative Plaque from the 3 OSA bodies: QESAAUSA, QESOSA Ontario and QESOSA Australia. 

The meeting lasted until after midnight.  We took a group picture and bade each other farewell.

The next morning, I went to a dimsum date with my '62 classmates.  Among those who came were Yeung Kungming (楊公明), Caroline Lau (林月星) and her husband Wayne ('58), Cheung Waifong (張惠芳), Hui Suklin (許淑蓮), Sophia Cheung (甘秀玲) and her husband Allan (張兆麟 '60), Pong Pingkwun (龐炳坤).  James Tang joined us also.

Yeung Kung was retired before he came to Toronto 14 years ago.  He now spends his full time cultivating his private orchid garden.  He looked very fit and healthy, just like before.  Pong Pingkwun now freelances as legal translator.  He has added a few pounds since I last saw him some 12 years ago. 

During the 40th Anniversary Celebration for the class of 62 in Hong Kong, we participated in a tour of Southern China together with Caroline and Wayne.  It was good to see them again in their home city of Toronto.  Wayne is also QES alumnus from 1958. 

It was probably the first time since 1962 that Suk-lin, Wai-fong and I sat together.

Most at our meeting are retired and enjoying good life.  Everyone looked real healthy. 

Dimsum in Toronto generally tastes very good and has more varieties.  Noise, unfortunately, is a universal problem in Chinese restaurants everywhere.  The afternoon was most enjoyable and time passed more quickly than usual in the company of old friends.  Click here for photos.