作者：Li Guan, Okanagan Mission Secondary School
2014年9月，一所新建小学在BC省的West Kelowna市正式开课了，尽管由于它崭新的教学楼和新颖的教学理念瞬间吸引了众人，但让它真正万众瞩目的原因还是它与众不同的历史背景。这所学校正是Mar Jok 小学—Okanagan地区唯一一所以华人命名的学校。但为什么是他呢？他曾经都做过什么，才使他被授予如此高的荣誉呢？In September 2014, a newly built elementary school officially opened in West Kelowna, BC. Although it immediately attracted attention due to its brand-new building and innovative teaching concepts, what truly made it stand out was its unique historical background. This school is Mar Jok Elementary School, the only school in the Okanagan region named after a Chinese person. But why him? What did he do to be awarded such a high honor?
图片来自网络
Mar Jok（马）1900年（清）出生于中国广东。并于1912年与父亲和哥哥一起来到了加拿大BC省，跟其他早期中国移民的原因一样，因为当年盛行的北美淘金热和太平洋铁路建设需要大量的劳动力，很多亚洲劳工都远赴千里来到北美寻找更赚钱的工作机会。“他们的理想是能够过来工作，赚钱，然后回国帮助别人。” Jok 说。Mar Jok was born in Guangdong, China in 1900 during the Qing Dynasty. In 1912, he came to British Columbia, Canada with his father and brother. Like many early Chinese immigrants, they were drawn by the North American gold rush and the construction of the Pacific Railway, which required a large labor force. Many Asian workers traveled far to North America in search of better-paying job opportunities. “Their ideal was to work here, earn money, and then return home to help others,” said Jok.
搬到加拿大后，他先是在BC省Revelstoke（位于Okanagan 东北约200 公里处）定居下来，他们家在那里开了一家洗衣店，为了生存，他们非常努力地工作。之后，他们还在煤矿、鱼罐头厂和农场工作过。在当地，他还就读于一所英语学校—Revelstoke Secondary School，并在那里学会了英语。在高中，他参加了很多体育项目和活动，而且非常喜欢户外运动。After moving to Canada, they first settled in Revelstoke, BC (about 200 kilometers northeast of Okanagan), where they opened a laundry shop. To survive, they worked very hard. Later, they worked in coal mines, fish canneries, and farms. In Revelstoke, Jok attended an English school—Revelstoke Secondary School—where he learned English. In high school, he participated in many sports and activities and developed a love for outdoor sports.
高中毕业后，他凭着自己的双语优势找到了很好的工作机会，比如在BC省和Alberta省的民事和刑事法庭担任翻译。曾同时担任加拿大陆军预备役军官和加拿大华人的法庭翻译。After graduating from high school, his bilingual skills helped him secure good job opportunities, such as serving as a translator in civil and criminal courts in BC and Alberta. He also served as a reserve officer in the Canadian Army and as a court interpreter for Chinese Canadians.
1927 年，他搬到了Kelowna，先是在Water Street 经营着Star Cafe，两年后，也就是到了1929年， 他开始与哥哥一起在Kelowna 市中心的Bernard Ave. 和Ellis St. 的西南角经营一家Golden Pheasant Cafe，直到退休，总共经营了40 年。在他的餐馆里，花40 美分（今天约合7.18 加元）就能吃到三道菜，外加咖啡。波士顿奶油馅饼、香蕉奶油馅饼和椰子奶油馅饼有三英寸高，每片售价10 美分（现在为1.80 加元）。In 1927, he moved to Kelowna and first operated the Star Cafe on Water Street. Two years later, in 1929, he and his brother started running the Golden Pheasant Cafe at the southwest corner of Bernard Ave. and Ellis St. in downtown Kelowna, where they worked for 40 years until retirement. At their restaurant, a three-course meal with coffee cost 40 cents (about 7.18 CAD today). Their Boston cream pie, banana cream pie, and coconut cream pie, each three inches high, were sold at 10 cents per slice (now 1.80 CAD).
Golden Pheasant Cafe
来自：https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mar-fee-mar-jok-west-kelowna-homestead-1.6125062
此外，他还以乐善好施、赈济穷人而闻名。在经济大萧条时期（1929-1940 年），无家可归、贫穷和饥饿成为全国各地的一个重要问题，每天餐厅打烊后，他都会打开餐厅的后门，那里经常排满了付不起饭钱的穷人，他都会确保让排队的每个人都吃上饭。后来，人们常常回忆起他是如何帮助Okanagan的华人和非华人社区度过那段大萧条时期的。因此，他成了人人尊敬的人。大约也是在那个时候，他和另外两名同在Okanagan的华人一起成立了中国文化协会，并组织了很多活动，让当地的华人社区感觉到自己越发具有代表性了。Jok was also known for his philanthropy and helping the poor. During the Great Depression (1929-1940), homelessness, poverty, and hunger became significant issues nationwide. Every night after the restaurant closed, he would open the back door, where lines of people who couldn’t afford to pay for meals would wait. He made sure everyone in line got to eat. People often recalled how he helped both the Chinese and non-Chinese communities in the Okanagan get through the Great Depression. As a result, he became a highly respected person. Around that time, he and two other Chinese men in the Okanagan founded the Chinese Cultural Association and organized many events to make the local Chinese community feel more represented.
1928 年至1931 年，他作为一名学习飞行的学员，在Vernon 机场的Radium 飞行服务公司学习了DH Gypsy Moth 的飞行课程，并成为了一名真正的飞行员，后来加入了BC dragoon (亚龙骑兵部队)，也就是参军入伍了，并获得了中士军衔。后来，他成为了Kelowna第一童子军的运动项目教官，同时也是BC dragoon的民兵成员。From 1928 to 1931, as a flight student, he studied flying the DH Gypsy Moth at the Radium Flying Service at Vernon Airport and became a certified pilot. He later joined the BC Dragoon (British Columbia Dragoon), serving as a soldier and eventually achieving the rank of sergeant. He also became the sports instructor for the Kelowna First Scouts and remained a militia member of the BC Dragoon.
20 世纪50 年代，他在West Kelonwa 的Rose Valley 买下了一块约400 英亩的宅地。1969 年从饭店退休后，他开始在自己West Kelowna 25 英亩的农田里种植芦笋，还饲养了蜜蜂、鸡和鹅。在那里，他教会了孙子们如何做农活，比如开拖拉机，如何使用锤子和钉子。他让所有的孩子都去那里，在他的土地上开展与农耕有关的活动。让每个人都乐在参与其中。In the 1950s, he purchased about 400 acres of homestead land in Rose Valley, West Kelowna. After retiring from the restaurant business in 1969, he started growing asparagus and raising bees, chickens, and geese on his 25-acre farmland in West Kelowna. There, he taught his grandchildren how to farm, use tractors, and handle tools like hammers and nails. He encouraged all the children to engage in farm-related activities, making it enjoyable for everyone.
因为对体育运动的浓厚兴趣和对教育的深度重视，他决定在去世后将自己的土地捐赠给市政府，用于修建学校、足球场和户外徒步线路。因此，在他去世31 年后的2014 年，一所小学– Mar Jok Elementary School 在他捐献的土地上建成了，并以他的名字为之命名。这所小学让Okanagan 的华人和非华人社区都记住了他，记住了他对我们这座美丽城市的伟大贡献。Due to his deep interest in sports and strong emphasis on education, he decided to donate his land to the city government after his death for the construction of a school, soccer fields, and outdoor hiking trails. Therefore, 31 years after his death, in 2014, Mar Jok Elementary School was built on his donated land and named after him. This school ensures that both the Chinese and non-Chinese communities in the Okanagan remember him and his significant contributions to our beautiful city.
除此之外，他的大部分土地都被用于建造房屋、步行和自行车道以及足球场。Additionally, most of his land was used to build houses, walking and biking trails, and soccer fields.
这位杰出的加拿大华人对基洛纳的历史、文化乃至未来都产生了巨大的影响！This outstanding Chinese Canadian had a tremendous impact on the history, culture, and future of Kelowna!
Mar Jok
哥哥Mar Fee（中间）和弟弟Mar Jok（最左边）, 1912从广东来到加拿大 .
Mar Fee 和 Mar Jok的后人
来自：https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mar-fee-mar-jok-west-kelowna-homestead-1.6125062
本文用于 kelowna华人历史记录工作组资料收集和线索整理阶段，以便后期使用。This article is used for the data collection and clue organization stage of the Kelowna Chinese history record working group for future use.
Sources:– Zoellner, Dorothy Whitham. “Life of Mar Jok | Life | Kelownadailycourier.Ca.” The Daily Courier, November 12, 2012.https://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/life/article_2aa0f3c3-392f-5a51-838a-54a842047c98.html.– Berry, Carli. “How Mar Jok Bridged the Gap for Kelowna’s Chinese Community.” INFOnews, May 8, 2021.https://infotel.ca/newsitem/how-mar-jok-bridged-the-gap-for-kelownas-chinese-community/it80235.– Berry, Carli, and (BRIE WELTON / iNFOnews.ca). “Kelowna Historian Aims to Learn More about Individuals Who Occupied Chinatown.” INFOnews, July 20, 2020.https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kelowna-historian-aims-to-learn-more-about-individuals-who-occupied-chinatown/it75236.– Dippel, Dallas. “Watch: West Kelowna School Schedules Grand Opening Today as Tribute to Chinese Pioneer.” Global News, February 20, 2015.https://globalnews.ca/news/1840450/watch-west-kelowna-school-schedules-grand-opening-today-as-tribute-to-chinese-pioneer/.– Care, Education and Child. “New Elementary School Opens on First Day of Chinese New Year.” New elementary school opens on first day of Chinese New Year, February 19, 2015.https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2015EDUC0011-000211.– Szeto, Winston. “Prominent Family Donates Part of Century-Old Homestead to City of West Kelowna | CBC News.” CBCnews, July 31, 2021.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mar-fee-mar-jok-west-kelowna-homestead-1.6125062.
Discover more from Central Alberta Chinese Culture Centre
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.