Wetaskiwin District Heritage Museum Centre & City of Wetaskiwin Archives

Courage was the order of the day for many newcomers arriving in Canada throughout the past 200 years. The challenge of parting with objects that held a sentimental value was and continues to be a reality for many immigrants. In the case of this mahogany hand carved trunk, Fay Yee could not bear to part with it when she left Hong Kong in 1960. Everything she brought to Canada was packed into this single container leaving little room for copious amounts of personal treasure. However, the trunk itself was a family heirloom that traditionally served as a textile chest in replacement of a closet. Having moved through San Francisco and Vancouver, Fay reached Wetaskiwin and exclaimed, “Taskiwin, Taskiwin – too small!” Despite first impressions, Fay settled in the city, got married, and joined the family business. The Yee family operated Stanley Café from 1927 to 2002 and was widely acknowledged as baking the best Boston and banana coconut cream pies in the area. This is one of many local immigration stories and if you would like to share your own experiences moving to our community, please do not hesitate to call or drop by the Heritage Museum.