Woo, Joanne
Joanne Woo’s family has a long history in Calgary, Alberta. Her paternal grandfather, Lim Soon, came to Canada in 1900. His wife, Mrs. Lim Soon Dayton (Wong Shee), arrived in 1923 on the last boat to bring Chinese immigrants to Canada before The Chinese Immigration Act, 1923 came into effect, bringing about the Exclusion Period (1923-1947). The family adopted the name Dayton, after the restaurant-turned-store they operated in Calgary. The Lim Daytons’ son, William, married Marguerite Lim Dayton (née Wong) in 1939. Marguerite was responsible for operating the family grocery business along with raising three children, including Joanne. Encouraged to pursue an education by her parents, Joanne entered Business College for secretarial training. She became the first secretary of the Board of Directors of the Sien Lok Society, and has remained active in the organization ever since.
In this photograph, Joanne Woo’s maternal grandparents pose for a formal portrait with their seven children. In the early 1900s, Mrs. Wong Mo Yin (seated, far right) was one of the first three Chinese women to join their husbands in Calgary. Joanne’s mother, Marguerite (front row, centre) had six siblings – three sisters and three brothers. The Wong children were born in Calgary except the eldest son, Ben, who was born in China. Back row, left to right: Nellie (Loretta Lee's mother), Ben, and Helen. Front row, left to right: Mr. Wong Mo Yin (seated), Lilly, Leo, Marguerite, Harry and Mrs. Wong Mo Yin (seated).
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