Yip Sang
Encyclopedia
Yip Sang (1845–1927) was a prominent Chinese Canadian
businessman, whose business and family flourished during the period when Chinese Canadian
s faced discrimination and restrictions.
Yip's fame was mainly in his business, but he was also a social reformer and political activist in Canada
. Yip Sang was born on September 6, 1845, in Shengtang village (聖堂), Taishan County, Guangdong
, into a poor family. Yip went to California
as a general labourer in 1864 and then to work in the goldfields in Canada
in 1881.
Yip arrived in Vancouver
to work as a coal salesman, then as a bookkeeper, timekeeper, and paymaster for the Canadian Pacific Railway Supply Company. He quickly worked up the ranks and became a superintendent of Chinese labourers. By 1888, Yip started his own business the Wing Sang Company, which provided labour contracting, as well as import/export business to and from the Far East.
Yip travelled to China during his time in California
and British Columbia
. He fathered 23 children among his four wives (Lee Shee, Dong Shee, Wong Shee and Chin Shee).
His company became a Chinese agent with his former employer, Canadian Pacific Railway Supply Company, providing human labour and produce.
Unlike most Chinese men of this time, Yip managed to succeed in life in Canada
.
Yip was fluent in English, a naturalized British
(1891) subject and by 1908 a successful business and real estate portfolio.
Within the Chinese
community, Yip was a local leader. He helped establish the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, the Chinese Board of Trade of Vancouver and Life Governor of the Vancouver General Hospital
. He helped create a hospital and public school for the Chinese community of Vancouver
Yip was also involved in the political movement in promoting political reform in China
via the Chinese Empire Reform Association.
In 1901, Yip brought his entire family to Canada
, a family that grew to 660 members by 1966. Some of his children were also able to succeed in life. His daughter, Susanne, attended the University of British Columbia
and was later Principal of Kwangtung Provincial Girls’ Middle School in Guangzhou in the 1930s. His son, K. Dock Yip
, attended Osgoode Law School and was one of the few Chinese Canadian
lawyers before 1947.
Yip Sang died in 1927 and left a small fortune to his 18 sons.
As for Wing Sang Company, it was renamed Yip Sang Ltd. in 1950 and later the business disappeared from Chinatown.
The Wing Sang Building (1889) at 51 East Pender is one of the city's oldest buildings. It was occupied by Yip Sang Travel Agency Limited in 1955 and abandoned years later. Vancouver condo marketer Bob Rennie
refurbished the building in the 2000's. It now holds the Rennie Collection of contemporary art.
Chinese Canadian
Chinese Canadians are Canadians of Chinese descent. They constitute the second-largest visible minority group in Canada, after South Asian Canadians...
businessman, whose business and family flourished during the period when Chinese Canadian
Chinese Canadian
Chinese Canadians are Canadians of Chinese descent. They constitute the second-largest visible minority group in Canada, after South Asian Canadians...
s faced discrimination and restrictions.
Yip's fame was mainly in his business, but he was also a social reformer and political activist in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Yip Sang was born on September 6, 1845, in Shengtang village (聖堂), Taishan County, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, into a poor family. Yip went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as a general labourer in 1864 and then to work in the goldfields in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1881.
Yip arrived in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
to work as a coal salesman, then as a bookkeeper, timekeeper, and paymaster for the Canadian Pacific Railway Supply Company. He quickly worked up the ranks and became a superintendent of Chinese labourers. By 1888, Yip started his own business the Wing Sang Company, which provided labour contracting, as well as import/export business to and from the Far East.
Yip travelled to China during his time in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He fathered 23 children among his four wives (Lee Shee, Dong Shee, Wong Shee and Chin Shee).
His company became a Chinese agent with his former employer, Canadian Pacific Railway Supply Company, providing human labour and produce.
Unlike most Chinese men of this time, Yip managed to succeed in life in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Yip was fluent in English, a naturalized British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(1891) subject and by 1908 a successful business and real estate portfolio.
Within the Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
community, Yip was a local leader. He helped establish the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, the Chinese Board of Trade of Vancouver and Life Governor of the Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver General Hospital is a medical facility located in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the largest facility in the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre group of medical facilities...
. He helped create a hospital and public school for the Chinese community of Vancouver
Yip was also involved in the political movement in promoting political reform in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
via the Chinese Empire Reform Association.
In 1901, Yip brought his entire family to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, a family that grew to 660 members by 1966. Some of his children were also able to succeed in life. His daughter, Susanne, attended the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
and was later Principal of Kwangtung Provincial Girls’ Middle School in Guangzhou in the 1930s. His son, K. Dock Yip
K. Dock Yip
Kew Dock Yip LLB was the first Chinese-Canadian lawyer and the second youngest son of Yip Sang, a prominent Chinese merchant in Vancouver in the 1900s....
, attended Osgoode Law School and was one of the few Chinese Canadian
Chinese Canadian
Chinese Canadians are Canadians of Chinese descent. They constitute the second-largest visible minority group in Canada, after South Asian Canadians...
lawyers before 1947.
Yip Sang died in 1927 and left a small fortune to his 18 sons.
As for Wing Sang Company, it was renamed Yip Sang Ltd. in 1950 and later the business disappeared from Chinatown.
The Wing Sang Building (1889) at 51 East Pender is one of the city's oldest buildings. It was occupied by Yip Sang Travel Agency Limited in 1955 and abandoned years later. Vancouver condo marketer Bob Rennie
Bob Rennie
Bob Rennie is a real estate marketer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the owner and founder of Rennie Marketing Systems, which is Vancouver's largest real estate marketing firm...
refurbished the building in the 2000's. It now holds the Rennie Collection of contemporary art.