Mah, Jan
Jan Mah (née Wong) is a third generation Chinese Canadian. Her parents were part-owners and operators of the Sunrise Drive-in Restaurant from 1956 to the 1970s, one the first Chinese restaurants with carhop service in Calgary, Alberta. Growing up, Jan worked at the restaurant’s dairy bar and also immersed herself in community and social activities. She led a busy work life, becoming the first woman to recruit for executive positions at a recruiting firm. In addition to raising her son and establishing a career, Jan has been an active contributor to Calgary’s Sien Lok Society as Lifetime Honourary Director and President. Jan resided in Calgary at the time of the interview.
“But our perception is they always thought they were better than we were.”
In this clip, Jan Mah describes the division between Canadian-born Chinese and those who immigrated from China. Jan was born in 1944 in Rocky Mountain, Alberta. Growing up, she felt that Chinese Canadians who were born in China felt distinct from, and superior to, Canadian-born Chinese like Jan.