In this interview, Mrs. J. Ng discusses the early part of her life in Mexico and moving to Canada to marry and raise a family.
She was born in Mexico, where her family had moved to join an uncle. Her father chose not to come to Canada because of Canada’s anti-Chinese immigration restrictions. Mrs. Ng feels that the lifestyle in Mexico was better than in Canada because even middle-class people were able to afford a servant. After finishing school, Mrs. Ng worked 7 years at Bell as a long-distance operator.
In 1965, Mrs. Ng flew to Canada to visit a relative. This relative introduced her to her future husband, who was a cook. Her husband had left China when he was 13 because of communism. He first arrived in Toronto, Ontario then moved to Sudbury, Ontario. Mrs. Ng’s marriage was an arranged marriage and took place quite early due to immigration requirements.
Mrs. Ng is satisfied with her life in Canada, which she credits to her ability to speak English well. She has three daughters whom she stays at home to raise. Her husband would like the children to learn Chinese but as Mrs. Ng speaks poor Chinese she talks to them in English. She says that she does not follow many Chinese traditions because she grew up in Mexico, but her children consider themselves Chinese Canadians.
/ 
