Hum, Doug
Douglas (Doug) Wing Dock Hum was born in Toronto, Ontario. His mother, Tuey Ping Lee-Hum, traveled from China to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1937 as a member of a touring Cantonese Opera troupe. Tuey Ping Lee-Hum played lead male roles for the Chinese Freemason-sponsored Jin Wah Sing opera troupe, performing in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, Quebec. The performances raised funds for Chinese refugee relief through the Red Cross and called attention to the Japanese invasion of China. After touring with the troupe, she settled in Toronto, where she met and married Doug’s father, Hum See Tong, and performed with the Jin Hong Sing opera troupe. As a child, Doug accompanied his mother to New York City, USA, for three or four years while the Jin Hong Sing performed for Chinese American audiences. In his adult life, Doug Hum has been devoted to serving Toronto’s Chinese community; he has worked in various roles at University Settlement, a social service centre located near Toronto’s downtown Chinatown. He has also worked as a social worker and community liaison for Jack Layton, when Layton was first elected Toronto City Councillor in 1982. At the time of the interview, Doug resided in Toronto with his wife Fern.
This photo, taken on the steps of the former land registry building in Toronto, Ontario, documents the assembly of the Jin Hong Sing opera troupe before most of the members departed for New York City, USA. . At the end of the Second World War, members of the troupe were invited by the Chinese American community to perform in New York City, USA. The photo includes the troupe’s performers, musicians and stage hands. Doug Hum’s mother, Tuey Ping Lee-Hum, appears in the front row, third from left. Doug has also identified the following individuals in the photo: Violet Chin (fourth from left), Mr. Poon (second row, second from right), and Mrs. Lum (front row, fifth from right). As of 2010, Violet Chin was still residing in New York.