Interview with Tsui Poshu, Immigrant to Edmonton from Hong Kong

What is your full name and when did you come to Edmonton?


My name is Poshu Tsui. I came to Edmonton in 1989. My son [Kelly Tsui] applied for me to come over under the “family reunion” class of sponsorship. However, when I first came, I couldn’t get used to the environment. It was cold and I had no friends, so I immediately applied for a return permit and returned to Hong Kong. I stayed there until I got a letter from my daughter [Rowena Tsui] who said that she understood that I was lonely living in Edmonton. My daughter also said, ‘You are Christian, so you should know that it is God’s will that you are here.’ I thought about it and agreed with my daughter and came back to Edmonton [in the] mid-1990s. Every year I would return to Hong Kong to visit old friends and relatives, [and] my mother-in-law, who is 90 and living in a senior’s home.


Why did your son come to Edmonton?


My son finished high school in Hong Kong and came to Canada for university at the age of 17. He studied at the University of Manitoba. After university, my son went back to Hong Kong to work and get married. He came back to Canada and settled in Edmonton. At that time, he applied to sponsor me for immigration. The application was approved and that’s how I came over.


Were there people who helped you when you came over? (For example the Chinese Community Centre, etc.) Was there anyone special?


I am thankful that I am fluent in English and that I could manage by myself because I didn’t want to bother my son. One day, I was wandering downtown and discovered that there was a Chinese Multicultural Centre and went in and got some info. I was told that I could volunteer and help out other Chinese people. I have been volunteering since then [from 1991 to the present].


You mentioned that you felt lonely when you first moved here. Have you had any regrets about moving here?


Initially, I had some regrets, but with my daughter’s encouragement, I got rid of those feelings. Since I have been working as a volunteer, I made new friends and am happy that I can help other people. I want to encourage other seniors like myself to get out and offer their time as volunteers like myself.


What do you think is special about Edmonton?


Edmontonians are polite and the people generally work at a slow pace (they are laid back) compared to Hong Kong. When you go to the bank, the tellers will count out money bill by bill, which is different from Hong Kong. Edmonton is a small place and not densely populated. If you ride the bus or LRT, people will give their seat to a senior, which is really good. It’s that simple. There’s a big difference from big cities: everybody here is polite – even drivers. Drivers are polite to each other and let pedestrians walk. So now I have gotten used to life in Edmonton. Sometimes when I go back to Hong Kong, I’m not used to the lifestyle, but I can’t really say that because Hong Kong is where I was born, raised and married. It’s that simple.