David See-chai Lam | |
|---|---|
林思齊 | |
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| 25th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia | |
| In office September 9, 1988 – April 21, 1995 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governors General | Jeanne Sauvé Ray Hnatyshyn Roméo LeBlanc |
| Premier | Bill Vander Zalm Rita Johnston Mike Harcourt |
| Preceded by | Robert Gordon Rogers |
| Succeeded by | Garde Gardom |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1923-07-25)July 25, 1923[1] British Hong Kong |
| Died | November 22, 2010(2010-11-22) (aged 87) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Cause of death | Prostate cancer |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Spouse | [1][2] |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Lingnan University Temple University |
David See-chai Lam,OC CVO OBC (Chinese:林思齊; July 25, 1923 – November 22, 2010) was a Hong Kong-born Canadian banker, businessman, investor, philanthropist, and politician.[3] From 1988 to 1995, Lam was the25thLieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and he was the firstChinese Canadian to be appointed as avice-regal in Canada. He was known for his charitable efforts, donating millions of dollars and leveraging millions more to support educational institutions and activities in Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States.[4]
David See-chai Lam was born inHong Kong on July 25, 1923; he was the second oldest of nine children of Lam Chi Fung, a Hong Kongcoal importer and distributor, and Chan Chik-Ting Lam.[3] When Lam turned 18, his plans to attend university were sidelined byWorld War II. During the war, he worked in the administration of the family’s coal business, and his life was often at risk. Among the close calls, Lam was bombed at a dock, chased bypirates, and opted not to board a ship that was latertorpedoed.[3][5] Understanding the danger, Chi Fung decided it was time for Lam to undertake his university studies.[6]
In 1947, Lam earned a degree in economics fromLingnan University in Hong Kong.[3] He developed fluency in five languages, and earned anMBA degree fromTemple University in the United States.[3] He returned to Hong Kong in 1949 and began a successful career in his family'sbanking business atKa Wah Bank.[3] While dancing at aball, Lam met his future wife, Dorothy. They dated for two years, and married in the fall of 1954.[3][7] Together they had three daughters: Deborah, Daphne, and Doreen.[1][2][3] After working as a banker for 18 years, Lam and his familyimmigrated to Vancouver in 1967.[2][8]
Lam became a prominent real estate entrepreneur inVancouver, and was a leading proponent of many groundbreaking real estate development ventures. The company he founded is now known as Pacific Canadian Investments (PCI).[9] He is also noted for being a leadingphilanthropist. He founded the Floribunda Philanthropic Society, and the David & Dorothy Lam Foundation. He donated substantial funds to cultural projects in his adopted province and country. He served as Chairman of Hong Kong Baptist College, trustee of the Chancellor's Circle at the University of British Columbia, which later awarded him an honorary degree, and was a benefactor to the David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University. In 1986, he helped found theCanadian International Dragon Boat Festival.
In 1988Governor GeneralJeanne Sauvé, on the advice of Prime MinisterBrian Mulroney, appointed him lieutenant governor. Lam represented the Crown during the term of three Premiers:William Vander Zalm,Rita Johnston, andMichael Harcourt.
He formally ended the practice of lieutenant governors wearing theWindsor uniform. This practice was reinstated by Lieutenant GovernorSteven Point.
Lam was Canada's second non-white lieutenant governor (the first beingLincoln Alexander ofOntario) and was the firstAsian Canadian as well as the firstChinese Canadian lieutenant governor.
Lam died on November 22, 2010, fromprostate cancer at the age of 87.[11] He was predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Dorothy, who died in 1997, and survived by three children and seven grandchildren.[1][2]
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