Honourable senators, it is with a heavy heart that I pay tribute to a true Canadian hero, my friend and mentor, the late Colonel Howe Yet Lee, who passed away on March 9, 2021. He was a third generation Chinese Canadian born in 1932 in the rural community of Armstrong, B.C. He later graduated from UBC and became a long-time resident and teacher of science and mathematics in Burnaby, B.C., and eventually the science department head at Edmonds Secondary School.

Over many years of service with Vancouver’s Chinatown community, he became the founding director of the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of B.C. He also volunteered for the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver and in the greater Chinese community promoting veterans’ causes, including the creation of the Chinatown Memorial Square and Chinatown revitalization.

He had a distinguished 35-year career in the Canadian military, which included a post as commanding officer of 156 company, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps; the second in command of the Royal Westminster Regiment; commanding officer of the 12 Service Battalion; and numerous staff positions with the brigade. He concluded his military service as Honourary Colonel of the 39 Service Battalion reserve unit.

With the motto “Loyal to Country,” Howe Lee was the driving force in the establishment of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society in 1998. Howe and his co-founders decided to honour the legacy of Chinese Canadian war heroes and pioneers who fought for the rights of citizenship and the right to vote for all Asian Canadians by archiving their stories of patriotism and heroism in the museum, which he described to me as the “soul of the community.” The museum ensures that their stories are archived as part of Canada’s military heritage.

On a personal note, meeting Howe Lee in 2009 at a Wounded Warriors event in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside led to a great friendship. He guided me to understand the importance of archiving stories of Canadian valour and sacrifice during the Korean War, and helped me to find my wings as a new senator to be able to honour Canadian veterans to whom I owe my life. It was a sincere honour to be able to award him with the Senate 150 medal in 2017 as one of Canada’s truest unsung heroes.

My heart goes out to Howe Lee’s beloved wife Hilda, their family, friends and all those mourning his passing. The late Colonel Howe Yet Lee lived a tremendous life as a teacher, community leader, military leader and role model in the vast and diverse country we call Canada. May he forever rest in peace.