Dr. Hyun Ju Cho
The 50-year Story of Calgary Korean Immigrants
Koreans have been immigrating to Calgary since the 1960s. One of the earliest immigrants was the late Dr. Chang Young Kim, Professor of Physics at the University of Calgary. Dr. Kim and his family provided help for new Korean immigrants. His home became a community centre of sorts for these Koreans.
In 1968, he and early Korean immigrants founded the Calgary Korean Association (CKA). The association will celebrate its 50th anniversary on August 19, 2017 at the annual Calgary Korean Day festival. The CKA represents about 15,000 Koreans living in and around Calgary, providing support for established and new Korean Canadians as well as awareness, appreciation and understanding of Korean culture for the general public. It is the umbrella organization that works closely with other Calgary Korean groups such as the Calgary Korean Seniors Association (CKSA), the Calgary Korean Cultural Centre (TCKCC), the Calgary Korean Lions Club (CKLC), the Korean Canadian Businessmen’s Association (KCBA), Calgary Korean Scholarship Foundation (CKSF), Calgary Korean Art Club (CKAC), and Calgary Korean Performing Arts Society (CKPAS). In 2010, the CKA moved to its current location at 7008 Farrell Road SE, Calgary, from a small converted house at 17th Avenue and 30th Street SW.
A milestone moment for the Calgary Korean community was the establishment of the Calgary Korean Scholarship Foundation (CKSF) in 2008. The CKSF was founded to provide financial and moral support to hardworking, high-achieving, and promising young students. It helps to recognize and encourage students who dedicate their skills, knowledge and services to the Korean-Canadian community, and to allow aspiring young students to achieve their utmost potential. In the last 10 years, the CKSF has awarded 280 scholarships to students. The scholarship process requires an application by the student, three references and an evaluation (transcript 40 per cent, essay 25 per cent, volunteer/extra-curricular works 25 per cent and reference 10 per cent).
In 1992, Korean immigrants establised the Calgary Korean Cultural Centre (TCKCC) to promote cultural exchanges between Korean-Canadians and other interested Canadians and to fund raise to purchase or build our own cultural centre. Currently, TCKCC offer various classes of cultural support education. As of April 2017, 12 classes are in operation, and more than 100 people have joined. Day by day, the classes are growing in popularity. Current classes include ESL classes, K-pop dance classes, art and drawing classes, ukulele classes and guitar classes. In the future, the school will provide an increasingly varied mix of programs such as Spanish language classes and Chinese language classes. TCKCC plans to recruit talented lecturers, provide summer camps for residents, and host regular shows by various Korean music and performance groups. The dream is to develop into an organization that can enjoy, share and educate other non-Korean, multicultural groups about Korean culture.
The Korean Canadian Businessmen’s Association (KCBA) was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization by Korean entrepreneurs. The KCBA was formed, with support from the business community from south of Red Deer to the U.S. border, to uphold their rights and to promote their status, solidarity, and friendship. Currently there are about 200 members. The KCBA supplies goods to members at a preferential price by contracting with various suppliers and helps members to better communicate with suppliers. The KCBA offers seminars, business fairs, publishes brochures and business news, enhancing communication and information exchange among its members. In addition to member activities, the KCBA has made contributions for the betterment of the Calgary Korean community, participated in scholarship fundraising, hosted a charity luncheon and recreation for isolated seniors, and hosted golf tournaments.
Through its many organizations, programs and services for all generations, the Korean community in Calgary has grown significantly in the past 50 years. It has demonstrated great commitment to supporting the diverse interests and needs of its members and, with its unique Korean hospitality style, has made positive contributions to sharing its cultural heritage and contributions with the broader Calgary community.
Dr. Hyun Ju Cho, DVM, PhD, Senior Veterinary Research Scientist, retired from the Animal Diseases Research Institute, Agriculture Canada, Lethbridge Alberta.
Dr. Cho came to Canada on August 1970 and studied at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph and received his PhD on May 1973 in Veterinary Immunology/Virology.
Dr. Cho discovered the virus of aleutian disease of mink and developed a practical, accurate and rapid diagnostic test which contributed significantly over the last 45 years in eradicating the disease throughout the world where mink were raised commercially.
He is a founding member of the Federation of Korean Canadian Seniors Associations and served as its first President.
Listed in the Dictionary of International Biography (1980), Marquis Who’s Who in America (1978), Marquis Who’s Who in the World (1980), and Canadian Who’s Who (1998).
He was a recipient of the Republic of Korea President Award (2010) and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).