Byung Gi Choi
First Immigrant in Calgary
First Immigrant in Calgary
CHOI Byung Gi
Choi with his two daughters.
The Korean War ended In my early youth, and there were not enough jobs in the market. Then I was selected to work as a miner in Germany, and later worked at a transportation institution. After three years in Germany, I immigrated to Canada. I was the first Korean to immigrate to Germany and Canada.
I received the immigration stamp and permanent residency right after my arrival. I hopped on a cab and noticed a Chinese driver. He looked at me a fellow East Asian, and refused to receive a $3 taxi fare from me. He said it was okay not to pay him.
While at the Immigration office, I asked the clerk if there would be any Korean working at the office. It was a time when computer wasn’t around, so the clerk needed to physically look around for a Korean. She ended up finding no Korean working at the office. I was told I was the first Korean to immigrate to Calgary.
My first job was making chimneys. I job shadowed for a week to learn the skills, but it was difficult to work in the cold winter. I couldn’t do this anymore, and quitted the job after a week. At that time, the weekly wage was $70. I was staying at a house that the Immigration office arranged for me. It was a Polish family’s house, and their son was a pastor. The monthly rent was $70. I was excited as my discretionary income increased.
I went to the immigration office again and got a job. This job was a carpenter. I needed a winter jacket, shoes, and a hammer for the work. I got $100 from the immigration office and bought everything I needed with it. It is an old story.
The hammering for the first time in my life was so hard that I finally decided that I would not do outdoor work anymore. I went to work every factory and finally found a job in a downtown company to do some errands on a $2.50/hour wage. When I realized that everyone else was getting $5, I thought I should make more money. I worked until 3 o’clock and came home to eat dinner. I got a license from SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) by learning welding techniques. So I collected the money. I worked at a trading company, did grocery shops, and also had a hamburger restaurant. The automobile sales business which I am still in initially began in the 1990s.
The first Korean Ambassador, who flew out to Calgary to have lunch with Calgary’s Korean immigrants …
Immigrant life was lonely, and there were many difficulties as my English was not good. Everyone called me Chinese, and the only news I heard was poor and difficult stories. Once, World Vision made a TV appeal to help Koreans. On the screen, there were Koreans standing in a line for food. One of my colleagues asked me if there is a car in Korea. That made me mad. No matter how smart, immigrants needed to do physical labour. Fortunately, I met a fellow Korean. Dr. Kim frequently invited me over for meals. I was very thankful for him. At that time, everyone did their best to live a diligent life and went through many difficult moments.
Over the years, I established the Korean Canadian Businessmen’s Association, registered it with the provincial government, and began a fundraising movement to build a Korean Community Centre. Many people offered to help. The Association fundraised quite a sum of money while other organizations collected more to purchase a house that will be used as the community centre. Many associations gathered together to begin this gathering among Koreans. The Korean Canadians in Calgary are patient and understanding. So the work was carried out without a big conflict. The group unity was established smoothly.
Choi receiving the honorary award from representatives from Korea.
As a pioneering immigrant, I wanted to help other fellow immigrants for my country. I initiated many work with like-minded individuals, and many Koreans cooperated in the work. That was the reason why I tried to get the community centre built. Among many other volunteer activities, I was involved in the National Unification Advisory Council and the Lions Club. In addition to donating money, I volunteered in disaster relief, helping people with disabilities, and various other local community engagements. In 2004, I received the National Medal from the Republic of Korea. I am very thankful. I extend my gratitude to all of my fellow immigrants who worked hard.
Mr. Choi lives with two daughters and one son in Calgary, and continues to work with good health.
Byung Gi Choi’s Photo Gallery:
