Dr. Raymond Cho
Dr. Raymond Cho, Member of Ontario Parliament
Before I start writing my story, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Senator Yonah Martin who has provided me the opportunity to share my life story. Furthermore, I sincerely want to say, ‘Thank You Canada’ who has adopted and allowed me to become a very successful Canadian.
I am very happy and humble to be able to share my story as to how I ended up coming to Canada and the journey I took from being a dishwasher to becoming an elected politician.
As a young man already in my 30’s, I arrived in this great country as a first-generation Korean immigrant. I had to overcome social, cultural and language barriers. After 50 years, I still try to continue my humble service to help anyone in need.
Journey to Canada
In the early 1960’s, I used to work for the American Embassy in South Korea. One day, my younger brother who was recently discharged from his Naval Service, told me that he wanted to apply to immigrate to Canada. He asked me if I could be his interpreter at his meeting with a Canadian Immigration Officer. At the interview, the officer asked me if I was interested in applying as well. After much contemplation, I applied. A couple of months later, in 1967, I got a reply from the Canadian immigration agency that my visa application was approved. Unfortunately, my brother’s application was rejected. I initially wasn’t sure – I thought to myself ‘should I go to Canada? Or US? Or should I just stay in Korea and take care of my aging mother?’ Eventually, I decided to take up the opportunity to come to Canada.
I landed in Vancouver in March of 1967 with less than $100 in my pocket. It was very tough in the beginning. I had a hard time finding a job because I did not have any Canadian experience. I would often think to myself that I cannot get any Canadian experience if no one would be willing to give me a chance by hiring me.
I was so thrilled when I found my first job as a dishwasher. After two weeks on the job, I went to bank to deposit my first paycheck of $40. When the teller asked me about my profession, I pretended that I did not understand the word, profession. So I told her that my profession was dishwashing. We both laughed. That is how I begin my journey in Canada.
Professional life in Canada
In my opinion, I thought there were only two ways one can become successful and make a name for themselves. One was to get an education and become a professional; the other was to do make a mark by becoming a successful businessman. I thought to myself, “I am not a business guy, so I’ll get an education.”
When I arrived in Vancouver in 1967, I applied for a MBA program at the University of British Columbia. Very quickly I realized that I needed money to put myself through school. Therefore, I went up north near Yukon Territory and worked three jobs simultaneously. During the day, I worked as a laborer at an asbestos mine. My second job started in the evening where I waited tables at a beer parlor. Then I went to my third job, working as a janitor. Thankfully, I got accepted and was able to save up money to start my MBA at UBC.
But the real challenge came when I started the program. After working those long hours, I was too tired during the day and was not able to concentrate. In those days, we had to do a lot of math problems and I could not keep up. Eventually, I had to quit. I was so frustrated and thought about going back to Korea.
During that time, a friend of mine encouraged me to consider moving to Toronto. After much thought, I decided to move to Toronto in 1968, the city I have come to call home for the past fifty years.
I struggled to find a job even in Toronto, but eventually landed my first job at Toronto General Hospital as a janitor. I was determined to make it this time and that to become a successful Canadian, I needed higher education.
I enrolled myself into the Master’s Program in Social Work at the University of Toronto. After completing my degree, I went on to pursue another Master’s degree in counseling psychology, followed by a Doctor of Education in counseling psychology at the University of Toronto. Professionally, I worked as a social worker for many years for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society and the Toronto District School Board.
My immediate family
The following year after I moved to Canada, I invited my fiancé Soon Ok to Toronto. We got married in Toronto in 1968. From our marriage union, our Lord blessed us with three lovely sons: Raymond Jr., Ronald and William.
My wife, Soon Ok has been the backbone and the driving force of our family. She worked as a manager in a Financial Institution until she retired and has since successfully ran all my election campaigns.
Together, we have worked very hard to raise our three children. We feel very proud today our three children are all successful in their own professions. Our oldest son Raymond Jr., is a Psychiatrist and Neuroscientist and his wife, Sophie is a Nephrologist in Houston, Texas. Our second son Ronald is a Plastic Surgeon and his wife Melissa is a Dermatologist in Houston, Texas. Our youngest son William is a high school teacher in Montreal, Quebec. He received the most prestigious award, “Teacher of the Province” a few years ago. His wife, Melissa is an administrator at McGill University in Montreal. My wife and I have six lovely grandchildren: Sebastian, Clara, Ella, Owen, Loik and Jackie.
Being a parent
I absolutely agree with the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the World”.
As parents, my wife and I played a very active role to ensure the success of our children’s lives. We realized that the key to our children’s future success was through education, raising their level of confidence and being good role model for them.
From the age of 2, our boys learned how to read the English alphabet and simple sentences at home. We, as parents, tried to pass on our values and our family heritage. Over the years, our family attended a Korean church and spoke Korean at home so that our children could keep in touch with their cultural roots. As they reached a high school age, it was harder for them to retain their “Korean culture”, but I do not see it as negative. I always believed that I did not want to confine my children only into Korean culture. I wanted to be open minded and embrace the Canadian culture. Today, two of our sons are fluent in French.
My wife and I tried our best to instill confidence and be a strong source of support for our children. When they started school, they were far more advanced than other children in their academics, reading, mathematics, etc. From a very young age, I coached all my three boys in soccer, volleyball and baseball. My boys have all been good athletes. Raymond Jr. and William are also very good pianists. When my children were growing up, I was more like a close friend to all our sons and my wife would often say “I have four sons in our family”.
Today, I feel very proud to see my three sons raising their own little families and passing the values which my wife and I have taught them on to our grandchildren.
Entry to politics
Before I entered politics, I worked as a Social Worker for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society, the Toronto District School Board and the Scarborough Board of Education for many years. Through my professional work, I was able to help many Korean immigrants when they faced challenges in their new home.
During those days, I was a passionate advocate of social justice. I fought against the forced finger printing policy of the Japanese Government when they forced Japanese of Korean descent in Japan to give their fingerprints. I was an ardent fighter for the restoration of democracy in South Korea. These issues were very close to my heart and I knew I could not just sit back and let this happen. In my heart, I knew I had to fight against injustice.
In 1986, Reverend Jesse Jackson from the US planned to go to Japan and Korea for human rights issues. At the time, Korea was under a military dictatorship. I was not sure if I should join Rev. Jackson on this trip. There was a chance that I would be put on the “blacklist” by the Korean government. Eventually, my wife and I decided to join Rev Jackson to visit Japan and Korea as we both knew this was the right thing to do. When we came back from that trip, I was
received as a community leader. Soon my community members encouraged me to run for a public office. During those days, there were very few visible minorities in political offices.
I ran for a political office for the first time in 1988 and I did not get elected. However, this did not discourage me. Three years later, I ran to become a Metro councillor in Scarborough. In 1991, I was elected as a Metropolitan Toronto Councillor. I was the first Korean-Canadian to be elected to a public office in Canadian history. This was the beginning of my political career.
Since then, I have been re-elected 8 times as a Toronto City Councillor. In 2016, I became the first Korean-Canadian to be elected as a Member of Provincial Parliament in the Ontario Legislature. My win as an MPP has motivated many young Korean-Canadians to seek their own political offices.
Involvement in the Community service and later public service
Throughout my political career, I have been a member of various boards and standing committees. I have served as Chair of the Scarborough Community Council and as Chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee, Metro Council. I also served as a Member of the Economic Development Committee, Board of Health, Toronto Region Conservation Authority, Canadian National Exhibition Association Board and as a TTC Commissioner. Before I became a politician, I assisted in various fundraising events including the Daily Bread Food Bank and many other community agencies.
As a Toronto City Councillor, I was elected 4 times as the Chair of Board of Management of the Toronto Zoo. During this time, I sent a Mongolian horse to the Korean Zoo as a Sister-ship Project to strengthen Korean-Canadian relations. I persuaded the Board to donate land to build a Korean garden and the Dr. Schofield Monument at Toronto Zoo. I was also instrumental in bringing the pandas from China to the Toronto Zoo.
My humanitarian work spread well beyond our international borders. Our family has been supporting the building of pumping wells in the desert areas of Pakistan for many years now.
In 2009, I founded a youth organization called Global Youth Leaders to provide leadership training and promote volunteerism amongst youths locally and internationally. With the GYL group, I travelled to the Philippines three times to help build houses for typhoon victims. We also visited Jamaica three times to help orphans infected with HIV/AIDS & disadvantaged seniors staying at the Golden Age Senior Home in their relief efforts.
I also fought at the Toronto City Council for the Korean Canadian Cultural Association to be exempted from paying property taxes. I have also been the chairman for Korean Canadian Senior Society fundraising events many times.
I strongly believe in the importance of good education for all children. Over the years, I gave scholarships to less fortunate children so they may attain higher education.
Currently, I am working with North Korean refugees by helping them locate jobs, find schools for their children and by bring them to hospitals when they are sick.
I strongly believe in giving back to the community and especially this great country which has given me nothing but happiness and a good life. I will continue to contribute to this great nation in any and every way I can.
Gratitude & Advice
Over the years, I have realized that the path to success isn’t always straight. There are often bumps and turns and forks in the road. But a little bit of guidance can help you find your way. Fifty years ago, I came to Canada to start a new chapter in my life and today, I consider this chapter as the adventure of my lifetime. What I like best about Canada is diversity, we are being treated equally no matter where you come from and what race you are. I started my journey from a dishwasher and today, I am an elected politician proudly serving the constituents of Scarborough-Rouge River for more than 25 years. I have realized that if you dream big, anything is possible. I would like to leave you all with my little secrets to a successful and happy life.
Over the years, I have given various advices to young people, especially to the members of Global Youth Leaders (GYL) and the following are the key points:
1. BE HEALTHY & STRONG.
2. DREAM BIG AND THINK BIG.
3. SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS AND WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE THEM.
4. DO NOT GET UPSET OR ANGRY OVER PETTY THINGS AND AVOID LENGHTY ARGUMENTS.
5. GREET PEOPLE WARMLY AND BE HUMBLE.
6. ALWAYS TRY TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED YOUR HELP.
7. FAILURE IS THE MOTHER OF SUCCESS. LEARN FROM YOUR FAILURES AND AVOID MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES.
8. CHOOSE ROLE MODELS WISELY AND LEARN FROM THEM.
9. RESPECT LIFE AND HAVE RESPECT FOR OTHERS.
10. ESTABLISH A TRUSTABLE AND EFFECTIVE TEAM AND WORK WELL WITH YOUR TEAM.