Jai, Beatrice Yew Wah

• 廖瑤華
• LEW Yew Wah

• Liao Yaohua in Pinyin romanization

• Bea

Beatrice Jai 廖瑤華 was born LEW Yew Wah into a Chinese immigrant family in Vancouver in 1928 to Bak-Ho LEW 廖崇岳 (1880-1960), a farmer from Xinhui county in Guangdong province, and Lily Hong Far LEW 廖黃杏花 (1893-1990). Beatrice was the second youngest of eight children: Chew (1914-1985), Chuck, Henry, Arthur (1926-2019, often referred to as Art), Pat, Florence (often referred to as Flo), Beatrice herself and Betty.

She grew up during a time when the Great Depression and anti-Chinese sentiment severely influenced the Chinese communities in North America. For many Chinese laborers that were stranded in this foreign land and had little hope of reunion with family ever again, Cantonese Opera was one of the very few things, that could bring comfort and a sense of belonging after longs days of repetitive, hard labor. Like many other Chinese people in Canada during this time, the Lews poured a lot of passion and devotion to Cantonese Opera activities.

Following in the footsteps of elder siblings, Beatrice and Betty started performing on stage in Cantonese Opera and music societies (namely the Vancouver Ching Won Musical Society) at a young age, mostly doing acrobatics and singing; here Beatrice developed a lifelong passion for Cantonese Opera and met her music teacher Raymond Jai, who later became her love of life. Beatrice’s beauty, confidence, and charming characteristics made her stand out even amongst a group of stars within the Chinese community. As a child performer, she was fondly referred to as “the Chinese Shirley Temple” by the local mainstream media; people today still remember her as “the Chinese Audrey Hepburn” who always had a beautiful infectious laugh. Beatrice studied at both the Vancouver Chinese Public School (primary school) and a local middle school for girls where most students were white. She was one of the few people that were more Westernized amongst Canadian-born Chinese group, and “seemed equally at home in Chinatown or in English Canadian society”.

Beatrice didn’t have a chance to go to university after finishing high school. Around 1950, she decided to move to Toronto with her sister Flo, where they believed would have less racial discrimination and better opportunities. Raymond moved to Toronto a year later and they got married in 1951.

Beatrice worked for many years as an educational assistant at Church Street and Lord Landsdowne Public Schools where she was famous for her creative bulletin boards and craft projects with the kindergarten class. Outside of work, she and Raymond actively participated in local Cantonese Opera groups (and remained close connection with back in Vancouver too) and were the founding members when the Toronto Yet Hoy Cantonese Music Club was first established in 1964. Beatrice often played the leading actress role in various Yet Hoy events, putting on full makeup and wearing traditional Cantonese Opera costumes; sometimes she would play Yangqin 揚琴 (Yong Kum) or sing Cantonese operatic songs for non-acting events, wearing Cheongsam (旗袍) or suits instead of traditional costumes.

Beatrice and Raymond worked hard and were determined to establish their new life in Toronto: they managed to purchase a home in Rosedale and had great joy raising their daughter Julie together, whom they adopted in 1961. They brought young Julie to all their Cantonese Opera rehearsals and performances and taught her to sing and act Cantonese Opera. Beatrice tried every effort to make sure that Julie had the opportunities in life that she had missed, including university education. They were especially proud to see Julie’s professional achievements and personal adventures. Beatrice enjoyed gathering with extended family and close friends regularly and was always remembered as the beautiful, elegant and gifted Auntie Bea by her nephews, nieces and other children of friends, as a “role model for [the children] growing up in [both the Chinese and the English-speaking world]”.

After retirement, Beatrice enjoyed reading, knitting, playing mahjong and card games with friends. She would proudly speak of Julie to her friends and show them Julie's Yukon photographs. On August 24, 2017 , she passed away peacefully at the age of 89.

Created by Z. Yang, 25 Oct 2024.