Shick Kan Wong was born in 1934, in a small dirt-road village in Toisan, located in southern China. Many years before, his grandfather had taken passage bound for Cuba to seek his fortune, but fell ill and died on route to the New World. At the time he was born, Kan's father had already established himself in the restaurant business in Ontario, having paid the $500 head tax to enter Canada around 1918. In 1948, after a year of high school in Guandong, Kan came to Canada to join his dad. He spent a year going to high school in London, Ontario, learning English and a new culture. He then returned to Guandong to finish high school, which he attended with his future wife, Yuet. Upon graduation, he was offered admission to an engineering program at a Chinese university. The problem was, it was very far up north, far from subtropical Guandong and far from everyone he knew. It was decided that he should come to Canada again to join his dad and seek his fortune here. He did training in electronics technology at George Brown College in Toronto. This qualified him for a job as a repair technician at instrument manufacturer Bach-Simpson Ltd in London, Ontario, where he worked until retirement at age 65. For years, he worked seven days a week. His supervisor Ed was good to him, offering evening and Saturday overtime. Sundays, he would work at his dad's restaurant, The Boston Grill. He also built a thriving business in martial arts supplies, until federal legislation banning certain implements put an end to that venture.
He was a jovial and fun-loving dad to his four kids: David, Howard, Lily, and Linda. He was honourable, loyal, and generous to everyone he knew. He never stopped learning about new things all throughout his life. He loved country/folk music, going to the library, Chinese history, growing vegetables, fishing, collecting coins, Clint Eastwood movies, and his wife's cooking.
Ill health in the form of Parkinson's disease beset him starting in his 60's. He got books from the library on how to use his computer to find information on the internet, and learned everything he could about this disease. He knew full well what the disease does to people eventually, yet he faced his fate bravely and tried his best. At age 74, he had his first hospital admission for complications related to Parkinson's disease. At age 77, when he could no longer walk or sit stably, he was admitted to a nursing home. He gradually lost the abilities to feed himself and speak intelligibly. There were several close calls and near brushes, but he and the nursing home staff always seemed to be able to pull through. Then, in late January, the nursing home closed itself to outside visitors due to a serious outbreak of influenza. He caught a cough and fever which he could not fight off in his weakened state, and after several days' illness, passed away peacefully with Yuet by his bedside.
The family suggests that anyone who wishes may make donations to the Mon Sheong Foundation.