Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell Parliament that I have a lot to celebrate this year. However, my family came together in mourning this summer. My 91-year-old uncle, Gordon Grant, passed away. He was the oldest member of our family.
He comes from a unique background. My grandfather Hong Tim Hing immigrated from China. My grandmother Agnes Grant was a Musqueam member. Gordon was the first mixed Chinese-Musqueam person in our community.
At the age of 20 years old, he became a father to my dad because their father passed away. I never got to meet him.
I know he is a man on whose shoulders I firmly stand today. I would not be who I am without his strong will and determination. He was able to raise five children of his own.
He allowed me to be a proud to be a Canadian of Chinese and Musqueam ancestry. He allowed me to be proud to be a Canadian. We would all be better off with more Uncle Gordies in this country.
[Member spoke in Hul'q'umi'num]
[English]