91原创

Peter Lee, a fixture in Fort 91原创 who along with his family ran the town鈥檚 main grocery store for decades, has died at age 78.

Lee鈥檚 extended family is from Sun Chuen, Gunagdong, China, where Peter was born in 1942. In 1955 Peter and most of his family immigrated to Fiji, where his father was running a general store in a village called Ba Town.

But in 1971, Peter visited a cousin who had settled in New Westminster. By 1972, the family, including Peter鈥檚 mother, matriarch Shiu Chan Lam, had made up their minds to immigrate to Canada.

鈥淕randma and them, they wanted a better life for all of us,鈥� said Charlie Lee, Peter鈥檚 nephew.

Four families, including Peter, his wife Suk Ching, his brothers Johnny and Robert and sister Chang Kwan, along with his brother in law, all made their way to Canada by 1975. With experience already running a store in Fiji, the family was keeping an eye out for a new opportunity, and Robert said it was Peter who spotted the ad in a Surrey newspaper about the Fort 91原创 grocery store being up for sale.

There were actually two stores for sale 鈥� one in the Fort, one in Abbotsford. Seeing Fort 91原创, they opted for it as it reminded the family of Ba Town, with a similar small-town feel.

鈥淲hat a great decision,鈥� said Robert, Peter鈥檚 youngest brother.

In Ba Town, the Lees had gotten to know people鈥檚 names and families as they shopped at their store there.

鈥淲hen we got to Fort 91原创, we found that same community,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been very good to the family.鈥�

Peter threw himself into working at the store, doing almost every job imaginable at one point or another. He kept the books, worked in the bakery and the meat department, and did the floral department.

鈥淣o one could out do him, work wise,鈥� said Charlie.

The store was an IGA for most of its existence in the Fort, but that came to an end on Jan. 6, 2011 when a fire levelled the building. Evidence suggested someone had been attempting to break into the building and had started the fire, possibly while trying to saw through metal bars on a window.

The fire had a big impact on the family, but it devastated Peter the most, said Charlie. Peter鈥檚 life was work and his family.

After the family decided to rebuild and create Lee鈥檚 Market, Peter was thrilled. Although he tended to stay more in the background when it came to the family business, he was part of the groundbreaking ceremony in November, 2011, grinning widely with a shovel in his hand.

Lee鈥檚 Market would open in 2012, and Peter worked there until earlier this year.

He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in January 2020.

鈥淗is spirits were always high,鈥� said Robert. 鈥淗e never gave up, right to the end.鈥�

鈥淗e slowed down, but he still worked,鈥� said Charlie.

Peter died in 91原创 Memorial Hospital on Sept. 10. A funeral was held on Sept. 27.

Peter鈥檚 son Eddie said since his father鈥檚 death, the community has reacted with cards, flowers, and gifts. 鈥淲e were touched by their kind words and thoughtful gestures,鈥� Eddie said.

鈥淗e led a selfless, simple, low key, hard working life,鈥� Eddie said. 鈥淣ow he can rest.鈥�

It was a difficult year for the Lee family. Matriarch Shiu Chan Lam also died this year, aged 101. Her older sister, 108, passed away as well.