British ColumbiaBorn in Cumberland, B.C., Gordie Quan was one of hundreds of Chinese-Canadians who fought for Canada in the Second World War, despite not being recognized as citizens at the time. Quan was one of many Chinese-Canadians who fought for Canada in WWII despite not being recognized as citizensMichelle Gomez · CBC News · Posted: Oct 12, 2025 3:46 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoGordie Quan (right) is pictured attending a remembrance day service at Saanich City Hall in 2013. (Richard Quan)A Chinese-Canadian war veteran who fought in the Second World War has died at the age of 99. Born in Cumberland, B.C., Gordie Quan was one of hundreds of Chinese-Canadians who fought for Canada during the war, despite not being recognized as citizens at the time. Historian and curator for the Chinese-Canadian military museum, Catherine Clement, believes he may have been the last surviving Chinese-Canadian veteran of the Second World War.Clement said soldiers like Quan fought for more than their country — they fought for the rights of future generations of Chinese-Canadians. “People like Gordie, they had no status really, and yet, when the war erupted, they were eager to volunteer and eager to show that they were Canadians,” said Clement. Clement said because of this service, Chinese-Canadians were given the right to citizenship and the right to vote a few years after the war.She said it also led to the repeal of the Chinese Immigration Act, which barred Chinese immigration to Canada. “These men like Gordie who served in the second world war, they contributed to a civil rights movement. “He was more than just a regular soldier.” Gordie Quan (bottom-centre) is pictured amongst fellow veterans at a veteran’s celebration in Vancouver in 2017. (Richard Quan)Quan served in India and Burma as a demolition expert, as part of Force 136, according to the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, and received numerous awards upon his return. After the war he worked as a mechanic, according to his son, Richard Quan. Richard said his father was full of energy, even in old age. He spent his time volunteering where he resided in Victoria until his last days, selling poppies every November and giving talks at schools to educate youth. “These people wanted full citizenship rights, and that’s why they went to war,” said Richard. “All the freedoms you have now … had to be fought for.” Richard said his father died just months shy of his 100th birthday, which would have been in January. Clement said although there are likely no remaining Chinese-Canadians who fought in the Second World War alive today, their legacy will last forever. “It’s the closing of a chapter, an end of an era.”ABOUT THE AUTHORMichelle Gomez is a writer and reporter at CBC Vancouver. You can contact her at michelle.gomez@cbc.ca.
Chinese-Canadian WWII veteran Gordie Quan remembered as ‘more than just a regular soldier’
