April 21, 1995 - David Lam

Human Rights a Day

David Lam, Canada’s first Chinese Canadian lieutenant governor, retires. David See-Chai Lam was born in Hong Kong in 1923 where, as the grandson of a Baptist minister, he was brought up Christian. Lam received an economics degree from Lingnan University in China and an MBA from Temple University in Philadelphia. While working in banking in Hong Kong, he married his wife Dorothy, with whom they had three daughters. The family immigrated to Canada in 1967 and became Canadian citizens shortly thereafter. After a very successful career in development and investing, Lam turned to philanthropic interests; he and Dorothy bestowed many gifts on educational and community institutions. In 1987, Lam received an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of British Columbia. It was the first of many such university honours. When, on September 8, 1988, Lam was sworn in as British Columbia's 25th lieutenant governor, he became Canada’s first Chinese Canadian to hold the vice-regal post. During his term, Lam urged immigrants to contribute to Canada, not just stay within their community. On April 21, 1995, Lam retired from his vice-regal post and carried on with his philanthropic pursuits.