Cherine R.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver Heritage Fair

Chester Ronning

Chester Ronning; the proud son of China. Chester was a homesteader, a teacher, a politician, a Canadian diplomat, and an author, but just as important, he was my great grandfather. In my project, I talk about his life experiences and how he grew up in a Chinese household.

 

 

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

The most interesting thing that I learned about my topic was that Chester received the Officer of the Order of Canada, Companion of the Order of Canada, and the Alberta Order of Excellence. The reason why I found this the most interesting is because I never thought that someone in my family would be so highly recognized for their achievements. I thought that we were a normal family but I know now in some ways not!

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

I would like to share that learning how to speak different languages opens up opportunities and new perspectives in life. I learned that one person can make a difference in the world if they work hard and believe in themselves. Finally, I would like people to know that hard work really pays off in the end.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

There is a similarity in Chester's and my lives because we both grew up in multilingual families. One way our lives differ is that I am growing up in the comforts of a developed country while Chester grew up in developing countries. But regardless, we both had or have the opportunity to shape the world we we live in.