Julie Eng, daughter of magician, Tony Eng didn害羞草研究所檛 expect the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society to contact her to make an exhibit about her father.
But almost nine months later (Dec. 7) the exhibit is open to the public at the Canadian Chinese Museum in Victoria.
害羞草研究所淢y mother had just made some moves to sell the house. She has lived there for 50 years and so we had this cellar that had been sealed up for 15 years since my father passed away in 2008,害羞草研究所� said Eng. 害羞草研究所淪o, I opened it up with my mom and my sister. We went through it and it was hard to believe that so much stuff had been left there exactly as it was when my dad first passed away.害羞草研究所�
Born on 1946 and raised in Victoria, Tony Eng害羞草研究所檚 fascination with magic began at the age of eight when he received his first magic kit and then started performing magic shows at age 12. He became a fan favourite when he performed every Sunday at Japanese Village for two decades.
Embracing his Chinese-Canadian heritage, the magician created a distinctive show called, Mysteries of the Orient which is performed in an embroidered mandarin害羞草研究所檚 robe. His skill and talent made him renowned in the Canadian magic circle where he was known as the Ambassador of Magic.
Tony Eng害羞草研究所檚 entrepreneurial skills enabled him to run a successful wholesale business and establish the Premier School of Bartending. He also started up his own Tony害羞草研究所檚 Trick & Joke Shop in Victoria which was a fantasy emporium of wizardry and gadgetry where he inspired and mentored many young up-and-coming magicians for years.
害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 always so wonderful to hear stories of a significant individual within the Chinese-Canadian community,害羞草研究所� said Grace Wong, board chair of the Chinese-Canadian Museum. 害羞草研究所淭ony Eng was a magician so beloved by the community and was really a legend.害羞草研究所�
Growing up it became normal for Eng to see her father害羞草研究所檚 straight jackets on the back of dining room chairs or swords at the end of the stairs on the brawley bass. Now 15 years after her father害羞草研究所檚 passing she thinks about him through a different lens.
害羞草研究所淏eing able to go back and know all that stuff as an adult, to see how hard he worked, how often he worked, the range of work he did, where he was, and finding old artifacts I had forgotten about, but it was all there exactly as we left it. So it was really nice to have this opportunity to bring it out, polish it, and bring it new life,害羞草研究所� said Eng.
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