mural 4

8M X 4.4M (26’ X 15’), CORNER OF OAK AND ESPLANADE

The Hong Hing  Waterfront Store

Painted in 1982 by Paul Marcano, with son
Victoria, BC (now residing on Saltspring Island)

The Artist

From the hills of eastern Ontario, Paul Marcano's artist parents influenced their gifted son to create from his inner vision. Marcano's first project for Chemainus was to paint one-third of the grand Thirty-Three Metre Collage. Read about Paul in the Chemainus Festival of Murals book on sale in Chemainus.

The Art

Fong Yen Lew was known to almost everyone as Hong Hing, the name he gave to his store. Born in the late 1800’s, he came to Canada, and set up his business in Chemainus around 1915. His enterprise began as a laundry, but he later sold groceries, chickens and second-hand goods. Eventually, he expanded into bootlegging and running a gambling house.

Hong Hing was welcome everywhere in Chemainus, just as he welcomed everyone. His easy credit terms and kind heart probably lost him plenty of money over the years, but gained him many friends.

In the 1950’s, the opening of a government liquor store in Chemainus foretold the demise of Hong Hing’s establishment. His original building was eventually declared a fire trap and demolished. Hong Hing returned to China, presumably to die. But to the surprise of only a few who did not know him, he instead married a woman 40 years his junior, who eventually presented him with an heir. Next Mural >