Lam, Anna Dickman (1906-1996)

Anna Lam was likely the first Chinese nurse registered in BC.  She was the daughter of the Fong-Dickmans, leaders of the Chinese community, and a talented pianist who retained a keen interest in music throughout her life.  Her application for nurse training was rejected by four area hospitals; she was finally accepted by King’s Daughters Hospital in Duncan.  She graduated in 1929, but her Chinese background made finding employment difficult.  In the 1930s she was a pianist for the YWCA aerobics classes, and later took up painting.  She was also an enthusiastic fan of the BC Lions.

While she and her family experienced great discrimination in her early life, her family became prominent among the social elite of British Columbia.  Her home was a center for dinner parties and musical evenings.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Letter from E. Paulson to B. Fitzpatrick re A. Lam, March 28, 1996.
  2. Letter from K. Murphy to E. Warbinek re A. Lam, March 23, 1996.
  3. “Lives Lived”, the Globe and Mail, April 1, 1996, p. A20.
  4. Letter from History of Nursing News to Diana Lam, June 30, 1996.
  5. Esther Paulson, History of Nursing News, Spring 1996, p. 5.
  6. E-mail re Anna Lam as BC’s first Chinese nurse.
  7. Letter from Diana Lam to E. Paulson, March 20, 1996.
  8. Program for A. Lam’s remembrance service.
  9. Card recognizing donation in Anna Lam’s name to the Memorial gift fund.
  10. Newspaper obituary