The Chinese Canadian Museum’s Victoria location will honour the memory of master magician Tony Eng.
The Victoria Chinatown Museum Society and the Chinese Canadian Museum worked closely with the Eng family to capture the career of the famed magician.
Eng was born and raised in Victoria where he received his first magic kit at the age of eight, before performing his first shows at the age of 12. For over two decades he performed every Sunday at the Japanese Village restaurant where he became a fan favourite.
He would go on to create a show called ‘Mysteries of the Orient’ in which he performed in an embroidered mandarin’s robe. Eng would become known as the ‘Ambassador of Magic’ and would also go on to run a successful wholesale business, magic shop and bartending school.
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Eng’s magic shop in Victoria is pictured in this file photo.
“The Chinese Canadian Museum’s purpose is to elevate the stories and voices of Chinese Canadians, enrich social discourse with the meaningful experiences and legacies of Chinese Canadians and engage with diverse communities,” says Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee, CEO of the Chinese Canadian Museum.
“This exhibition on Tony Eng at our Victoria location is a shining example of how we celebrate the lives and share the stories of extraordinary Chinese Canadians.”
The exhibition will feature artifacts such as Eng’s original mandarin robe and items from his bag of tricks. The exhibit opens Dec. 7 at the museum’s Fan Tan Alley location.
“The Victoria Chinatown Museum Society is delighted to work with the Chinese Canadian Museum on the installation of ‘The Magic of Tony Eng’,” says Grace Wong Sneddon, board chair of the
Victoria Chinatown Museum Society and Co-Curator of The Magic of Tony Eng.
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The exhibit is shown. (CHEK News)
Cole Sorenson
