Key Wong

On Sunday, February 24, 2008, long time Moose Jaw resident, Key Wong, age 84, passed away with his family by his side. Predeceased by his wife, Ruth (1978), and his parents, Charlie (1968) and Wai Ching (1991).  Key will be deeply missed by his children, Kim (Erin Tourigny) and Mavin(David Maubach).  He was a loving and proud grandfather to Emile, Julianne, Ariana, and Aidan.  Key was the eldest of five children including Jack (Pauline), Christine (the late Tak Hayashi), Fern (Andy Chu), Perry (Eloise), and David (Karen). Key’s life began in China in 1924, but he immigrated and settled in Moose Jaw in 1949. Key’s father, Charlie Wong, began the Exchange Café, located at the corner of Main Street and Manitoba.  The Exchange Café was legendary in Moose Jaw beginning in the 1930’s, and was so named because during the Depression, customers could not always pay for their meals in cash, and would instead “exchange” goods and services for their food. In 1972, Key and Ruth, later built and operated the City Centre Motel until he retired in the later 1990’s.  In his latter years, Key enjoyed the peace and quiet of his community, but would often visit his grandchildren in Calgary and Toronto.