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Early Lebanese Beginnings
Though they were one of the smallest ethnic groups in British Colombia, the Lebanese, by their enterprise, their high level of education and by the strength of their extended family and clan system, were spectacularly successful in the life of British Columbia. The family bonds ensured first, an organized and well managed chain migration into British
Columbia, then a strong element of mutual support in the years of struggle, and eventually a high reputation and public affairs, based upon living up to the pride in the family.
The first Lebanese in the Province were two brothers, Abraham and Farris Ray, who began their careers in Victoria as itinerant peddlers in 1888. Their success, due to their enterprise and business honestly them to invite their brother Richard to join them in 1889, then Solomon Ray and other members of the family, who operated a dry goods store in Victoria in 1891. Meanwhile SiedHassem had settled in Nanaimo, and was soon joined by Mike and Alec Saba. Together the brothers peddled dry goods from door to door in the Courtenay district for some years until they had earned enough to open a full family businesses in British Columbia, Saba Stores, which sold the most exclusive silks and wools from the Far East and Paris.
The call of the Klondike brought some Lebanese to the Province who, after the excitement of the Gold Rush had passed, settled and opened businesses. Among these were the confectioners Karl E. Ray and Karl A. Ray. In the same years George Sedaway and his brother, after working as peddlers in Fernie district for some years, established the Sedaway Brothers firm in Vancouver in 1920. At Fernie, too, settled Abdelnour Haddad, whose descendant, George Haddad, was to become the Mayor of Cranbrook. In the Fraser Valley, Solomon Mussalem who, with his brother Jack, had established retail businesses in Prince Rupert and Vancouver, moved to Haney in 1920 where Solomon Mussalem, Executive Director of the Canadian Nurses’ Association; George Mussalem, Member of the Legislature, and Nicholas Mussalem, prominent lawyer.
Before the Lions Gate Bridge was built in 1936, there were two ferries that ran from the wharf at the foot of Columbia Street, the North Vancouver Ferry, which carried automobiles and passengers, and the West Vancouver Ferry that carried passengers only. Mr. K.A Ray had two confectionery stores, one large store at the North Vancouver Ferry entrance and a smaller one at the West Vancouver Ferry. At these stores he employed many relatives and friends who had immigrated to Canada. His sister, Effie White, managed the stores.
Mr. K.A Ray later became Lebanese Consul in Vancouver and he was a member if the West Vancouver Council. His daughter, Lulu, stared the Maidens of Mt. Lebanon Club in the 1930’s and she was President and organizer for many years until she was married in 1942 and moved to California. For many years after that she would visit her parents in the West Vancouver each summer. She would organize reunion picnics for the Lebanese, which we would call the Lulu’s Picnics.
This account illustrates several characteristics of the Lebanese British Columbians: their adaptability to a variety of new conditions in British Columbia, their acute business sense, and, most important, the virtues of their close family ties, which supported them in adversity, and allowed them to share their success widely. Few had much capital on arrival, but most of them were relatively well educated and, knowing the value of education, saw to it that their children also moved up this ladder of success.
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