When long-time Glebe resident and visual artist Tia Wong started writing her application to create a mural this past March, she didn’t expect to come across a story that would weave together a little-known piece of Ottawa’s history and her own past.
“Chinese Aces Skate the Canal” is the newest addition to the Glebe’s vibrant collection of murals on the sides of local businesses. This mural on the wall of Fairy Dreams Bridal on Bank Street near First Avenue highlights the story of the Chinese Aces, Ottawa’s first all-Chinese hockey team.
The Aces, who played from 1941 to 1946, collected donations for war relief in China through their games. They practised on the Rideau Canal long before it was a skateway, by clearing patches of ice.
Wong said she wanted to incorporate the Canal in her art even before learning about the team.
Referring to 2024’s short skating season, she said, “the Rideau Canal Skateway opened that year but only for a few days … That was kind of just at the top of my mind.
“It’s kind of a political aspect of climate change impacting our ability to do these things that are such a part of Ottawa life, Canadian life.”
Wong said she discovered the Aces’ story during her initial research. She learned that some players had direct connections to the Glebe.
“The Wong family were two brothers who came over from China and they opened grocery stores and, I think, a laundry on Bank Street,” Wong said. “Their sons played on this all-Chinese hockey team, which is just such a fun concept, especially for the 1940s.”
Wong said the Aces brought together all of the things she was looking for.
“The Canal, it’s right in the Glebe, they’re small business owners, they also happen to be Chinese and have the same last name as me,” Wong said. “I was like, OK, this is perfect. I have to do something about this.”
The mural’s home was once the location of the Glebe Emporium and carries a special place in many hearts.
“[It was] this very nostalgic place that anyone who’s lived in the Glebe for a long time would remember,” Wong said. “[It] was actually my first job when I moved to Ottawa. So that was another funny coincidence and a piece of my own history that goes into it.”
Irene Mei, owner of Fairy Dreams Bridal, said it’s important that Ottawa showcase its diversity through the arts.
“I’ve been here since the ’90s. … Even back then there was diversity,” Mei said. “It’s very important because [it tells] the next generation growing up that in the Glebe there is that history.”
There were Chinese people here. We’ve been here for a while, it shows that in the art.
Irene Mei, owner of Fairy Dreams Bridal
The Glebe BIA played a major role in this project by securing funding from the City of Ottawa and chipping in itself to make murals like this possible.
“We are so pleased to welcome this mural to the neighbourhood,” said Julia Rocchi, placemaking manager of the Glebe BIA. “The BIA pays the artists for their time, energy and vision of these projects, as well as all the practical elements involved in a large project such as this.”
Wong said she drew inspiration from designs “inspired by a simpler time,” including old $5 bills which feature kids playing hockey, and the original Tim Hortons cups.
“I really wanted to bring a nostalgia factor to it because I thought that would really resonate with the Glebe community,” Wong said. “It has a lot of history and I thought that I could kind of play on the heartstrings of the audience.”
Glebe resident Savannah Blake says the new mural has added more colour to her neighbourhood.
“It looks so amazing and I love how it tells a story,” Blake said. “I absolutely love it but I wish there was more information on the history so people can appreciate what is being shown.”
Rocchi said the BIA will unveil the mural more formally in coming weeks through a video that highlights Wong’s work.
For Wong, it’s essential that BIAs and other local organizations take the opportunity to “showcase voices that don’t normally get to be showcased.”
“There are people making big waves,” Wong said.
“It’s there. We just need to unearth these stories and bring them over to the public.”
