Peter Wensheng Pay

Peter Wensheng Pay's life was defined by the diverse connections he made and the people he helped. He was never more happy than when approached on the street with a warm, “Mr. Pay!” from someone whose life he had touched. The fact that it happened so often was a testament to his compassion and generosity.

Born in Jinan, China on Oct. 16, 1931, Peter lived a life of unique experiences and accomplishments. Although some were joyous, some harsh, he was always unafraid to step into the unknown. During the civil war in China, he became a teenaged refugee and led almost 200 boys from his school aged 8 to 14 on a treacherous journey on foot from Nanjing to Taiwan. They formed lifelong bonds from this experience. He took another leap by coming to Canada to study for a master’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Toronto and decided to settle here. He had adventures from coast to coast while working as a public servant, such as overseeing dam construction in the wilds of Manitoba and designing ice-breaking ships in the Arctic.

In all his endeavours, he was driven by a strong sense of responsibility and values. He loved spending time with children, telling stories, fishing, and spending time outdoors, especially taking walks along the canal in Ottawa. He greatly valued the peace and freedom that life in Canada gave him. Peter contributed to the democratic process by supporting local electoral candidates from across the political spectrum. He was also a devoted member of a number of Chinese Canadian community organizations.

He is remembered by his children, Cynthia Pay (Dave Buchanan), Alisa Pay (Nicolas Vazintaris), Susan Pay (Minghua Zhou), George Pay (Elizabeth Hou), Frank Pay (Sophia Wang), and Joanna Pay; his grandchildren Nadia Zhou, Antonios Vazintaris, Christina Zhou, Maria Vazintaris, Elisa Pay, Aksel Bhattacharjee, Ella Pay, Louisa Pay, and David Pay; as well as extended family and friends. His best wish for his children was that they would have the freedom and opportunity to follow a path that would make them happy.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Villagia in the Glebe for their care.

Visitation will be held at the Beechwood Funeral Home, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa on Saturday, September 17^th from 8:30am – 10:00am. A memorial service will follow, officiated by the Pastor Paul Chen. The family will hold a private interment thereafter, but invites everyone to sign the digital book of condolences.