Obituary of Mr. Chu Ko

Our beloved father, Chu Ko, of 92 years passed away on Wednesday November 4, 2020 with family by his side. He is pre-deceased by his loving wife, Ngan Ko, and his cat, Caramel. He is fondly remembered by his six children David (Jane), Bill (Li Put Yuk), Robert, Lynda (Joseph), Sandy (Sunny), Ken (Michelle) and his thirteen grandchildren Elaine, Dominic, Charles, Amy, Victoria, Oliver, Meagan, Kaylie, Jeffery, Jeremy, Kaitlyn, Olivia, Matthew and Chu’s sister, Dorothy (Toy).

Chu Ko was a dim sum chef in Hong Kong. In 1967, with little money he immigrated to Toronto with his wife and 5 young children to start a new life and pursue his dreams of one day owning his own business. Along with his wife he began working in Chinese restaurants in Old Chinatown – he worked as a chef and his wife as a dishwasher both working 16 hour work days. He saw an opportunity to open the first Hong Kong style Chinese bakery shop in Toronto. In 1968, his dream became reality; Yung Sing Pastry Shop was born. Over the next 41 years, Yung Sing Pastry Shop transformed from a little shop on Baldwin Street to become a much-loved institution, catering to the local hospitals and businesses, Ontario Hydro, University of Toronto, OCAD, and the surrounding neighborhoods and beyond.

He introduced Torontonians to a unique variation of authentic Chinese baked goods including Chinese buns such as the popular BBQ pork, Curry Beef, Vegetable, Fried Rice and Tofu buns; pastries, such as Egg Tarts, Pork and Veggie Spring Rolls, Woo Gok, Hum Sui Gok, and deep fried shrimp rolls; weekend only dim sum such as Har Gow, Shiu Mai and Pan Fried Pork Dumplings and on rare special occasions, Moon Cakes. For his children, the bakery was home – the place where all six (one born in Toronto) grew up learning the trade and helping out at the shop. For customers, a trip to Yung Sing Pastry Shop was a treat for the young and old alike.

The bakery attracted different generations of customers. Parents who grew up eating at the “Bun Shop” would often bring their children and point to the old gentleman with a big smile piling up trays of buns in the little cut-out “hole in the wall” leading to the basement workshop. Orders were shouted down to the basement “kitchen” and in return for their patience, customers left with big smiles on their faces.

Our loving father was the pillar and strength for us. His humbleness, humility, integrity and sincerity were valuable lessons he passed onto his children. He gave us encouragement and knowledge to pursue our dreams without fear or regret. He was a great teacher, teaching us all the skills of pastry making and passing on his love of food. He taught us to appreciate all types of food whether it be fine delicacies or a simple dish.

Dad, you will be missed.

In lieu of flowers a memorial donation can be made to Mon Sheong Foundation (select “Give in Memory…Scarborough Long Term Care Centre”). To donate online, please use this link:

https://monsheong.akaraisin.com/ui/donations/donations/start?it=1&amt=50

or you may e-transfer directly to the family account at chuko.donations@gmail.com.

The family will be holding a private funeral service on Friday November 13.