Wu “Jack” Li passed away in his home at the age of 60 on Wednesday, September 6th, 2023, surrounded by loving family and friends, a slight smile on his lips. After being diagnosed with advanced liver cancer in the summer of 2022, he exhibited his characteristic willfulness and determination, exceeding his projected life expectancy by over half a year and moving on only once joined by his beloved sister Kwai Fong Li who journeyed from Hong Kong to be by his side.

Jack was born in Hong Kong in 1963 to mother Siu Chen Kwok and father Yeung She Lee, the youngest of five siblings: Kwai Fung Lee, Chi Kwong Lee, Chi Kuen Lee and Kwai Fong Li. His humble roots quickly taught him the value of hard work and self-sufficiency, principles he carried with him throughout his life. After immigrating to Canada in 1994 and settling in Toronto, he found work as a kitchen hand at Shing Tong’s Vegetarian Haven restaurant. What began as a second job to make ends meet grew into a lifelong vocation, as Jack became a vegan and eventually assumed the position of head chef and co-owner of the business, dedicating himself to making innovative, healthful, delicious vegan meals accessible at a time long before plant-based eating entered the mainstream. His heart to nourish and provide extended to his relationships, where he created a beautiful, familial community amongst staff, colleagues and restaurant patrons, and continued to support and care for Shing, her sister Sing Nui Wong and Sing Nui’s son, Pak Lin Sui, like his own family in the years following the restaurant’s closure in 2019. He also is survived by his adopted “daughters” Li Fan Hsu and Beth Warrian, long-time Vegetarian Haven sous chefs he mentored in work and in life.

Jack will be deeply missed, but his dedication, integrity and generous, loving spirit will live on in the hearts of all whose lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tammy Latner Centre for Palliative Care: https://tlcpc.org/temmy-latne…

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