Engineer played key role in shaping West Shore
After months of clearing out the unfinished basement of his Saanich home to prepare for a new grandchild, Langford engineer Victor Lik To Chen declared a “rest day.”
There on the couch, watching golf on TV and having just given his wife a kiss, Chen had a heart attack. He was 62.
“My dad was steady, calm and happy until his last breath,” said daughter Amy-Jade Louie.
A month and a half later, Chen’s final project, Langford’s new West Shore Parkway, officially opened. His wife, Joyce Chen, cut the ribbon to the new roadway, which links the Trans-Canada Highway and Sooke Road, and Mayor Stew Young, who presented the family with Chen’s 20-year service pin, paid tribute to his contributions to the city’s development.
His fingerprints can be seen across Langford: Chen was instrumental on projects including Dean Park Estates, Colwood Corners, Bear Mountain Estates and Golf Course, Westhills Developments, Valley View Estates, the Millstream Connector, Jacklin Road and Costco.
Young had only been mayor for a few years and wanted to change the culture of Langford, encouraging government to work with businesses and developers. He hired Chen, who turned out to be a skilled mediator, mentor and engineer.
“He was always able to manage jobs and bring them in on budget and bring people together,” Young said. “He was a good ambassador for Langford.”
The mayor said Chen preferred to be in the field rather than behind a desk.
“He’s one of those guys that took his job seriously and did it to the best of his ability.”
Michelle Mahovlich, Langford’s director of engineering, said: “On paper, I was his boss, but he was our chief. He was there the longest and everyone looked up to him for his experience and knowledge of the city — things you don’t find in the filing system.”
Born in Hong Kong on May 11, 1955, Chen came to Canada in 1974. He worked at Don Mee restaurant, the Empress Hotel and at the family’s Jade Palace Restaurant in Market Square.
He met his wife, Joyce, while they both worked at the Empress. The couple married in November 1976 and son Andy was born the following year. To provide for his new family, Chen went back to school, and in 1979 graduated with a certificate from BCIT in civil and structural engineering technology. That same year, the couple’s daughter was born.
Chen is survived by his mother, Min Hsien; siblings Anna, Francis and Griffin; wife Joyce; children Andy and Amy; grandchildren Kaylee, Cameron, Paige and Jordan, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial scholarship in Chen’s honour will provide an annual bursary for Belmont Secondary graduates who want to study engineering.
“On the surface, my father left most of the infrastructure you see today, but his true legacy was that he was a father-like figure and mentor to many young successful engineers,” Louise said. “It is the family’s hope that this gesture will inspire community building in the West Shore — and beyond — for generations to enjoy.”