const. Shaelyn Yang commemorated by Taiwanese Canadians

Members of the Taiwanese Canadian community in British Columbia pay their respects to a Burnaby constable who was stabbed to death in the line of duty this week.

William Tsai says he got to know the RCMP Constable. Shaelyn Yang four years ago, when she was a civilian volunteer working to educate teens about mental health.

Tsai said in a Mandarin interview that Yang was passionate about the cause, dedicated to uplifting others, and the teenagers involved in her volunteer work looked up to her as a role model.

He says the death of the 31-year-old officer left the community heartbroken but proud.

Ruby Ba, president of the Taiwanese Canadian Association of British Columbia, said the community will do everything possible to support Yang’s family and has been in contact with the RCMP to organize a memorial in his honor.

Yang, who was a homelessness and mental health outreach worker, was linked to a city worker on Tuesday when she was fatally stabbed during an altercation at a homeless camp in Burnaby, Utah. east of Vancouver.

Jongwon Ham has been charged with first degree murder and is scheduled to appear in court on November 2.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Taiwan’s de facto diplomatic office in Vancouver, says Yang was the daughter of immigrants from Taichung in central Taiwan.

Tsai says community members hope to hold a memorial next month to honor Yang’s contributions to Canada.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on October 20, 2022.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.