William Poy

William Poy, MM (Chinese: 伍英才; pinyin: Wǔ Yīngcái; Cantonese Yale: Ńgh Yīng-Chòih; b. 1907 – 3 February 2002) was an Australian-born Canadian businessman of Chinese descent. He served with The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (the Volunteers) during World War II as Lance Corporal messenger and worked for the Canadian Trade Commission in Hong Kong. He was awarded the Military Medal for his service in Hong Kong.

Poy was born in Chiltern, Victoria, Australia.

He left Hong Kong and settled in Ottawa, Ontario with his wife Ethel Poy and their two children Adrienne and Neville. His daughter Adrienne Clarkson would later become Governor General of Canada. He obtained a degree in political science from the University of Ottawa.

Poy continued to work at the trade commission and later became a stock broker. He retired in the mid 1970s and moved to Toronto. Widowed in 1988, he died at a nursing home in 2002. Poy is survived by a brother, Lindsay, still living in Australia and other distant relatives in China and Australia. He was predeceased by brother Leslie.

References

• "Governor-General's father, William Poy, dies". National News. The Globe and Mail. 5 February 2002. pp. A6.
• Duffy, Andrew (5 February 2002). "Governor-general's father dies at 94". News. The Montreal Gazette. pp. A12. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• van Rijn, Nicolaas (5 February 2002). "William Poy, war hero ; Governor-General's father awarded Military Medal". News. The Toronto Star. pp. A7. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Godfrey, John (5 February 2002). "Parliamentary Statements, William Poy, 5 February 2006". Retrieved 7 January 2007. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)