參加卡城華人之窗一日遊感懷

參加卡城華人之窗一日遊感懷
文／潘振國（Peter Zhen Guo Pan）
2025年7月20日

（English version is under below of the Chinese version)

原本我正準備向聯邦最高法院上訴追責小鎮政府，因此沒有計劃參加“華人之窗”組織的一日遊。但經過反思，我覺得自己長期壓力過大，需要放鬆一下，所以最終決定參與活動。 ，我毅然放下手中沉重的法律文件，走出孤獨與焦慮，融入了“華人之窗”溫暖有愛的大家庭，有幸與諸位結緣同遊。為此，我衷心感謝命運的安排，更要感謝“華人之窗”的義工們默默無聞的奉獻，讓我在風雨人生中感受到人間真情，廣結善緣。

我祖籍上海，1987年經加拿大聯邦移民官員甄選，憑借我的知識與烹飪技能，被寄望為加拿大餐飲文化貢獻力量。然而命運弄人，我與家人移民至蒙特利爾生活近四十年，卻未能一展所長，反而深陷加拿大製度之困。自行政管理、醫療保障、獨立審查至民事刑事司法係統，我們一家親身經曆了沉痛的代價：愛妻英年早逝，餐館事業告罄，最終我不得不宣告個人破產……更不幸的是，我因長期上訴維權，被強製關押於精神病院、終身服藥。直到我逐步掌握法律知識，成功擺脫精神病體係的鉗製，並克服藥物副作用，才重新獲得生活的自主。

此後，我放棄殘障津貼，遷至阿爾伯塔省Standard村，依靠經營酒店、餐廳及酒吧為生，並為該村經濟投資超過50萬加元。然而，本以為可展開新生活，實則進入另一場噩夢：村長在我酒吧公開宣稱“我是這個村的王，我說的話就是規矩”，並以此對我施加種種不公要求。若我不順從其“特權”，便被村辦公室濫權報複，騷擾升級，最終演變為法律迫害。

該村公然違反《市政法案》第610條，強行拖走丟棄在我後院的流動屋，並將虛假倉儲費隱匿入我的房產稅中，最終以2.9萬加元欠稅為由非法拍賣我整棟酒店。我原以為這是一起法律可明辨的是非案件，然而無論是市政事務委員會、人權委員會、申訴專員還是省高等法院，皆對我的控訴置若罔聞。更令人震驚的是，連上訴法院也未查明事實，僅以程序性理由草率駁回我的上訴，撤銷案件。

在多方壓力下，我被迫離開生活與奮鬥多年的小鎮，依靠急診醫生、社工與公益機構協助逃離現場，被臨時安置至卡爾加裏的長者公寓。我的經曆詳細記載於請願書（鏈接：https://chng.it/VhgVjWMhbX），歡迎關注支持（聯係人：Peter Zhen Guo Pan，電話：587-437-1668，電郵：[e-mail]）。

於是，我來到人生新的十字路口：是繼續為正義而戰，還是放下執念，苟且餘生？在醫生、社工和法律援助人員的反複開導下，我重新反思人生價值的真正意義：若即使聯邦最高法院的裁決仍未達成公正，那我的餘生應如何繼續？正當我彷徨之際，曾跟進我個案長達數十年的蒙特利爾社工的話語再次回響在耳畔：“潘先生，您的博客早已成為後人的燈塔，何不將這一路走來的血淚史寫成傳記，為社會留下一份曆史的見證？”——

我終於明白，個人與體製抗爭的勝負隻是一個方麵，若我的親身經曆能通過文字記錄下來，將成為後人警醒、避免重蹈覆轍的警示，或許這才是真正的人生價值所在。因此，我不再困頓徘徊，轉而繼續堅持，正如“華人之窗”默默耕耘、服務社區那般，在抗爭之餘，亦願盡己所能，為社會貢獻一份溫暖與力量，積極麵對生活，廣結善緣。

謝謝大家的關愛與支持。

潘振國（Peter Zhen Guo Pan）敬上
2025年7月20日

附注：我的博客《珍惜人生，互助互愛》鏈接：
https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myoverview/74293/

 

Reflections on Joining the Calgary “Chinese Window” Day Trip
By Peter Zhen Guo Pan
July 20, 2025

Originally, I had no intention of participating in the “Chinese Window” day trip, as I was fully occupied with preparing my appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, seeking justice against the unlawful actions of a small-town government. However, upon reflection, I realized that the prolonged stress I had been under was taking a serious toll on my well-being. I needed a moment to breathe, to decompress. So, I made the firm decision to put aside my legal documents, step out of my isolation and anxiety, and join the warm and welcoming “Chinese Window” community. I was fortunate to connect with many kind souls during this excursion. For this, I am deeply grateful—to fate for guiding me here, and especially to the dedicated volunteers of “Chinese Window” whose silent efforts helped me feel human connection again in the midst of a life marked by hardship.

I was born in Shanghai and selected by Canadian federal immigration officials in 1987, with hopes that my knowledge and culinary skills would contribute to Canada’s gastronomic culture. Yet, life took an unexpected turn. After immigrating with my family to Montreal, where we lived for nearly 40 years, I found myself not thriving in my profession, but rather becoming entangled in Canada’s bureaucratic and legal systems. From administrative governance, public healthcare, independent review boards to the civil and criminal justice systems, we paid a heavy personal price. My wife tragically lost her life. Our restaurant business collapsed. Eventually, I was forced into personal bankruptcy.

Worse still, because of my ongoing efforts to seek justice, I was involuntarily confined to a psychiatric institution and forced to take medication for life. It was only after I gradually taught myself the law and learned how to manage the side effects of psychiatric treatment that I was able to regain autonomy over my life and escape the grip of the system.

Afterward, I gave up disability benefits and relocated to the Village of Standard, Alberta, where I ran a hotel, restaurant, and bar. I invested over half a million dollars into the local economy. I had hoped for a fresh start—a new chapter in a quieter town. But it soon became a different kind of nightmare. The village mayor publicly declared in my bar: “I am the king of this village—my word is the rule,” and began imposing unreasonable demands. If I didn’t comply with his “privileges,” the village office would retaliate through abuse of power. What began as personal harassment soon escalated into legal persecution.

The village blatantly violated Section 610 of the Municipal Government Act, forcibly removing a trailer someone had dumped in my hotel’s backyard, then charging unlawful storage fees and covertly adding them to my property tax bill. This bill eventually ballooned to $29,000 in alleged arrears, which the village used as a pretext to illegally auction off my hotel. I initially thought this was a straightforward legal dispute, one that could be resolved with facts and reason. But to my dismay, my complaints were ignored by the Municipal Affairs Board, the Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman’s Office, and even the King’s Bench. Most shockingly, the Court of Appeal summarily dismissed my case on procedural grounds without addressing the underlying facts, leaving me at a complete loss on how to seek a fair hearing.

Under immense pressure, I was forced to leave the town where I had worked so hard to build a life. With the help of emergency doctors, social workers, and charitable organizations, I fled and was temporarily placed in a senior residence in Calgary. My full story is documented in my petition (link: https://chng.it/VhgVjWMhbX). I welcome your attention and support. (Contact: Peter Zhen Guo Pan, Tel: [phone], Email: [e-mail])

Now, I find myself at a new crossroads: should I continue to fight for justice, or give in and pass the rest of my life in quiet resignation? Thanks to the compassionate guidance of medical professionals, social workers, and legal aid lawyers, I have been led to reconsider the true meaning of life and dignity. If even the Supreme Court of Canada fails to deliver a just ruling, how should I carry on?

It was then that I recalled the words of a social worker from Montreal who had followed my case for decades. Her voice still echoes in my ears: “Mr. Pan, your blog has already become a beacon for others. Why not turn your lived experience into a memoir, a testimony for history?”

At that moment, I understood. The outcome of my battle against systemic injustice is only part of the picture. But if I can record my journey in words, it may serve as a warning to society and help others avoid the same suffering. That, perhaps, is the true value of a life lived. So, I no longer hesitate. I will continue to fight, and like the volunteers of “Chinese Window,” I too will strive to do my part for others—spreading kindness, courage, and solidarity.

Thank you all for your care and support.

Peter Zhen Guo Pan
July 20, 2025

P.S. My blog “Cherish Life, Help One Another” can be found at:
https://blog.wenxuecity.com/myoverview/74293/