参加卡城华人之窗一日游感怀

参加卡城华人之窗一日游感怀
文／潘振国（Peter Zhen Guo Pan）
2025年7月20日

（English version is under below of the Chinese version)

原本我正准备向联邦最高法院上诉追责小镇政府，因此没有计划参加“华人之窗”组织的一日游。但经过反思，我觉得自己长期压力过大，需要放松一下，所以最终决定参与活动。 ，我毅然放下手中沉重的法律文件，走出孤独与焦虑，融入了“华人之窗”温暖有爱的大家庭，有幸与诸位结缘同游。为此，我衷心感谢命运的安排，更要感谢“华人之窗”的义工们默默无闻的奉献，让我在风雨人生中感受到人间真情，广结善缘。

我祖籍上海，1987年经加拿大联邦移民官员甄选，凭借我的知识与烹饪技能，被寄望为加拿大餐饮文化贡献力量。然而命运弄人，我与家人移民至蒙特利尔生活近四十年，却未能一展所长，反而深陷加拿大制度之困。自行政管理、医疗保障、独立审查至民事刑事司法系统，我们一家亲身经历了沉痛的代价：爱妻英年早逝，餐馆事业告罄，最终我不得不宣告个人破产……更不幸的是，我因长期上诉维权，被强制关押于精神病院、终身服药。直到我逐步掌握法律知识，成功摆脱精神病体系的钳制，并克服药物副作用，才重新获得生活的自主。

此后，我放弃残障津贴，迁至阿尔伯塔省Standard村，依靠经营酒店、餐厅及酒吧为生，并为该村经济投资超过50万加元。然而，本以为可展开新生活，实则进入另一场噩梦：村长在我酒吧公开宣称“我是这个村的王，我说的话就是规矩”，并以此对我施加种种不公要求。若我不顺从其“特权”，便被村办公室滥权报复，骚扰升级，最终演变为法律迫害。

该村公然违反《市政法案》第610条，强行拖走丢弃在我后院的流动屋，并将虚假仓储费隐匿入我的房产税中，最终以2.9万加元欠税为由非法拍卖我整栋酒店。我原以为这是一起法律可明辨的是非案件，然而无论是市政事务委员会、人权委员会、申诉专员还是省高等法院，皆对我的控诉置若罔闻。更令人震惊的是，连上诉法院也未查明事实，仅以程序性理由草率驳回我的上诉，撤销案件。

在多方压力下，我被迫离开生活与奋斗多年的小镇，依靠急诊医生、社工与公益机构协助逃离现场，被临时安置至卡尔加里的长者公寓。我的经历详细记载于请愿书（链接：https://chng.it/VhgVjWMhbX），欢迎关注支持（联系人：Peter Zhen Guo Pan，电话：587-437-1668，电邮：[e-mail]）。

于是，我来到人生新的十字路口：是继续为正义而战，还是放下执念，苟且余生？在医生、社工和法律援助人员的反复开导下，我重新反思人生价值的真正意义：若即使联邦最高法院的裁决仍未达成公正，那我的余生应如何继续？正当我彷徨之际，曾跟进我个案长达数十年的蒙特利尔社工的话语再次回响在耳畔：“潘先生，您的博客早已成为后人的灯塔，何不将这一路走来的血泪史写成传记，为社会留下一份历史的见证？”——

我终于明白，个人与体制抗争的胜负只是一个方面，若我的亲身经历能通过文字记录下来，将成为后人警醒、避免重蹈覆辙的警示，或许这才是真正的人生价值所在。因此，我不再困顿徘徊，转而继续坚持，正如“华人之窗”默默耕耘、服务社区那般，在抗争之余，亦愿尽己所能，为社会贡献一份温暖与力量，积极面对生活，广结善缘。

谢谢大家的关爱与支持。

潘振国（Peter Zhen Guo Pan）敬上
2025年7月20日

附注：我的博客《珍惜人生，互助互爱》链接：
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/