CANADA. It is with deep sadness that we report the death of Garvin Lee, a pioneering figure in the duty free business and Founder of Blue Water Bridge Duty Free Shop (now Sarnia Duty Free) in Ontario.
Lee applied for, and was awarded, a licence for a new duty free shop located at Point Edward, in 1986. It became one of the most respected border stores in North American and global duty free, winning the Frontier Award for Airport/Land-based Retailer of the Year in 2003.
Garvin Charles Lee was born on 5 July 1932 in Harare, Zimbabwe, the second of six children to Chinese immigrants (obituary details courtesy of Smith Funeral Home).
The obituary notes: “Due to apartheid-era restrictions, he was only permitted a grade 8 level education and joined the family bakery at a young age. However, he continued his education on his own, and eventually expanded the family business into a conglomerate of supermarkets, shopping centres, and duty free stores, alongside his late brother and their respective spouses.
“Seeking better education and opportunities for his growing family, Garvin made the difficult decision, in 1979, to immigrate to Canada, effectively starting over again.”
He was later joined by his children, who took on the family business, led by his daughter Tania.
At the turn of the millennium, he initiated a campaign to bring a charity casino to Point Edward, Ontario, which opened in April 2000.
The obituary added: “Garvin defied all expectations by simply believing that limits did not exist. He was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2016, was not expected to respond to therapy, but achieved a full clinical remission.
“In February 2021, his health deteriorated, predicted not to survive beyond three months; however, defying expectations yet again, he improved, only passing away suddenly at home on Saturday 18 June 2022.
“Baker, business owner, developer, visionary, Garvin had many roles throughout his life, but the titles he most valued were family man and devout Catholic.”
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mollie; their children Gerard, Tania and Ralph; children in-laws Mary Grace, Guy and Wynne; grandchildren Mikaela, Tatiana, Francesca, Matteus, Kiara, Kalia and Abigail; numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren, and the countless lives he touched.
Family and friends will be received at Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia on 22 June from 6-9pm. A private service will be held on Thursday at 1.30pm with entombment to follow in Resurrection Cemetery.
Those who wish to view the live stream may do so on Garvin’s memorial page on the Smith Funeral Home website.
