More than a harvest.

As we enter the fall season, I watch the geese fly over my house and land in the wetlands just beyond my fence line. I reminisce on the wonderful times we’ve had chasing waterfowl together. It’s funny how some of the best memories in life aren’t necessarily the big moments—they’re the cold mornings in the blind, the first light coming over the hill, setting decoys in the dark and sitting there wondering when the birds were going to start flying.

We sure had some good hunts together. Being able to harvest ribeyes in the sky on more than one occasion was unforgettable. Meeting your family and friends, sharing laughs, meals, and old hunting stories are cherished memories.

Over the years there were cold hands, missed shots, empty skies, and a totaled Milwaukee F-150. The laughs, the conversations, the early mornings, and simply having a good friend and teacher beside you were what made those days special. You have likely forgotten more about hunting birds than I will ever know, I am lucky to have learned a few tips and tricks along the way that I can pass on to my two boys when they’re ready.

I’ll always be grateful for the time we spent in those blinds and fields. Every time I hear geese overhead or see a flock working across the sky, I’m reminded of those mornings and the good times we shared. The hospitality you and Allyson showed me and the handful of friends I brought out over the years is appreciated more than you know.

I hope life has treated you well, my friend. And hopefully someday soon we’ll find ourselves sitting in a blind together again, coffee in hand, watching the sky lighten and waiting for that first flock to come over.

Until then, know that those hunts—and more importantly, the friendship—are memories I’ll always appreciate.

If my memory serves me correctly, it took three years before Pak would come on a hunt with me and my friends, even though we asked several times.

One evening, while dining at the Greenhead Restaurant, Pak sat down and asked how the food was and how the hunts were going. By the time we finished our meal, he had agreed to go on a hunt with us.

The field had been scouted earlier that day and a game plan was set. Pak met up with us, and we set the blind and decoys. Then we sat, told stories, and brought out the dogs - Chief and Leo, two well-behaved black Labs.

The birds began to come in. Shots went off, birds hit the ground, and the boys, Chief and Leo, went into action! Several birds were harvested, and not one was lost. The dogs did a very good job of retrieving.

Two things Pak said that day stuck with me: “Three for three,” after he shot three birds with three shots, and “I will hunt with you guys anytime - you have great dogs.”

Pak now looks forward to hunting with us every chance he can when we come to town. A friendship was forged - not just because we were good shots (although we are, and it didn’t hurt that we had great dogs) - but because good people got along and stayed in touch.

Pak, from the first moment I saw you in the Greenhead Motel, walking around and talking to all your customers like they were your very best friends, I never thought I would be worthy of such a professional, “regal” man such as yourself giving me, a “nobody,” the time of day.

My memories of you and Alberta are locked into my life story and will never be forgotten. Everyone in my hunting circle hears about you through my retelling of how Alberta went each and every year.

With the help you have given every year I have known you, you have made my experience memorable beyond words. I feel as if I could never repay you equally for your generosity, and I look forward to seeing you and shaking your hand every year.

Sincerely, you have touched my life and will never be forgotten, because you offered to help and never asked for anything in return when you did not even know me.

It was my pleasure to cross paths with you in this life, and hopefully all the others after this. I hope the whole world gets a chance to know you.

I met Pak and Allyson on my first goose hunting trip to Alberta in the fall of 2025. At first glance they appeared to be a very unassuming couple, that was until I got to know them better. After our first day in the field I had the opportunity to take a tour of the property Pak and Allyson were the caretakers of, during that golf cart ride I learned a great deal about our host, his life, and most importantly his family. I was amazed to find out that at 77 years old, he was a fisherman, a hunter, and avid outdoorsmen. The more we talked the more in awe I became of this mans life. Immigrating here from China, Pak only saw opportunity in his new home. Don’t get me wrong, he has had enough of his fair share of trying times, but what amazes me was his ability to overcome those hurdles, one could say that he epitomizes the old adage “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade”. I can truly say that Pak is one of the most uniquely interesting individuals I’ve ever had the chance to meet. Pak’s story isn’t complete without credit being paid to the love of his life, Allyson.

Allyson, an award winning chef, accomplished musician, and established equestrian in her own right, is the other half of this dynamic couple. I couldn’t wait to get back to the house after a day in the field to taste what she had prepared for us. Sitting around the dinner table was the best way to cap off a day trying to get our limits. Even if the days hunt wasn’t as productive as we would’ve liked, we were still able to relax, laugh, and enjoy a great meal with our friends, both old and new.

July 7, 2026

Dear Pak,

I am writing this letter to celebrate a great 10th anniversary for me, the day in August 2016 when I met you, at the Greenhead Inn, in Provost, AB.

The day we met, I was struck by your friendliness, generosity, and joyful spirit. I had no idea then, what I have come to know now, what a remarkable friend you are—immensely generous, genuinely positive, and inspiring in the way you approach life.

Thank you for welcoming my family and me into your circle of friends. You have enriched our lives and inspired us in ways we deeply appreciate. Thank you.

August 2016. As a passionate goose hunter, for more than three decades I had dreamed of returning to goose paradise—Canada—ever since 1982, when my dad took me goose hunting in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. That hunt was not especially successful because we did not really know what we were doing, but I could not forget the sight of tens of thousands of geese filling the sky.

Over the years, I studied waterfowl magazines, waterfowl-banding data, waterfowl research publications, and anything else I could find to determine where to hunt in Alberta. Provost rose high on that list, including in a very interesting Ducks Unlimited article about a Chinese immigrant turned waterfowler named Pak Wong.

By 2016, my sons—Kevin, Erik, and Tyler—were college-age, and family, career, and life had advanced to the point where it was finally time to return to Canada. After a business meeting in Calgary with Canadian Pacific Railway, my wife Roxann and I took a road trip through east-central Alberta to visit the key locations I had marked on my study map.

When we pulled into the Provost Visitor Information Centre, I said to the hostess at the desk, “I have a different kind of question. Is this a good area for waterfowl hunting?” She immediately replied, “Oh, you need to talk to Pak!”

I asked, “Where do I find Pak?” She pointed to the Greenhead Inn next door, and a few minutes later, I was blessed to meet you.

In the fall of 2017, we came for our first hunt, and we have been returning ever since. For us, Provost is Pak, and Pak is Provost.

They say meeting your hero can be disappointing, but meeting—and getting to know—the legendary man featured in Ducks Unlimited has been truly unforgettable for us. We have shared some wonderful hunts together, but, as you have said, our friendship with you has meant far more to us than the hunts themselves.

One day, when we have experienced our last migration, the details of the hunts may fade, but we will always remember the tremendous impact you have had on our lives—your friendliness, generosity, and joy.

Chris