Sask. woman whose restaurant was destroyed by alleged arson says she's never giving up her dream

Maggie Tan says she was shocked when the police arrived at her doorstep.

Officers informed Tan in the early hours of Sept. 25 that a fire had broken out at Snow White, the restaurant she and her family had owned for the last 32 years in the town of Biggar, Sask., about 90 kilometres west of Saskatoon.

Tan said the business was all she had known for more than three decades.

"I'm the last one [to] leave the restaurant every single night," Tan said. "Every night, I checked everything three or four times. So when the police [said] the restaurant was on fire, I didn't understand."

WATCH | Owner of Biggar restaurant destroyed by alleged arson says she won't give up her passion to cook:

Owner of Biggar restaurant destroyed by alleged arson says she won't give up her passion to cook

1 day ago

Duration 2:18

A former customer is accused of burning down the Snow White Family Restaurant, a business that has served the Biggar, Sask., community for more than three decades.

Originally from China, Tan said she moved to Saskatchewan 38 years ago. She then moved to Biggar 32 years ago and opened Snow White with the help of her family.

She said the restaurant became very popular for its homemade wonton soup, lemon chicken and ginger beef.

Tan said she had no insurance, meaning she lost her business, her job and any way to pay for a rebuild.

"It's a big loss financially and mentally everything is new," Tan said. "I'm not used to the lifestyle, [of] no job because I love service, the purpose of my life is to serve people."

RCMP arrests former customer

The Biggar Fire Department was unable to salvage the building. Last month, RCMP arrested a woman, who Tan said was a former customer, in connection with the investigation.

"I cannot say for sure what her reason or motive was behind that," Sgt. Dereck Crozier with the Biggar RCMP said.

Crozier said arson has been a problem in Biggar over the last few years, but the fire at Snow White was the first of its kind.

"Most types of arsons that I think we've seen provincially have all been abandoned properties, where there wasn't someone's livelihood that was drastically affected from it and, and you know, basically a thriving business," Crozier said.

Never losing sight of her dreams

Tan said being without work for the first time she can remember caused her to fall into a depression. Now, with the support of her family, she feels ready to move on.

"It's OK to [be] depressed," Tan said. "But we cannot stay in the sadness for too long because we need the strength to fight."

Tan plans to relocate to a neighbouring town. She said she is still working on securing a lease, but that staying close to Biggar is a top priority. She said the new restaurant will be called Snow White 2. 

"Sometimes we have to move on and not look back. And I'm sure the customers in Biggar will follow me."

Tan said she hopes to relocate by April. In the meantime, she plans to operate out of a commercial cooking space in Saskatoon. 

She said she wanted to inspire others to never lose sight of their dreams, no matter how many challenges are thrown their way.

"I've become a better person, [it] makes me stronger," Tan said. "Life is hard, but don't give up.  Keep fighting and don't look back."