Thanks to a blog created by an acquaintance, Joan Champ, a Canadian museum exhibit producer and historian in Saskatchewan I just learned about the role of Chinese immigrants operating small hotels during the Great Depression in addition to running small cafes.  For example, in Edam,SK., a Chinese who bore the name "Charlie Chan" ran a café, ice cream parlor and hotel. 
.  After WWII, business declined for Chan's hotel as was true for other hotels, and Chinese moved on to focus on their small cafes that could be found in virtually all towns in the region. His café was one of Edam’s main restaurants until it finally closed in 1986.