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Chinese Canadian Legend Award Gala 2018
Chinese Canadian Legend Award Gala 2018

Chinese Canadian Legend Award Gala 2018 : “You & Me – Let’s Make Legends Together ”.

(November 18, 2018, Toronto) Over 400 guests attended the 2018 Chinese Canadian Legend Award Gala, organized by the Asian Business Network Association (ABNA). The event took place last night (Nov. 17) at the Sheraton Parkway hotel, where six recipients of the 2018 Chinese Canadian Legend Award were presented with the Award.

The Gala’s opening ceremony was led by Band of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship York, followed by a spectacular dance performance of beautiful young ballerinas from Georgia’s Dance & Arts Cultural Centre, set to the uplifting song “You and Me”. The Gala also had the honorable presence of Ruth Ann Onley, wife of former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario David Onley, as guest performer. Her moving melodies brought the Gala to an unforgettable Grand Finale featuring the patriotic anthem “We are the People of the Maple Leaf”. Lyrics of the heartwarming song were written by the Honorable David Onley himself.

VIPs attending the Gala included Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy, MP Jean Yip, MP Majid Jowhari, Consul General of China in Toronto Han Tao, Consul Yanhua Li, Consul E DeFeng,  Senator Victor Oh, City Councillors Alan Ho, Castro Liu, Isa Lee, HKETO Deputy Director Florence Tsang, and over 400 distinguished guests.

Mr. Bammy Wong, President of the ABNA, says, “For the past nineteen years, we have always hoped that through the ‘Chinese Canadian Legend Award’, we can recognize those Chinese Canadians who work hard to contribute to the community. We want to document their tremendous efforts, their challenges and successes for history, so that the stories of this generation can be passed on forever.” He also says that ABNA is honoured to have former Senator Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy and former Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba the Honourable Philip S. Lee as the Honorary Patrons of the Award.

This year’s theme is “You & Me – Let’s make Legends together”. The 2018 recipients have all worked extremely hard and made tremendous contributions to the community, creating a legendary story in their lives. The six recipients of 2018 in alphabetical order are: Dr. Gabriel Chan, Dr. Angela Cheung, Mr. Irwin Li, Mrs. Susan Wong, Senator Yuen Pao Woo and Mrs. Winnie Yu.

There are many individuals worthy of recognition in the Chinese Canadian community, and each year, ABNA receives many nominations from the enthusiastic and supportive community. There are 24 people on this year’s selection panel, of which 18 are past recipients, and the remaining six are from Asian Business Network Association. After lengthy discussions and a comprehensive review, six deserving individuals were selected.

Candidates for the award are those Chinese Canadians who contribute to society and strive for self-improvement, regardless of their academic qualifications, age, occupation, wealth, status or other factors. The life stories of this year’s recipients are all different but equally brilliant. Among them are doctors, entrepreneur, philanthropist, Senator, and line dance teacher. Gala Co-chair Alexandra Ngan explained, “Their lives have not always been smooth after they immigrated to Canada. They encountered difficulties, but they persevered in the face of difficulties. Their generous and outstanding contribution to society is from the heart. It is a motivation and an inspiration to the community.” She also said that the recipients over the years are not only role models in the Chinese community, but also have impact on the mainstream society.

In addition, the “Chinese Canadian Legend Award” organizing committee hopes that through the annual award, the unique values and beliefs, the fighting spirit and ‘giving’ culture of Chinese Canadian immigrants will be passed onto the next generation growing up in the West. Mr. Dennis Au-Yeung, another Organizing Committee Co-chair, points out that, “The recipients have made outstanding contributions. They are all Canadians who are worthy of praise. They promote the spirit of charity and help others and will have an impact on the next generation.”

The “Chinese Canaadian Legend Award ” event has been held since 2000. Up to this year, a total of 118 individuals have been selected. Each recipient is unique. Each has their own wonderful story. Mr. Stanley Kwan, chartered accountant and head of the selection committee, says, “The selection criteria change with the times: Although we do the same thing every year, we will listen to the voices of the community and incorporate their ideas, so that we can be objective and fair and choose individuals that deserve to be our role models.”

From 2000 to 2017, there have been 112 inspirational legends and 18 books have been published. Mr. Stephen Siu, Chair of the Editorial Committee, thinks that the series of books are very important: “We write the stories of the six recipients every year, and the collections are kept in the major universities in Canada and Hong Kong. This is part of Chinese history. We have a good editorial and writing team, but the most important thing is to have a good story.” This year’s “Chinese Canadian Legend Award” stories were written by Shirley Chen and Annie Jin. The English versions were written by Connie Woo and Dan Woo. The stories are fascinating and highly readable.

The book collections are being kept in the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library at the University of Toronto, as well as the libraries at University of Ottawa, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, and McGill University. The book series have become important reference material for any scholar studying recent developments of the Chinese community in Canada. In addition, beginning this year, the collections are being kept in the Hong Kong Central Library, the libraries of the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University,Chu Hai College of Higher Education and Canadian International School of Hong Kong.

 

2018 Chinese Canadian Legend Awardees Profile

Dr. Gabriel Chan
Dr. Gabriel Chan, who graduated from the University of Hong Kong, specialized in geriatrics after he immigrated to Canada. He later served as the Director of Geriatric Services at Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care and also as the Head of Geriatric Division at the North York General Hospital (1997-2015). During his tenure, Dr Chan implemented a large number of health care programs for elderly patients and was appointed by the Ontario Government as co-chair of Specialized Geriatric Services for Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). When SARS broke out in Toronto in 2003, Dr. Chan helped with the outbreak of the epidemic at North York General Hospital. Later he was recognized with the Dr. Morris Siu-Cheong Memorial Award for his exemplary patient care and humanitarian work, the highest award at North York General Hospital.

Dr. Angela Cheung
Dr. Angela Cheung, daughter of a pediatrician in Hong Kong, received residency training at the University of Toronto after graduating from the University of John Hopkins and later received a PhD in Medical Research from Harvard University. In the last 20 years, Dr. Cheung has published more than 200 papers and received numerous awards for her research work. Angela established the world-renowned University of Toronto Center for Excellence in Skeletal Health Assessment (CESHA). At the University Health Network, she founded the Osteoporosis Program and served as Project Director. She is also an adviser for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), assessing the skeletal health of their astronauts under weightlessness. Angela holds a Tier 1 Canadian Research Chair in Musculoskeletal and Postmenopausal Health.

Mr. Irwin Li
Born in Shanghai in the late 1990s, Mr. Irwin Li immigrated to Canada with his parents and received an MBA from the University of Calgary. Irwin was the Director of Finance for Lexus Canada. In 2006, Irwin left Lexus to co-found Mennie Canada Ltd., specializing in the production of fiberglass doors. Irwin is very enthusiastic about supporting charitable activities in the community. One year, he helped raise more than one million Canadian dollars for the Toronto Sick Kids Hospital Foundation. He also served as co-chair of Panda Gala, raising more than $300,000 for students in Sichuan, China. In 2017, he again served as co-chair of Luna Gala in Vaughan, raising funds for the McKinsey Health Foundation. In 2012, Irwin was awarded the Best Entrepreneur Award by the Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs. In October 2017, he received the Senate 150th Anniversary Medal.

Mrs. Susan Wong
94-year-old Susan Wong was devastated by her husband’s death in 1999, but two years later, she resolved to fulfill her husband’s philanthropic desire to contribute to the community. At the age of 77, after a tremendous amount of effort and hard work overcoming the barriers of not knowing English, Susan learned how to be a savvy investor and business woman. She has donated her earned income to the community. In the past 17 years, she has established a scholarship to remember her husband at the University of Toronto, and also donated to many charities in the community, including the United Way, Yee Hong Foundation, Mon Sheong Foundation, and Carefirst. She also donated a hundred thousand dollars to Mon Sheong’s Chinese School.

Senator Yuen Pao Woo
Senator Yuen Pao Woo was born in Malaysia to a Chinese family. He received primary and secondary education in Singapore. At the age of 16, he received a scholarship to study in Canada, continuing his studies at Cambridge University and the University of London. In 2012, Yuen Pau co-founded “China Global: The Vancouver Society for Promotion of Chinese Art and Culture” and started his tenure as president in 2014. That year, China Global helped Vancouver Art Gallery hold an exhibition – The Forbidden City: Inside the Courts of Chinese Emperors . He has served as president and CEO of Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and President of Vancouver Headquarters Promotion Bureau (HQ Vancouver). In 2016, 53-year-old Yuen Pao was appointed by the Canadian Prime Minister as a Senator. After taking office, he was elected as the Facilitator of the Independent Senators Group. He is determined to spearhead the work on Senate reform.

Mrs. Winnie Yu
Mrs. Winnie Yu, called “charity line dance queen” by her students, was born in Hong Kong and ran a successful chandelier business there. After immigrating to Canada, Winnie began to learn to dance. With natural talents, she became a line dance teacher soon afterwards to raise funds for a charity. She choreographed many dances, and in 2004, won third place in the Chicago Line Dance Choreography Competition, becoming the first award-winning Chinese Canadian line dance choreographer from Ontario. Winnie used her line dance teaching skills to raise funds for different organizations in the community. In 2008, Winnie held a marathon dance party, attended by 900 people. She raised $18,000 in nine hours, setting a fund-raising record for the line dance community. Since 2001, she has been nominated by various agencies and awarded the annual volunteer award by the Ontario government six times. She estimates that the amount she raised for the community over the past 20 years to be more than $380,000.

 

2018年「紅楓傳奇」頒獎晚宴 –『你我同心締傳奇』

(2018年11月18日,多倫多訊) 由華商網絡協會(Asian Business Network Association)主辦的2018年「紅楓傳奇」頒獎晚會,昨晚(11月17 日)在烈治文山市喜來登大酒店(Sheraton Parkway Hotel) 隆重舉行,四百位各界人士出席盛會,一起見證本年度6位得獎人對社會的貢獻和他們的卓越成就。

今年主題是「你我同心締傳奇」,6位得奬人在加拿大刻苦奮鬥,回饋社會,創造人生傳奇。第19屆「紅楓傳奇」獲奬名單如下(依英文姓氏排列):陳飛鵬醫生、章曼慧醫生、勵文灝先生、黃黎浣纖女士、胡元豹參議員、余瑞心女士(簡介詳見附錄)。

晚宴開幕儀式由Band of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship York軍樂隊帶領,接著由躍鈴舞蹈藝術中心一群活潑可愛的小朋友伴隨旋律優美的名曲”You and Me” 翩然起舞,以動感洋溢的舞蹈揭開序幕。大會也十分榮幸獲前安省省督David Onley夫人Ruth Ann Onley擔任特別嘉賓,演唱多首名曲,壓軸好歌是演繹由她丈夫親自填詞、洋溢愛國情懷的名曲“We are the People of the Maple Leaf”。在她動人聲韻的引領下,本屆「紅楓傳奇」人物和嘉賓一起謝幕,共慶『你我同心締傳奇』。

出席盛會的政界人士利德蕙博士、國會議員葉嘉麗、國會議員Majid Jowhari ; 中國駐多倫多總領事韓濤、李燕华領事、鄂德峰領事;參議員胡子修;市議員何胡景、廖立輝、李思韻 ; 香港駐多倫多經貿處副處長曾菂怡等四百多位嘉賓。

華商網絡協會會長王昆明感謝各位貴賓出席這項晚宴,使這項一年一度表揚傑出華裔加拿大人的盛會備增榮寵。王昆明表示:「19年來,我們一直希望透過『紅楓傳奇』將華人勤奮努力,關心社區的精神發揚光大,不讓這一代人的努力湮沒在歷史中,將他們的故事輯錄成書,更可以永遠地流傳下去。」此外,他感謝前參議員利德蕙博士及緬尼托巴省前省督李紹麟的支持,多年來擔任「紅楓傳奇」獎項的榮譽贊助人。

加國華裔社區人才薈萃,「紅楓傳奇」的提名向來踴躍,今年的甄選團共有24人,其中18人是前獲選者,另外6人來自華商網絡協會,經過多番討論,全面審核,從眾多的候選人中選出6位實至名歸的得奬者。

「紅楓傳奇」的評選對象以努力奮鬥,自強不息,貢獻社會的加國華人為目標,不論學歷、年齡、職業、財富、地位等因素。今屆的得奬者的人生故事各放異彩,其中兩位醫生一位為病人推行各種醫護計劃、另一位富人文關懷精神;此外又有事業與公益兼顧的實業家;94歲熱心公益的老婆婆;帶領改革的聯邦參議院領袖;將排舞和慈善結合的舞蹈老師。「他們移民加國後都不是一帆風順,各自遇上不同的困難,但都不屈不撓,逆境自強,對社會的貢獻更是發自內心,對社區是激勵,也是鼓舞。」「紅楓傳奇」籌委會共同主席顏惠霞律師解釋道,她更稱多年來的獲奬者不單是華人社區的榜樣,對主流社會一樣有影響力。

此外,「紅楓傳奇」更希望將這種華人的精神文化傳承下去,讓生長在西方的下一代無忘我們獨有的價值信念。另一位「紅楓傳奇」籌委會共同主席歐陽健昌指出:「獲奬者都有卓越貢獻,都是值得表揚的加籍華人,他們弘揚公益以及助人的精神,對下一代有傳承作用。」

「紅楓傳奇」自2000年開始舉辦,至今年共有118位社區人士獲選,每個得奬人都是獨特的,人人都有自己精彩的故事,而甄選團主席特許會計師關保衛表示,評選準則更是與時並進:「我們雖然每年都做同一件事,但會汲取社區的意見,總結經驗,務求做得客觀公正,選出值得我們學習的榜樣。」

由2000年至今,「紅楓傳奇」已編寫了112個勵志傳奇故事,出版了18輯專書《紅楓傳奇》。《紅楓傳奇》編輯委員會主席蕭顯揚認為這套叢書很重要:「我們每年都會將6位得奬者的故事撰寫成書,加拿大各主要大學都有收藏,這是華人歷史的一部份,我們有很好的編輯寫作團隊,但最重要是有好的故事內容。」今年的《紅楓傳奇》由陳筱苓及金綺文撰寫人物專訪,英文部分由鍾蕙蘭及胡堅泰執筆,內容引人入勝,可讀性高。
整套《紅楓傳奇》人物專訪,已分別收藏於多倫多大學、渥太華大學、卑詩大學、西門菲莎大學、維多利亞大學、麥基爾大學及香港浸會大學的圖書館,成為研究華人社會近年發展的重要參考資料。 此外,香港中央圖書館、加拿大國際學校、香港大學圖書館、 珠海學院圖書館、香港中文大學圖書館、香港科技大學圖書館、香港理工大學圖書館 亦於今年起收藏《紅楓傳奇》。

 

2018「紅楓傳奇」獲獎者簡介

陳飛鵬醫生
在香港大學醫科畢業的陳飛鵬醫生,移民來加後投身老人專科工作,後擔任頤康中心老人專科顧問醫生、及北約克全科醫院老人科主任(1997至2015年)。陳醫生為耆老病人推行了不少醫護計劃,後被安省政府任命為「老人專科服務委員會」共同主席。2003年當SARS在多倫多爆發時,陳醫生進入北約克醫院面臨疫症爆發的病房幫忙,2004年他獲醫院頒發最高專業奬。此外他亦兼顧教學工作,曾三次被北約克全科醫院評選為「年度最佳老師」。

章曼慧醫生
出生於香港一個醫生世家的章曼慧醫生,在美國醫學院畢業後,即在多倫多大學接受住院醫師實習培訓,後來再獲得哈佛大學的醫學研究博士學位(PhD)。章醫生在多倫多執業二十年間,共發表論文二百多篇,她又創辦了骨質疏鬆項目並擔任項目主任,並擔任美國國家航空航天局(NASA)的顧問,為宇航員的骨骼健康狀況提供評估意見。章醫生經常為華人社區義務開醫療保健的講座,以自己的專業知識為社區做貢獻。

勵文灝先生
出生上海的勵文灝90年代末跟隨父母移民來加拿大,獲得卡爾加里大學工商管理碩士(MBA)學位後,勵文灝曾在雷克薩斯(Lexus)加拿大分公司擔任財務總監,2006年勵文灝與人共同創立曼尼加拿大有限公司(Mennie Canada Ltd.),專門生產纖維玻璃門。勵文灝熱心公益活動,參與不少慈善活動,曾為多倫多病童醫院基金會籌得一百多萬加元,他還擔任了一場為歡迎大熊貓來加拿大舉辦的慈善晚宴活動聯合主席,籌得30多萬加元善款,捐贈給中國四川貧困地區。 2017年他擔任了旺市(Vaughan)市長中秋慈善晚宴的聯合主席,為麥肯錫健康基金會籌款。 2012年勵文灝獲得創業協進會頒發的最佳企業。 2017年10月他獲得了加拿大參議院150週年紀念勳章。

黃黎浣纖女士
今年九十四歲的黃黎浣纖,一直與丈夫黃利安感情深厚,丈夫去世後她決心繼承丈夫貢獻社會的遺願,七十七歲開始學習管理丈夫財務,從過往一無所知,到研究理財的奧秘,終能運籌帷幄,投資自如,多年努力沒有白費,更將所賺所得捐獻社會,十七年來她在多倫多大學設立奬學金記念丈夫,又捐助社區各慈善機構,包括公益金、頤康基金會、孟嘗基金會、耆暉會、宗教團體等,讓有意義的計劃得以實行,讓別人因她而活得更好。

胡元豹參議員
現任聯邦參議院的參議員胡元豹出生於馬來西亞華僑家庭,在新加坡接受中小學教育,
十六歲時獲得獎學金赴加拿大唸書,之後又前往英國劍橋大學和倫敦大學繼續深造。2014年擔任「中華環球:溫哥華中華藝術和文化促進協會」的會長,期間協助溫哥華美術館成功舉辦了名為紫禁城「紫垣擷珍」展覽。他曾是多個智庫和研究機構的資深研究員,曾擔任加拿大亞太基金會及溫哥華總部促進局等機構的總裁。2016年,五十三歲的胡元豹被加拿大總理任命為聯邦參議院的參議員,在上任後胡元豹當選為無黨派參議員團領袖,他決心帶領同僚一起致力於參議院的改革。

余瑞心女士
在多倫多排舞界享富盛名的余瑞心女士,出生於香港,移民來加拿大後,余瑞心開始學習排舞,因為過人天賦,不久余瑞心即當上排舞教師,以後開始為不同的非牟利機構開班教舞,她更自行編舞,2004年更在芝加哥排舞大賽中獲取季軍,成為安省首位獲獎華裔排舞編舞家。余瑞心更利用排舞為社區不同機構籌款,2008年余瑞心舉辦馬拉松排舞派對,來了九百人,九小時籌了一萬八千元,創下了加拿大排舞籌款的紀錄。由2001年開始,她分別被不同機構提名,六次獲安省政府頒發年度義工奬。她估計二十年來為社區籌得的款項超過三十八萬元。