2023 Chinese Canadian Legend Awards Cherish and Share Our Blessings
(Saturday, July 29, 2023) Six outstanding Chinese Canadians were honoured at the 2023 Chinese Canadian Legend Award presentation gala today (July 29) at Richmond Hill’s Sheraton Parkway Hotel.
The annual event, organized by the Chinese Canadian Legend Awards Association (CCLA), carries the theme “Cherish and Share Our Blessings” this year. It was attended by a capacity crowd of 400 people, including the federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous, Gary Anandasangaree; Senator Yuen Pau Woo; Member of Parliament Carolyn Bennett; Deputy Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto, Mr. Cheng Hongbo; Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti; the Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto, Emily Mo; York Regional Councillor Alan Ho; and city councillors Ritch Lau and Isa Lee.
The 2023 Chinese Canadian Legend Award recipients are (in alphabetical order): Dr. Chester Ho, David Leung, James Lin, Jenny Pu, Daniel Quan-Watson and Sue Tang. The gala highlighted these role models’ accomplishments and contributions to the community over all these years.
The gala was opened by the Canadian national anthem played by the Band of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship York, and a martial arts performance by a group of award-winning students from the Li Martial Arts Centre.
CCLA president Bammy Wong thanked all the guests attending the 22nd anniversary of this highly regarded award presentation gala. “The Chinese Canadian Legend Award has made an impact in the community, but we will continue to improve and explore our future directions.”
“Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our team members and the support from the community, the award itself has become one of the most prestigious, influential and distinct awards in the Chinese community,” he said. “CCLA’s mission is to promote and recognize the achievements and contributions of Chinese Canadians, to foster understanding, respect and integration of multiculturalism in Canada.”
He also thanked former Senator Vivienne Poy and former Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, Philip S. Lee for taking up the role as CCLA’s honorary advisors.
Organizing Committee Co-chair Alexandra Ngan said the life stories of this year’s recipients are all unique but equally brilliant. “They not only rise above challenges in face of adversity, but also cherish and share their blessings with others. Their outstanding achievements and generous contributions to society serve as great motivation and inspiration to the community.”
Dennis Au-Yeung, the other Organizing Committee Co-chair, said, “The recipients are all Chinese Canadians who are worthy of praise. We hope that their values and beliefs, as well as their fighting spirit will be passed on to the generations to come.”
Selection Committee chair Stanley Kwan said, “The selection criteria change with the times. Although we do the same thing every year, we listen to the ideas and suggestions from the community, so that we can be objective and fair in picking the award recipients.” He said nominations had usually been enthusiastic. He added that there were 22 selection committee members this year, 18 of whom were past recipients, the other four being from CCLA.
Since 2000, CCLA has published a series of 130 Chinese Canadian Legend stories in 22 specially edited books. Stephen Siu, Chair of the Editorial Committee, stressed the importance of these publications. “These true stories of struggles, achievements and contributions are part of the Chinese Canadian history,” he said. “The CCL Award has made its mark in our community. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and we are facing new challenges. Publishing their inspiration stories for future reference is a noble mission.”
He also thanked the support of the editorial team members — Connie Woo, Camilla Tong, Annie Jin, Lucy Yang and Louisa Yue.
The entire collection of the CCL books is being kept in the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library at the University of Toronto, as well as libraries at University of Ottawa, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, McGill University, and universities in Hong Kong.
The gala concluded with the song “Time to Say Goodbye” sung by Lena Ma, Miss World Canada 2009.
2023 Chinese Canadian Legend Award Recipients
Dr. Chester H. Ho
Chester Ho was born in Hong Kong. After graduating from medical school at Cambridge University, he completed his residency and spinal cord injury specialty training in the United States. He then joined Cleveland Clinic where he later became the Chief of Spinal Cord Injury. To be closer to his parents he came to Canada in 2011 and became the Division Head of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Calgary, and later at the University of Alberta. He also led policy development with federal and provincial health services. As a leading expert in the field of spinal cord injury rehabilitation, he has a patient-centred approach to care, maintains a humble, compassionate outlook and leads his team to continuously create miracles for spinal cord injury patients in Canada.
James Lin
James Lin was born into an artistic family in Taiwan. After immigrating to Canada in the early eighties, he became the first Chinese journalist in Canada to report from location. His diligence, work ethic, and skills in writing and photography have earned him the respect of mainstream media and a moniker of “Living Dictionary” in the Chinese community. He is also public-spirited, contributing generously to the community. As a senior member of the Chinese media community, he has mentored over 200 journalists, promotes continuous improvement in the quality of Chinese language journalism and fosters a culture of friendly competition among his colleagues. As traditional media evolves, James is optimistic and open-minded. While he continues to excel in his work, he encourages people around him to be optimistic and to help others.
David Leung
David Leung immigrated to Canada nearly 50 years ago. Music and photography are his two passions, and “integrating charity work with his passions” drives his community service. He joined the Ontario Chinese Music Association in the 1980s and organized concerts as a volunteer to promote Chinese music and nurture musical talents in the younger generation. He joined Fu Hui Education Foundation in 2005 and was an early leader in visiting the impoverished mountainous regions in China to help AIDS orphans get an education. As Fu Hui’s “official” photographer, he chronicled Fu Hui’s education aid journey with his camera – all the trips into the deepest mountains, visiting families in their remote homes, and supporting the Fu Hui students.
Jenny Pu
In 2006, 41-year-old Jenny Pu was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer. She actively faced the challenges presented by the disease, coordinating treatments to heal body and soul. After obtaining her licenses in prosthetic breasts and compression clothing, she began providing post-surgery support services to breast cancer patients in 2012, serving clients from all ethnic groups. In 2013, she started a breast cancer support group, self-financed printing of promotional brochures, shared her own experience, and provided encouragement to fellow breast cancer patients. In its ten years, the group has not used any community funding, instead raising money for the Cancer Society. The support group renamed itself “Phoenix” to signify rebirth out of fire. Jenny rises above adversity, using positivity to light others’ hope, kindness to reduce others’ suffering.
Daniel Quan-Watson
Daniel Quan-Watson is the first Chinese Canadian to become a deputy minister. His grandfather arrived in Canada in 1923 just before the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed. Because he was raised by Caucasian adoptive parents, he both enjoyed white privilege and endured overt and subtle racism. But he is proud to be Chinese. He interacts with Indigenous peoples with understanding and respect, helping with reconciliation between Indigenous Peoples and the Canadian government. In 2020, Daniel wrote an open letter to address systemic racism, sparking debates to change the status-quo. It was a commendable effort.
Sue Tang
Having grown up in a poor family, Sue came to Canada to pursue university education and through diligence and interpersonal skills, has forged a successful career culminating in her becoming the first Chinese vice president at IBM Canada. At the height of her career, Sue suffered a setback when she lost her husband. But charity work helped her find new meaning in life, and brought dance into her life. She has planned and led many fundraising events for various charitable organizations, and has used dance to help seniors suffering from Parkinson’s and other chronic diseases. She also actively shares her experience to encourage young people to pursue self improvement.
以堅毅精神造福社會 2023年「紅楓傳奇」頒獎禮盛大舉行
(2023年7月29日 – 星期六) 由「紅楓傳奇協會」主辦的2023年「紅楓傳奇」頒獎晚會，於本周六(7月29日)在烈治文山市喜來登大酒店(Sheraton Parkway Hotel)隆重舉行，四百位嘉賓出席盛會，一起見證六位卓越華裔，以堅毅不屈的進取精神，造福加國社會的感人故事。
出席頒獎禮的嘉賓包括：聯邦皇家土著部長 Gary Anandasangaree，聯邦參議員胡元豹、國會議員 Carolyn Bennett、中國駐多倫多副總領事程洪波、萬錦市市長薜家平、香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處處長巫菀菁、區域議員何胡景、市議員李思韻及劉兆麟等
今年大會以「堅毅造福締傳奇」為主題，藉以表揚得奬人在加拿大努力奮鬥、回饋社會、在逆境中創造人生傳奇。獲奬名單如下（依英文姓氏排列）：何浩楷、梁德威、林風雲、蒲育惠、丹尼爾·關-沃森、以及李本嫦。（簡介見附錄）。
晚宴由Band of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship York 軍樂隊，以及李文啟武術學院的精彩表演，揭開序幕。
「紅楓傳奇協會」會長王昆明感謝出席貴賓，使這備受華人社區重視的獎項，益增榮寵。他表示：「自22年前最初舉辦『紅楓傳奇』，我們一直摸索和思考發展方向。憑著團隊的努力，社區的認同、有份量得獎人的參與，以及各界人士的支持，發展至今天，已成為獨樹一幟、極受尊重和具影響力的奬項，令我們深感鼓舞。」
王昆明說：「放眼未來，我們希望透過『紅楓傳奇』繼續將華人勤奮努力，關心社區的精神發揚光大。」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。
紅楓傳奇籌委會共同主席顏惠霞律師表示：人生本來就不是坦途！今年「紅楓傳奇」人物選舉，以「堅毅造福締傳奇」為主題.得獎者皆實至名歸，他們不但堅毅地成就自己，更加激勵他人，造福社會。
她說：「我們藉著舉辦『紅楓傳奇』人物選舉，表揚傑出加國華人的成就和分享他們的勵志故事，大會希望啟發有志人士以他們為榜樣，積極面對人生，逆境自強，關愛助人，締造精彩的人生傳奇。」
另一位籌委會共同主席歐陽健昌指出：「獲奬者都是值得表揚的加籍華人，他們弘揚公益以及助人的精神，應該薪火傳承，使生長在西方社會的一代，毋忘華裔獨有的價值信念。」
今屆得奬者的人生故事各放異彩，即使來自加拿大不同省份、不同背景和界別，都展現出他們努力奮鬥，無私為社會作出貢獻的精神，成為加國華人的典範，正好切合「紅楓傳奇」的評選標準。
甄選團主席特許會計師關保衛表示，評選準則是與時並進。他說：「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。「紅楓傳奇」的提名向來踴躍，今年的甄選團共有22人，其中18人是前獲選者，另外4人來自红楓傳奇協會，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。
由2000年至今，「紅楓傳奇」已編寫了130個勵志傳奇故事，出版了22輯專書。《紅楓傳奇》編輯委員會主席蕭顯揚指出：「紅楓是堅毅精神的象徵，它代表着非凡、永恆、以及人生的沉澱。加國華人在異地生根，安身立命，成長茁壯，貢獻社群。他們的每個故事，都構成華人在加國奮鬥史的一部分。」
他說: 「在紀念排華法案一百周年之際，我們更面臨新的挑戰，這使得獎者的勵志故事更值得珍惜。把這些故事編製成書，是神聖的使命，是研究加國華人社區發展的重要參考資料。」
今年的《紅楓傳奇》編輯由何湯淑芬及鍾蕙蘭擔任，並由金綺文及楊笑撰寫人物專訪，英文部份由余嘉穎執筆。
整套《紅楓傳奇》人物專訪，現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，以及香港的浸會大學、香港大學、珠海學院、中文大學、科技大學、理工大學的圖書館。此外，香港中央圖書館、加拿大國際學校，亦有收藏《紅楓傳奇》。
頒獎禮的特別表演嘉賓是2009年加拿大世界小姐（Miss World Canada)馬艷冰。在他的壓軸名曲“Time to Say Good Bye”的優美歌聲帶動下，今屆的「紅楓傳奇」人物和主要嘉賓一起謝幕，「堅毅造福締傳奇」的盛會，圓滿成功。
2023「紅楓傳奇」獲獎者簡介
何浩楷 Chester H. Ho
何浩楷生於香港，從劍橋大學醫學院獲得醫學博士（MD）學位后，到美国接受住院醫師和脊髓損傷治療專科培訓，後成為克利夫蘭醫療中心脊髓損傷科主任。2011年，為了與父母團聚，何浩楷來到加拿大，先後在卡爾加里大學和艾伯塔大學擔任物理醫學與康復治療科負責人，並領導多個省級和聯邦衛生服務的政策制訂委員會工作。他秉持患者至上理念，始終保持謙遜仁愛之心，帶領團隊不斷創造奇迹，為加拿大脊髓損傷患者的治疗帶來創新改變。
梁德威先生 David Leung
梁德威移民加拿大近50年。音樂和攝影是兩大愛好，「寓公益服務於愛好」是他服務社會的動力。1980年代，加入安省華人音樂協會，義務組織樂團活動，促進華人音樂發展，培養年輕的音樂人才，展現華人音樂家才華。2005年加入福慧教育基金會，成為親身進駐貧困山區資助艾滋孤兒教育的先驅。作為福慧“御用”攝影師，走過最深最遠的山路，到過最貧困的地區，用鏡頭記錄每次探訪的歷程，記錄了福慧完整的助學旅程。默默地用行動和善良闡釋公益的意義。
林風雲James Lin
林風雲生於台灣文藝世家，上世紀80年代初移民加拿大后成為本地華媒首批採訪記者之一。他勤奮敬業，攝影和文字俱佳，以優質高效報道贏得廣泛讚譽的同時成為華社“活字典”。他也熱心公益，為社區貢獻良多。作為華媒老前輩，他扶持帶領出200多位傳媒從業人員，並帶動本地華媒整體素質提升和營造同行良性競爭。在傳統媒體轉型的過程中，他樂天豁達，在新媒體領域取得非凡業績的同時亦鼓勵周圍的人樂觀向上和行善助人。
蒲育惠女士 Jenny Pu
2006年41歲的蒲育惠確診乳癌晚期。但她積極面對病魔的挑戰，配合治療，重構身心。先後考到義乳及壓力衣的相關執照，2012年起為乳癌患者提供手術後支持，客戶跨越族群。2013年成立乳癌支持小组，自費印製宣傳冊，分享經驗、鼓勵同患。十年間從未給社區添加經費負擔，卻為癌症協會長年籌款。小組現更名為“火鳳凰”，寓意浴火重生。蒲育惠逆境中自强不息，用樂觀點燃他人的希望，用善良化解身邊的悲傷，“堅毅造福締傳奇” 。
丹尼爾·關-沃森 Daniel Quan-Watson
丹尼爾•關-沃森是首位擔任聯邦政府公務員最高級別–副部長職位的華裔，他的祖父在1923年排華法案出台前夕抵達加拿大。因自幼被白人父母收養，丹尼爾既得到了白人的優越資源也遭遇過諸多公開或隱晦的歧視，但他仍以華裔身份為榮。他帶着理解和尊重去傾聽原住民訴求，促成原住民與加拿大政府的歷史性和解。2020年丹尼爾通過一封公開信喚醒人們關注系統性種族歧視問題，開啟改變現狀的序幕。他的努力值得加拿大人感激讚揚。
李本嫦 Sue Tang
李本嫦出身貧寒，隻身從香港來加讀完大學後，以優秀的人際溝通能力、積極向上的熱情，獲得僱主認可，此後更憑藉出色業績一路晉陞成為加拿大IBM公司首位華裔副總裁。事業有成時，李本嫦再度遭遇挫折，丈夫去世令她跌入人生低谷，但她在慈善事業中重新找到生活的意義，並將舞蹈作為新的人生目標。她策劃和領導多家慈善機構的籌款活動，通過舞蹈幫助帕金森患者和其他慢性病老年病患。她也積極分享自己的經驗，激勵年輕人追求自我提升。