Chinese Canadian Legend Award Gala – Love and Harmony
(August 17, 2024, Toronto Press Release) The 2024 Chinese Canadian Legend Award Gala, organized by the Chinese Canadian Legends Association to honour and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of six award winners, was held on August 17 at Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel.
The award recipients this year are (in alphabetical order): Dr Wayne Chiu, Professor Frances Chung, The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, The Honourable Lillian Quan Dyck, Mr Kai Liu and Professor Peter Liu (their brief profiles are attached).
The gala was well attended by about 400 guests and distinguished guests included the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Senator Yuen Pau Woo, MP Leah Taylor Roy and Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto, Mr. Luo Weidong.
The opening ceremony was led by the remarkable Band of His Majesty Canadian Ship York, followed by a Tai Chi fan dance led by Tai Chi Master Dr. Jason Kwok and his group of students, presenting the theme this year: “Love and Harmony”.
In his welcome speech, CCLA President Bammy Wong says “Since launching the Award 23 years ago, we have continued to explore and reflect on our future direction and vision. Thanks to the efforts of our team members, as well as the acknowledgment, participation and support from the recipients and the community over the years, the Award itself has become one of the most prestigious, influential and distinct awards. The Association’s purpose is to promote and recognize the achievements and contributions of Chinese Canadians, to foster understanding, respect and integration of multiculturalism in our communities.”
He also expressed gratitude to former Senator the Honourable Vivienne Poy and former Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, the Honourable Philip S. Lee as honorary advisors of the CCLA award.
Organizing Committee Co-chair Alexandra Ngan highlights this year’s theme “Love and Harmony” and says, “Canada is a multicultural country which embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. Amidst this changing world of increasing conflicts and instability, love and harmony are keys to a better world. Through the Chinese Canadian Legend Award, we pay tribute to Chinese Canadians who have not only overcome adversity and distinguished themselves in their respective fields, but have also made remarkable contributions to our community and our country with love and harmony. May we be inspired by the amazing stories of the Chinese Canadian Legend Award recipients and build a more loving and harmonious world for us all.”
Dennis Au-Yeung, another Organizing Committee Co-chair, remarks that, “The enthusiastic nominations are most encouraging and the award honourees are all worthy of praise. They are dedicated and admirable individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada. We hope that through this annual award, the unique values and beliefs, the persevering spirit and giving culture of Chinese Canadian immigrants will be passed on to the next generation growing up in the West.”
Chair of the Selection Committee Stanley Kwan says, “The selection criteria of this Award change with the times as we listen to the voices of the community and incorporate their ideas, so that we can be objective and fair in choosing individuals who are legendary and positive role models. There were 22 selection committee members this year, 18 of whom were past recipients, the other four are from CCLA. After lengthy discussions and a comprehensive review, six deserving individuals were selected.”
Since 2000, CCLA has published 136 Chinese Canadian Legend stories in 23 special edition books. Stephen Siu, Chair of the Editorial Committee, stresses the importance of the book: “The Award has made its mark in history by recording and publishing stories of distinguished Chinese Canadians. Putting their stories into a book is a noble mission. Their inspiring stories will become invaluable future reference for research on Chinese Canadian immigrants and motivation for future change in the community. This year’s editorial team is led by editors, Connie Woo and Camilla Tong, with Annie Jin, Terri Lai and Louisa Yue as writers.”
The entire book collection is 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 collections have also joined the Hong Kong Central Library, the libraries of most universities in Hong Kong, and the library at Canadian International School of Hong Kong.
The feature performer of the gala was Ms. Veronika Anissimova, Winner of the 2014 National Gold Medal in voice performance at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Her performance of songs from “My Fair Lady” and “The Phantom of the Opera” was captivating, and with her beautiful voice, she led the 2024 award recipients and VIPs in a rendition of ”The Prayer”, to conclude the gala with blessings of love, harmony and the light of hope.
2024 Chinese Canadian Legend Recipients Profile
Dr. Wayne Chiu
Wayne Chiu, a visionary social entrepreneur and philanthropist, grew up in a low-income neighbourhood in Hong Kong before moving to Canada to pursue an engineering degree from University of Manitoba. His passion for social entrepreneurship guided him when he founded Trico Homes in 1992, and his company has gradually grown from constructing a single house to becoming one of the top five builders in Calgary.
The concept of “Doing Well by Doing Good”, is at the core of Trico’s philosophy. In 2008, he founded the Trico Charitable Foundation and embarked on a mission to leverage his business acumen and resources to address societal challenges. He and his company are not just building houses, they are building a legacy of positive change. Over the years, he has made invaluable marks in virtually every corner of the Calgary community. He is a Member of the Order of Canada (2015) and an appointee of the Alberta Order of Excellence (2018).
Professor Frances Chung
Frances Chung arrived in Canada from Hong Kong in the 1970s. She is currently a Professor of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at University of Toronto and ResMed Chair at University Health Network (UHN). In 2023, due to her development of the STOP-Bang Tool (which generated nearly $3 million in copyright fees for funding other research at UHN in the past few years), she was awarded the “Inventor of the Year” by UHN. In 2023, she was ranked among the top 30 best female scientists in Canada, the only Chinese Canadian on the list. In both 2022 and 2023, Research.com ranked her among the top 1,000 best female scientists in the world.
Frances’ upbringing in difficult circumstances prepared her for a life of perseverance, always striving for success. Her father, a Hong Kong fire captain, died in the line of duty when she was four and a half. Despite her family tragedy, she achieved her goals with unremitting efforts in Canada. The Lion Rock spirit lives on……
The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson’s life is filled with contradictions yet uniquely captivating. She and her family arrived in Canada in 1942 and successfully integrated despite the Chinese Exclusion Act still being in effect. Although she kept her ex-husband’s surname after their divorce, she remained a staunch feminist.
Born in Hong Kong, she found the roots of her life in Canada. Clarkson excelled in the media industry and navigated the political arena with ease, redefining the role of Governor General. She actively promoted diversity as well as national unity, co- founding the Institute for Canadian Citizenship to help new citizens integrate into society. Her life demonstrates that in Canada, everyone can create their own unique legend.
The Honourable Lillian Quan Dyck
Lillian Quan Dyck was born in 1945 in North Battleford, a small town in Saskatchewan to a Chinese father and a Cree mother. She overcame childhood racial discrimination to complete her studies, becoming the first Indigenous woman to obtain a PhD in the sciences. After that she embarked on a journey to trace her Cree and Chinese roots, embracing her dual heritage.
She had a successful career in neurochemistry, and in 2005 became the first Indigenous woman to be a senator, pursuing social justice and equal rights in the legislature. Due to her accomplishments in promoting laws to reform Indigenous education and gender and racial equality, she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2021. Her early life story was adapted into a movie called “Café Daughter”.
Former Police Chief Kai Liu
Kai Liu aspired to be a police officer since childhood. As a member of a Taiwanese immigrant family, he experienced discrimination and bullying growing up. But with the support of his family, he came to be proud of his Chinese heritage. In 1986, Kai became the first Asian police officer with the Ottawa Police Service. He was committed to innovation and reform, elevating protection and support for victims of domestic violence. He became Canada’s youngest Chief of Police in 2008. He received multiple honours, including the Order of Merit of the Police Forces awarded by the Governor General. In 2019, Kai became the Chief of Police for the Treaty Three Police Service, an Indigenous Police Service to 24 First Nations in Northwestern Ontario.
In 2023, Kai retired as Police Chief, but remains as President of the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario Association and an Executive Board member of the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association.
Professor Peter Liu
When Peter Liu arrived in Canada from Taiwan in 1966, he knew fewer than a hundred English words. He has overcome numerous hardships with resilience and adaptability and is now an internationally recognized physician-scientist and a leading cardiologist in Canada. He is Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Research at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI). His team has been successful in securing multiple grants, including a multi-institutional program “The Brain-Heart Interconnectome Program”, with a total award at $109 million from Canada’s First Research Excellence Fund.
In 2020, Peter was appointed to the “Order of Ontario” for raising the international profile of Canadian cardiovascular research through his leadership. In the same year, he received the “Global Achievement Award” from UOHI. His research on how viruses can lead to heart failure became very important, and his expertise and authority on the impact of COVID-19 on the heart were sought after by U.S. National Institutes of Health, Health Portfolio of Canadian government and medical colleagues around the world.
以關愛共融為主題 2024年「紅楓傳奇」 頒獎禮盛大舉行
(2024年8月17日，多倫多訊) 由「紅楓傳奇協會」主辦的2024年「紅楓傳奇」頒獎晚會，於8月17日在烈治文山市喜來登大酒店 (Sheraton Parkway Hotel) 隆重舉行，大約400位嘉賓出席盛會。今年大會以「關愛共融締傳奇」為主題，表揚六位對加拿大社會有傑出貢獻和獨特不凡的華裔人士。
獲奬者名單如下（依英文姓氏排列，簡介見附錄）: 趙叔榮 (傑出社會企業家兼慈善家)、鍾芳婷 (全球最優秀女科學家前列) 、伍冰枝 (前加拿大總督) 、關麗蓮 (前聯邦參議員) 、劉永凱 (前警察局長) 以及 劉丕 (心臟專科權威)。
頒獎禮嘉賓包括: 前安省省督The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell、聯邦参議員胡元豹、國會議員Leah Taylor Roy及 中國駐多倫多總領事羅偉東等。
晚會先由His Majesty’s Canadian Ship York Band軍樂隊奏國歌，揭開序幕，並由太極師傅郭詠觀醫生帶領多位學員表演精彩的太極功夫扇，以太極剛柔融合，彰顯今年的主題。
「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23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，有感近年多國關係緊張，甚至演變成戰争；人與人之間疏離，互相排斥，甚至惡化成種族仇恨，暴力頻生，危機四伏，令人喟嘆。今年特以「關愛共融締傳奇」為主題，因關愛與和諧或是令世界更美好的鎖匙。
今屆得獎人在困乏艱難中不但堅毅地成就自己，更關愛助人和造福社會。顏律師說：「我們藉著『紅楓傳奇』 人物選拔，表揚傑出加國華人的成就和分享他們的勵志故事，希望以他們的傳奇，激勵大家像『紅楓傳奇』 人物一樣，一起發揮積極面對人生、逆境自強和關愛包容的精神。」
另一位籌委會共同主席歐陽健昌說：「感謝大家踴躍提名，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和界別，皆展現出他們堅韌奮鬥，無私為社會作出貢獻的面貌，堪稱加國華人的典範。他們弘揚公益和樂於助人的精神，應該薪火相傳，使生長在西方社會的下一代，毋忘華裔獨有的價值和信念。」
甄選團主席特許會計師關保衛表示: 「『紅楓傳奇』 的評選準則與時並進，因甄選團不斷汲取社區的意見，總結經驗，務求選拔過程嚴謹、客觀和公正，從而選出傑出的傳奇人物。今年的甄選團共有22人，其中18位是前獲選者，另外4位來自『紅楓傳奇協會』。甄選團經過多番討論，全面審核，從眾多候選人中，選出六位實至名歸的得奬者。」
由2000年至今，《紅楓傳奇》已編寫了136個傳奇故事，出版了23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。把 『紅楓傳奇』 得獎者的勵志故事編製成書，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，黎曉玫及余嘉穎撰寫人物專訪。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，以及香港多間大學的圖書館。此外，香港中央圖書館和加拿大國際學校圖書館，亦有收藏《紅楓傳奇》。
頒獎禮的特別表演嘉賓是著名歌唱家Ms.Veronika Anissimova，她是皇家音樂學院2014年聲樂比賽冠軍，她於晚會上獻唱音樂劇《窈窕淑女》和《歌聲魅影》的名曲，並以壓軸歌曲 “The Prayer” ，祈願世界充滿愛和希望之光，邁向更和諧美好的將來。在她優美的歌聲帶動下，今屆的「紅楓傳奇」人物和主要嘉賓一起謝幕，「關愛共融締傳奇」的盛會，圓滿成功。
2024「紅楓傳奇」獲獎者簡介
趙叔榮博士 Dr. Wayne Chiu
趙叔榮是高瞻遠矚的社會企業家兼慈善家。他童年時在香港公共屋邨居住，生活貧困。其後在加拿大升學，畢業於曼尼托巴大學機械工程系，由於熱衷社會企業，促使他在1992年成立了Trico Homes，公司最初只建造单一房屋，其後逐漸壯大，現已成為卡加利五大建築商之一。
「行善致富」的理念是Trico營商哲學的核心。2008年，趙叔榮創立了以Trico 為名的慈善基金會，利用企業智慧和資源，回饋社會，就教育、醫療、扶貧及環境可持續發展等方面作出貢獻。他不僅改變了無數人的生命，也激勵他人為追求更公平美好的社會而努力。他致力建造的不僅是房子，而是建立積極變革的承傳。多年來，他在卡城社區幾乎每個角落都留下了無價的印記。他於2015 年獲頒加拿大員佐勳章，並於2018年獲頒亞伯達卓越榮譽勳章。
鍾芳婷教授Professor Frances Chung
鍾芳婷於七十年代由香港移居加拿大。現任多倫多大學醫學院麻醉及痛症科教授，也是大學醫療網絡之ResMed研究主席。她憑一項名為STOP-Bang Tool的科研項目，於2023年獲大學醫療網絡頒“年度發明家”大獎，此科研項目近年為大學醫療網絡帶來近三百萬元版權費，版權費收益則用以資助大學醫療網絡的其他科研項目。 同年，她獲納入加拿大全國最優秀女科學家首三十名，是名單上唯一的加拿大華裔女科學家。2022年和2023年，Research.com將她列入全球最優秀女科學家的首千名。
她的童年經歷坎坷，四歲半時，在香港任職消防隊長的父親因公殉職。她歷盡艱辛，堅毅進取，成為麻醉科菁英，教學和科研，也成就斐然，在加拿大延續不屈不撓的獅子山精神……
伍冰枝 The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson
伍冰枝的人生經歷充滿矛盾卻獨具魅力。她與家人在排華法案仍有效的1942年抵達加拿大並順利融入當地。儘管離婚後保留前夫姓氏，她堅定走在女性主義道路上。她生於香港，卻在加拿大找到歸屬感。她在媒體領域展現卓越才華，亦在政界遊刃有餘，並為加拿大總督這一職務賦予新的意義。
她積極促進多元文化和社會團結，創辦加拿大公民學院，幫助新公民融入社會。她的一生展示了在加拿大，每個人都能書寫出屬於自己的獨特傳奇。
關麗蓮 The Honourable Lillian Quan Dyck
關麗蓮1945年生於沙省小鎮北巴特福，為華人和克里族原住民混血兒。早年因族裔身份備受歧視。她憑藉毅力成為首位獲得科學博士學位的原住民女性，此後重拾克里族傳統文化並勇敢面對自己的雙重身份。她在神經科學領域取得豐碩成果，並於2005年成為首位原住民女性聯邦參議員。
因在推動原住民教育改革和促進社會正義方面做出巨大貢獻，2021年關麗蓮獲加拿大官佐勳章。她的故事被改編成電影《餐館女兒》，激勵了無數人。
劉永凱 Former Police Chief Kai Liu
劉永凱童年便立志當警察。作為台灣移民，年少時他經歷歧視欺凌，但在家人支持下，他學會為自己的華裔身份自豪。1986年永凱成為渥太華警局首位亞裔警員。他致力創新改革，在提高對家暴受害者的支持保護方面取得卓越成就，並為建設多元包容的社區環境作出巨大貢獻。
2008年永凱成為加拿大最年輕的警察局長。他贏得總督頒發的警察功績勳章等多項榮譽。2023年退休後，他繼續在原住民警務方面發揮作用。
劉丕教授Professor Peter Liu
1966年，劉丕從台灣來加拿大時，懂得的英文單字少於100個。多年來他堅韌奮進，靈活應變，克服了無數困難，成就非凡。現在是國際著名的科學家和本國心臟專科權威。他是渥太華大學心臟研究所的首席科學家兼研究部副總裁。近年他致力推動結合心和腦的跨學科研究，冀能尋找新療法為病人帶來新希望。他的團隊成功取得多項研究經費，近期最矚目者為“心腦互連組項目”，獲得“加拿大第一研究卓越基金”總資助額達一億九百萬元，是與多間大學夥伴進行的重大項目。
2020年，他獲頒 “Order of Ontario”，以表彰他的傑出領導，提高了加拿大心血管研究的國際知名度。同年，他獲渥太華大學心臟研究所頒發「全球成就獎」。此大獎表揚他就病毒性心肌炎如何導致心臟衰竭的科研。他就新冠病對心臟影響的研究所得，深受全球重視，其中包括美國國立衞生研究院，加拿大政府衞生保健部門和國際醫學同業。