For Immediate Release
Chinese Canadian Legend Award Announces Awardees As It Celebrates Silver Jubilee
(May 15, 2026, Toronto)
The Chinese Canadian Legend Award celebrates its Silver Jubilee this year with a special theme: “Inspiring Legends, Lasting Impact – Our Silver Journey and Beyond”.
After an intense selection process, the Chinese Canadian Legends Association (CCLA) is pleased to announce that six awards will be given out to the following individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Canada, they are alphabetically: Patrick Chan, Dr. Teresa M. Chan, Dr. Thomas Fung, Dr. Larry Grant and Howard Grant, Nancy Siew and Yuen May (This year one CCLA award is split between two brothers who will both be recognized for the work they did together in promoting indigenous language and culture. Individual bio summaries are attached).
The Award, established in year 2000, is a distinctive national award and has recognized 148 awardees over 24 sessions, with 24 special edition books celebrating these inspiring Chinese Canadians in various fields.
CCLA President, Bammy Wong shared that “since the inception of the Award 25 years ago, we have continuously explored and reflected on our future development. Thanks to the efforts of our team members, and the recognition, participation and support of award recipients and the community over the years, the Award has become one of the most prestigious, influential and distinctive awards. During its Silver Jubilee, we are happy to move forward with our mission: to recognize and enhance the achievements and contributions of the Chinese Canadians, to foster understanding, respect and integration among diverse cultures and communities”.
CCLA is honoured to work with former Senator, the Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy as Honorary Chair of the Advisory Committee, former Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, the Honourable Dr. Philip Lee as Honorary Advisor, Alexandra Ngan and Dennis Au-Yeung as Co-Chairs of the Organizing Committee, Fellow Chartered Accountant Stanley Kwan as Chair of the Selection Committee, Stephen Siu as Chair of the Editorial Committee, Glenn Chan as Chair of the Operations Committee and Viola Poon as Secretary.
This year’s award recipients each brings a unique story, exemplifying resilience and a selfless giving back spirit to contribute to their communities. They are Chinese Canadian role models, perfectly matching the selection criteria of a Chinese Canadian Legend.
Chair of the Selection Committee, Stanley Kwan said: “The selection criteria change with the times: Although we do the same thing every year, we listen to the voices of the community and incorporate their ideas, so that we can be objective and fair and select individuals that deserve to be our role models”. Talents abound in the Chinese Canadian community, and nominations have usually been enthusiastic. There were 20 selection committee members this year, 15 of whom were past recipients, the other 5 are from CCLA. After lengthy discussions and a comprehensive review, six awards will be given out to deserving individuals.
Alexandra Ngan, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee extends heartfelt gratitude to the community and media friends for their continued encouragement and support. She said: “The Award is to honour outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to our society. It also serves to inspire all to embrace the Chinese Canadian Legend spirit — to face life positively, demonstrate resilience amidst adversity, and extend compassion to others. This year marks the Silver Jubilee of the Award, a significant milestone that deserves cherishing and celebration. This year’s theme is ‘Inspiring Legends, Lasting Impact – Our Silver Journey and Beyond’, we hope that the remarkable stories of the awardees will be inspiring, encouraging everyone to uplift each other, to persevere and forge ahead, creating legends with lasting impact”.
Dennis Au-Yeung, the other Co-Chair, said: “This year marks the Silver Jubilee of the Award, the recipients this year are all Chinese Canadians who are worthy of praise. We hope that by honoring these individuals, the unique values and beliefs, the spirit of perseverance and giving culture of the Chinese Canadian immigrants will be sustained. Sharing their extraordinary stories may inspire the future generations, thus achieving the goal of passing on these excellent legacy”.
Chinese Canadian Legend Book’s Executive Editor Connie Woo said: “The Award distinguishes itself by documenting and publishing stories of outstanding Chinese Canadian immigrants. Their inspiring stories provide invaluable research and reference material for future generations“. The book collections are kept in the libraries of many universities in Canada and Hong Kong. “We have a great team this year with Annie Jin, Terri Lai, Ray Yang and Emily Wong as our writers; Camilla Tong is our production editor. The recipients’ life stories are most impressive”.
Chair of the Operations Committee, Glenn Chan said: “CCLA has always been actively involved in community work. Over the years, we have encouraged young people to not only participate in the volunteer work of the Award, but also to serve the community and strive to build a better future”.
The 2026 Chinese Canadian Legend Award Gala will be held on July 11 at Sheraton Hotel, Richmond Hill. Tickets are $280 each, or $3000 for a corporate table. For details please visit www.cclegends.ca
Award Recipients’ Profile
Patrick CHAN dazzled the world as one of the most decorated Canadian figure skaters. But behind the medals lies a far more complex story. Growing up as a Chinese Canadian in a sport long shaped by Eurocentrism, Chan navigated silent discrimination and a fractured sense of identity.
Retirement brought new turbulence: the pandemic dismantled his plans and galvanized him into action — speaking out against anti-Asian racism, supporting grassroots advocacy campaigns, and openly challenging the stigma around men’s mental health. In his quest for self-recovery, he showed that true strength lies not in being unassailable, but in the courage to be truly seen.
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Dr. Teresa M. CHAN is the Founding Dean of the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine, where she is leading the development of the first new medical school in the Greater Toronto Area in over 180 years. A pioneering researcher in the Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAMed) movement, she co-founded CanadiEM.org, which provides peer-reviewed, open-access educational resources to learners worldwide. She co-led the METRIQ research initiative, which established a quality assessment framework for online medical education resources. She is also the co-developer of GridlockED, an educational board game that translates emergency department flow management into a hands-on teaching tool. Her scholarly contributions include over 230 peer-reviewed publications and more than 15 books or edited volumes.
Dr. Chan has received numerous national honours, including the Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) Meridith Marks New Educator Award, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) Young Educator Award, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Award for Early-Career Leadership in Medical Education. She currently serves as Associate Editor of Academic Medicine, Chair of the Royal College’s Clinician Educator Area of Focused Competency Specialty Committee, and Honorary Adjunct Associate Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
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Dr. Thomas FUNG, a visionary entrepreneur, established the Fairchild Group in the 1980s and currently serves as its Chairman and CEO. His belief in collaboration has seen the group flourish into one of Canada’s most successful multinational corporations with an investment portfolio exceeding US$600 million. His flagship project is the Aberdeen Centre in Richmond, British Columbia, which, upon opening in 2004, was the world’s first Asian-themed shopping mall, contributing to local economic prosperity and demonstrating Dr. Fung’s business philosophy: commercial growth and social development can go hand in hand. He has also connected North America and Asia well, by creating numerous cross-regional and cross-cultural opportunities.
The group’s subsidiary, Fairchild Media, is Canada’s largest Asian multicultural media group, providing entertainment and information to the Chinese community through television, and offering multicultural radio programs covering 23 different ethnic languages. Dr. Fung’s media empire, based on the principles of cultural inclusion and social participation, has made significant and far-reaching contributions to the Chinese community and multiculturalism across Canada. He is a philanthropist who has dedicated himself to raising funds for hospitals and charitable organizations in Canada and overseas for many years, with donations of CAD$60 million.
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Dr. Larry GRANT and Howard GRANT’s lives trace a difficult journey through language, identity, and reconciliation. Born to a Chinese father and a Musqueam mother, they were pushed into a legal and social limbo from childhood—forced off their reserve and stripped of their Indigenous status by discriminatory laws.
In retirement, Larry reclaimed his long‑silenced mother tongue hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and became a key figure in revitalizing the language. Howard chose the path of politics, advancing Indigenous rights cases, securing government apologies, and representing Indigenous voices internationally. Though he never learned his ancestral languages, he practiced the spirit of reconciliation through political advocacy. Together, the brothers embodied the power of healing across histories of injustice and rebuilding dignity.
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Nancy SIEW is a Chinese Canadian community activist and a champion of heritage preservation and inclusion. Born in Hong Kong, she immigrated to Canada in 1976. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from McGill University, specializing in gerontology. She served as a Canadian Citizenship Judge (2014–2017) and as Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Military Police Academy at Canadian Forces Base Borden (2018–2021). In 2002, she helped establish Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and over the following two decades she cultivated it into a nationwide cultural celebration. In 2023, to mark the centenary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, she launched a self-funded, cross-country initiative, travelling from coast to coast and successfully urging the Ontario government to incorporate this history into the school curriculum.
A long‑time supporter of Canadian veterans, she compiled a pictorial book of veteran portraits published in English, French, Chinese, and Braille, and organized veterans’ dinners with proceeds donated to the Royal Canadian Legion’s homeless project. Her honours include the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, and the Veterans Affairs Canada Commendation. In 2026, she was appointed to the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest civilian honour.
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YUEN May (born Yuen May WONG), currently 100 years old, is a renowned lyricist for Cantonese pop songs and Cantonese opera, and a member of the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong (CASH). In the 1970s, she began her career writing lyrics for Cantonese pop songs, collaborating with numerous popular singers and earning recognition with several Gold Records. Later, she shifted her focus to Cantonese opera and operatic songs, working with countless famous performers and producing a steady stream of acclaimed works. Notably, her works Soul and Dreams Encircle the Land 《魂夢繞山河》and The Palace of Eternal Life on the Seventh Day of the Seventh Moon 《七月七日長生殿》won the CASH Golden Sail Music Award in 1994 and 2002, respectively, marking her outstanding achievements in the field. After immigrating to Toronto in 1996, she has continued to write Cantonese opera scripts for performance to this day. Inspired by her faith, she also dedicated herself to the creation of Gospel Cantonese opera songs. In 2008, she was invited to host the popular program The Life of Opera 《戲曲人生》on Fairchild Radio Canada. In 2012, she was appointed as the Artistic Consultant for the Starlight Chinese Opera「寶新聲戲曲演藝中心」, where she wrote several children’s opera scripts for the “Cantonese Opera Little Beans” troupe「粵劇小豆丁」, pouring her heart and soul into the preservation and heritage of Cantonese opera overseas.
紅楓傳奇喜迎銀禧
今年得獎名單揭曉
(2026年5月15日，多倫多訊) 由「紅楓傳奇協會」主辦一年一度的「紅楓傳奇」盛事，今年昂然邁進25周年，喜迎銀禧，以「銀禧共勉締傳奇」為主題，將頒發六個獎項予對加拿大社會有卓越貢獻的傳奇人物。
今年提名眾多，競爭激烈，經過嚴格評選後，得奬名單正式揭曉，名單如下（依英文姓氏排列）：陳偉群、陳敏怡醫生、馮永發博士、洪禮興博士與洪文興、蕭美珍和阮眉 (今年其中一個獎項由洪氏兄弟共同獲得，以表彰他們一起在推廣原住民語言和文化方面所作出的貢獻。各得獎人簡介見附錄）。
「紅楓傳奇」是全國性的卓越獎項，自2000年主辦迄今，過去24屆合共選出148位得獎者，並出版了24輯專書。
「紅楓傳奇協會」會長王昆明表示：「自最初舉辦『紅楓傳奇』，二十五載以來，我們一直不斷摸索和思考未來的發展方向。憑著團隊的努力，得獎人的認同、參與，以及社區的支持，發展至今成為獨樹一幟、極受尊重和具影響力的奬項，令我們深感鼓舞。際此銀禧年度，我們欣然向前邁進的同時，仍毋忘初心：協會的宗旨是對加國華人的成就和貢獻予以表揚及提升，並促進多元文化及社區之間的瞭解、尊重和共融。」
王昆明說，「紅楓傳奇協會」深感榮幸，獲前參議員利德蕙博士擔任顧問委員會榮譽主席、前緬省省督李紹麟博士擔任榮譽顧問、顏惠霞律師和歐陽健昌擔任籌委會共同主席、資深特許會計師關保衛擔任甄選團主席、蕭顯揚擔任編輯委員會主席、陳偉才擔任運作委員會主席，以及潘嘉儀擔任秘書長。
今屆得奬者的人生故事各放異彩，展現出他們努力奮鬥，自強不息，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：「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。」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20人，其中15位是前獲選者，另外五位來自紅楓傳奇協會，經過多番討論，全面審核，從眾多的候選人中選出實至名歸的得奬者，頒發六個獎項。
「紅楓傳奇」籌委會共同主席顏惠霞律師衷心感謝各界熱心人士和傳媒朋友一直以來給紅楓傳奇的支持和鼓勵。她說：「舉辦『紅楓傳奇』人物選拔之主要目的，是藉著表揚對社會有卓越貢獻的傑出人士，激勵大家發揮 “積極面對人生、逆境自強及愛心助人”的紅楓精神。今年『紅楓傳奇』欣逢銀禧，以「銀禧共勉締傳奇」為主題，這重要里程碑實在值得珍視歡慶。回首過去，我們喜悦感恩；展望將來，我們昂首濶步。繼往開來，期盼今屆得獎人的傳奇故事，能鼓舞人心，大眾互勉互勵，勇於築夢奮鬥，縱遇荊棘逆境，也堅毅奮發開拓前路，締造影響深遠的傳奇。」
籌委會共同主席歐陽健昌說：「『 紅楓傳奇』今年踏進25周年，在這銀禧新里程，我們期待透過表揚卓越的傳奇人物，宏揚奮鬥、助人及公益的精神。今屆的獲奬者不論年齡、學歷、背景，都有其獨特的貢獻，是十分值得表揚的加國華人。此外，述說廣傳他們的不凡事蹟，對社會人士也有所激勵，並讓下一代毋忘我們獨有的價值信念，冀能達到傳承之旨。」
《紅楓傳奇》執行主編鍾蕙蘭表示:「『 紅楓傳奇』獎項獨特之處在於記錄傑出華裔加拿大移民貢獻社群的故事。他們鼓舞人心的經歷為後世提供了寶貴的研究及參考資料。」加拿大和香港多間大學圖書館和公共圖書館亦有收藏《紅楓傳奇》專輯。鍾蕙蘭說：「我們有一支很棒的撰稿團隊，由金綺文、黎曉玫、楊芮和和王蕙芳撰寫人物專訪，何湯淑芬擔任製作編輯。 今屆傳奇人物的真實故事，內容精彩，深刻感人。」
運作委員會主席陳偉才表示：「『 紅楓傳奇協會』 向來積極參與社區工作。過去多年來，我們十分鼓勵青少年，除了參與籌辦『紅楓傳奇』的義務工作外，也致力服務社會，為建立更美好的將來而努力。」
今屆「紅楓傳奇」得獎人的勵志故事，即將出版成第25輯專書，並於 2026年「紅楓傳奇」頒獎晚宴上派送各來賓。「紅楓傳奇」頒獎晚宴將於 7月 11日於烈治文山喜來登酒店舉行。晚宴票價: 個人$280, 公司每桌$3,000。請瀏覽網址: www.cclegends.ca。
2026年「紅楓傳奇」獲獎者簡介
陳偉群 (Patrick Chan) 是加拿大史上最優秀的花滑運動員之一，但在令人仰望的成就背後，他有一段曲折的歷程。作為華裔運動員，他深切體會過歐洲中心主義盛行下的花滑界那些無聲的歧視與身份認同的撕裂。
退役後，新冠疫情改變了他的人生規劃，也意外點燃他的社會責任感——他公開發聲抗擊針對亞裔的種族歧視，參與多項公益倡導，並勇敢談論男性心理健康這一長期被忽視的議題。在尋找回歸自我的歷程中，他展示了真正的力量不在於無懈可擊，而在於敢於被人真實地看見。
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作為多倫多都市大學（TMU）醫學院創始院長，陳敏怡醫生 (Dr. Teresa M. Chan) 領導建設了大多倫多地區180年來第一所新建醫學院。陳醫生是免費開放醫學教育（FOAMed）運動的先驅研究者，聯合創辦醫學教育網站CanadiEM.org，為全球學習者提供經同行評審的開放教育資源。她共同領導的METRIQ研究專案，為線上醫學教育資源建立了品質評估體系。她亦是教育桌遊GridlockED的聯合開發者，將急診室流程管理轉化為可操作的教學工具。其學術研究成果包括逾230篇同行評審論文及超過15部著作。
陳醫生曾獲加拿大醫學教育協會新教育家獎、加拿大醫學院聯合會青年教育家獎、皇家內外科醫師學院早期職業領導力獎等多項國家級榮譽。她現任《Academic Medicine》副主編、皇家內外科醫師學院臨床教育家專科委員會主席，並擔任香港中文大學榮譽客座副教授。
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高瞻遠矚的企業家馮永發博士 (Dr. Thomas Fung) 於八十年代創立新時代集團，現任集團主席兼行政總裁，帶領集團融合有序多元發展，成為加國最具成就的跨國公司之一，投資組合逾6億美元。其代表作是位於卑詩省烈治文市的時代坊 (Aberdeen Centre)，於2004年開幕時是全球首個以亞洲為主題的購物中心，促進當地經濟繁榮，印證了馮氏的營商哲學: 商業發展與社會發展可㩗手邁進。他也成功搭建連繫北美洲和亞洲之無形橋樑，製造無數跨地域跨文化的機遇。
集團子公司新時代傳媒是加拿大最大的亞裔多元媒體集團，透過電視等媒體為加國華人提供娛樂資訊，並提供涵蓋23種不同族裔語言的多元文化電台廣播節目。馮氏的傳媒王國以文化共融和社會参與為念，為全國華人社區及多元文化作出重要貢獻，影響深遠。 馮氏樂於行善，多年來致力為加國和海外的醫院和慈善組織籌款，善款高達六千萬加元。
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洪禮興博士 (Dr. Larry Grant)與洪文興 (Howard Grant) 兄弟的一生，見證了語言、身份與和解的艱難旅程。出生於華裔父親與瑪斯昆族母親的家庭，他們從小被歧視性法律推入身份夾縫，被迫離開保留地，失去原住民身份。
洪禮興博士在退休後重拾沉睡半世紀的瑪斯昆族母語，並成為推動語言復興的重要長者。洪文興則選擇政治道路，推動原住民權利案件、爭取政府道歉，並在國際舞台上發聲。他雖未能學習母語，卻用政治倡導實踐了和解的精神。兄弟二人共同詮釋了跨越創傷、重建尊嚴的力量。
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蕭美珍 ( Nancy Siew ) 是加拿大華裔社區社會活動家、文化遺產保護宣導者。生於香港，1976年移民加拿大。麥吉爾大學社會工作碩士，專攻老年學。曾任加拿大公民法官（2014-2017）、加拿大博登軍事基地軍事員警學院榮譽中校（2018-2021）。她於2002年參與推動加拿大亞裔傳統月的創立，並在此後二十餘年間將其深耕為全國性文化盛事；2023年發起《排華法案》百年紀念，自籌資金橫跨加拿大東西海岸，促成安省政府將該段歷史納入中小學課程。
她長期服務於加拿大退伍軍人群體，編纂老兵肖像畫冊並以英文、法文、中文和盲文四種語言出版，組織老兵晚宴並將善款捐贈軍團流浪者項目。曾獲女王金禧獎章、女王鑽禧獎章、查理斯三世國王加冕獎章、加拿大退伍軍人事務部嘉獎令，2026年獲頒安省最高平民榮譽安省勳章（the Order of Ontario）。
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阮眉 (Yuen May)，原名王婉美，現年 100歲，著名粵語時代曲及粵曲填詞人，香港作曲家及作詞家協會會員。於七十年代投身粵語時代曲填詞工作，與多位當紅歌星合作，獲多張金唱片肯定；其後專注於粵曲及粵劇創作，合作紅伶不計其數，佳作頻出。其中《魂夢繞山河》及《七月七日長生殿》分別於1994年及2002年榮獲香港作曲家及作詞家協會頒發CASH「金帆獎」，成就斐然。
1996 年移民多倫多後，持續至今編寫粵劇作品以供演出。並在信仰感召下，投身福音粵曲創作。2008 年應邀主持加拿大中文電台節目《戲曲人生》，深受歡迎；2012 年獲邀出任「寶新聲戲曲演藝中心」藝術顧問，為「粵劇小豆丁」創作多套兒童粵劇劇本，為粵劇在海外的傳承傾注心力。