Chinese Canadian Legend Award Celebrates Silver Jubilee at Award Gala
July 11, 2026, Saturday (Toronto) The Chinese Canadian Legend Award, a distinctive national award, celebrated its Silver Jubilee under the theme “Inspiring Legends, Lasting Impact — Our Silver Journey and Beyond”. At the award gala organized by the Chinese Canadian Legends Association (CCLA) on July 11, 2026 held at Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel in Richmond Hill, six awards were given out to honour outstanding individuals who have made remarkable contributions to Canada.
Award recipients are alphabetically listed as follows: Patrick Chan, Dr. Teresa M. Chan, Dr. Thomas Fung, Dr. Larry Grant and Howard Grant, Nancy Siew and Yuen May (This year one award was split between two brothers who were both recognized for the work they did together in promoting indigenous language and culture. The recipients’ short profiles are attached).
About 350 distinguished guests and supporters attended the gala, and the guests of honour included: MPs Maggie Chi, Vince Gasparro, Wade Grant; Consul General of People’s Republic of China in Toronto, Luo Weidong; former Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, the Honourable Dr. Philip S. Lee; and Mayor of Markham Frank Scarpitti.
At the award gala, CCLA President Bammy Wong expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the guests for their attendance, “Since the inception of the Award 25 years ago, we have continuously explored and reflected on our development direction. Thanks to our dedicated team, the recognition from the community, the participation of highly accomplished recipients, and the support of people from all sectors, the Award has become one of the most prestigious and influential awards. While we celebrate the Award’s Silver Jubilee, we are happy to move forward with our mission: to recognize the achievements and contributions of Chinese Canadians in all walks of life; to foster understanding, respect and integration among diverse cultures and communities.”
He also expressed his appreciation to former Senator, the Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy and former Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, the Honourable Dr. Philip S. Lee for their long-standing support as Honorary Patrons of the Award.
The gala began with the national anthem played by His Majesty’s Canadian Ship York Band. Featured performer was Ruth Ann Onley, an award-winning vocal artist who was married to the late Honourable David C. Onley, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. She and dancers from Georgia’s Dance & Arts Cultural Centre presented the timeless classic “The Sound of Music”, setting the stage for a night of inspiration and celebration.
“If a Silver Jubilee is like the sound of music, then the past 25 years have been our greatest symphony yet,” said Alexandra Ngan, Organizing Committee Co-Chair. “This year, we celebrate the Award’s monumental milestone. For 25 years, the Award has honoured remarkable Chinese Canadians who transformed challenges into achievements in the face of adversity, inspired others to turn dreams into reality, and shape a better world for us all. By sharing their amazing stories, we have built a legacy with lasting impact that will inspire generations to come. As we look back on this incredible journey with immense pride, let us celebrate the past, honour the present, and inspire tomorrow for more legends to come.”
Dennis Au-Yeung, the other Organizing Committee Co-Chair, said, “The Award’s 25th Anniversary is a significant milestone. We celebrate not only the extraordinary accomplishments of this year’s recipients, but also the enduring legacies of all award recipients over the past quarter century. While each of this year’s recipients has a unique story, they all exemplify the spirit of perseverance, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. These qualities distinguish them as exceptional leaders and role models in our community, whose impact extends far beyond their personal accomplishments. I hope their remarkable examples will inspire future generations to carry forward this proud legacy.”
Selection Committee Chair, Stanley Kwan (Fellow Chartered Accountant) stated, “The criteria for the Chinese Canadian Legend Award have evolved with the times. Our Selection Committee constantly listens to community feedback and learns from experience to ensure the selection process remains rigorous, objective and fair, enabling us to choose truly outstanding individuals. This year’s Selection Committee consists of 20 members –- 15 past recipients and 5 from CCLA. After thorough discussions and comprehensive evaluations, we have selected highly deserving individuals for the six awards.”
To preserve and share the life stories of all the 154 award recipients in the past 25 years, CCLA has published the Chinese Canadian Legend Book in 25 volumes since 2000.
Editorial Committee Chair, Stephen Siu remarked, “The red maple leaf symbolizes resilience. It represents the extraordinary, the eternal, and the essence of life. Chinese Canadians have taken root in this land, found their footing, grown strong, and contributed to society. Each story of a Chinese Canadian Legend is a part of our community’s journey and legacy in Canada. Documenting these stories in books is a sacred mission and an important reference for studying the development of the Chinese Canadian community. We have a great team this year, with Annie Jin, Terri Lai, Ray Yang and Emily Wong as writers, Connie Woo as executive editor and Camilla Tong as production editor. The stories of the awardees are unique and amazing.”
The book collections are kept in the libraries of leading universities in Canada and Hong Kong. Most of them have been digitized by the University of Toronto for its online library and are now accessible anywhere in the world.
Operations Committee Chair Glenn Chan added, “CCLA has always been actively involved in community work. We hope young people will be motivated by the awardees’ life stories, to pursue excellence, serve the community, and build a better future together.”
Ruth Ann Onley brought the gala to a stirring close with the performance of “We Are The People of The Maple Leaf” (lyrics by the late Honourable David C. Onley) — a powerful finale that reflected the spirit, pride, and enduring legacy of the Award’s remarkable milestone.
2026 Award Recipients’ Profiles:
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 enabled the group to flourish into one of Canada’s most successful multinational corporations with an investment portfolio exceeding $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 one of Canada’s largest Asian multicultural media groups, serving the Chinese community through television, publication and social media, and its multicultural radio programming covers 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, contributing funds totaling $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.
(Howard Grant passed away on March 29, 2026)
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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 longtime 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.
Since 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.
紅楓傳奇歡慶銀禧頒獎典禮隆重舉行
(2026年7月11日 星期六，多倫多訊）由「紅楓傳奇協會」主辦的「紅楓傳奇」年度盛事，今年昂然邁進25周年，喜迎銀禧，大會以「銀禧共勉締傳奇」為主題，於2026年7月11日在烈治文山的喜來登酒店舉行頒獎晚宴，頒發六個獎項，以表揚對加拿大社會有卓越貢獻的傑出人士。
獲獎者名單如下（按英文姓氏字母順序排列）：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，頒獎晚宴約有350位嘉賓出席。出席的主禮嘉賓包括：國會議員遲月、Vince Gasparro 和 Wade Grant；中華人民共和國駐多倫多總領事羅偉東；前緬省省督李紹麟博士及萬錦市市長薛家平。
「紅楓傳奇協會」會長王昆明在晚宴上向所有嘉賓表達由衷的謝意：「自25年前獎項創立以來，我們不斷探索和反思我們的發展方向。憑著我們敬業的團隊、社區的認可、成就不凡的獲獎者的參與，以及各界人士的支持，令這個獎項成為最具聲望和影響力的獎項之一，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，秉承協會的宗旨: 對加國華人的成就和貢獻予以表揚; 促進多元文化及社區之間的瞭解、尊重和共融。」
王會長對前聯邦參議員利德蕙博士及前緬省省督李紹麟博士長期以來出任獎項名譽贊助人，表示感謝。
晚會由His Majesty’s Canadian Ship York Band軍樂隊奏國歌，揭開序幕。 特邀表演嘉賓為著名歌唱家 Ruth Ann Onley (已故前安省省督David C. Onley 的夫人), 她與來自躍鈴舞蹈藝術中心的十多位活潑舞者一起呈獻經典名曲 “The Sound of Music”，歌舞精湛，為盛會平添歡樂姿彩。
籌委會共同主席顏惠霞律師說：「今年『紅楓傳奇』欣逢銀禧，這重要里程碑實在值得珍視歡慶。在過去25年，這個獎項表彰了百多位傑出的加國華人，他們在逆境中將挑戰轉化為成就、激勵他人將夢想變為現實、並為大家建立更美好世界。今屆大會以『 銀禧共勉締傳奇 』為主題，继往開來，表揚對社會貢獻良多的卓越人士。期盼今屆得獎人的動人故事，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。回首過去，我們喜悦感恩；展望將來，我們昂首濶步，期盼迎來更多精彩傳奇。」
另一位籌委會共同主席歐陽健昌表示：「『紅楓傳奇』25周年是重要的里程碑，我們不僅慶祝今年獲獎者的非凡成就，也慶祝過去25年所有獲獎者的傳奇。雖然今年獲獎人各有獨特的故事，但他們都展現了堅韌不拔、慷慨大度以及服務他人的精神，使他們成為我們社區中傑出的領袖和模範，其影響力遠遠超出他們的個人成就。期望他們卓越的榜樣，能激勵未來世代，傳承這令人自豪的精神。」
甄選委員會主席關保衛(資深特許會計師)表示:「『紅楓傳奇』的評選標準與時並進。我們的甄選委員會不斷聆聽社區的意見並汲取經驗，以確保評選過程保持嚴謹、客觀和公正，使我們能夠選出真正傑出的人士。今年的甄選委員會由20名成員組成，其中包括15位前獲獎者和5位來自『紅楓傳奇協會』的代表。經過深入討論和全面評估，我們為六個獎項選出了實至名歸的得獎者。」
為了保存並分享歷屆合共154位獲獎者的精彩人生故事，自2000年以來，大會已出版了25輯《紅楓傳奇》專書。
編輯委員會主席蕭顯揚說：「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。紅楓傳奇人物的每個故事，都構成華人在加國奮鬥史的一部份。把這些故事編製成書，是神聖的使命，也是研究加國華人社區發展的重要參考資料。編委會今年有非常優秀的編寫團隊，包括金綺文、黎曉玫、楊芮和王蕙芳撰寫人物專訪; 鍾蕙蘭擔任行政編輯和何湯淑芬擔任製作編輯。獲獎者的故事既獨特又深刻。」
各輯專書已獲加拿大和香港的多間大學圖書館收藏。其中大部份內容已由多倫多大學進行數位化，納入其線上圖書館，目前在世界各地均可瀏覽。
營運委員會主席陳偉才補充道：「『紅楓傳奇協會』一直積極參與社區工作。我們希望獲獎者的勵志故事激勵更多年輕人追求卓越、服務社會，共同建設更美好的未來。」
晚會在 Ruth Ann Onley 優美動人的歌聲中圓滿結束，她演唱了 “We Are The People of The Maple Leaf” (由已故前安省省督 David C. Onley 作詞）—— 這首震撼人心的壓軸歌曲，彰顯了紅楓傳奇的精神，令獎項的銀禧歡慶盛典倍添意義。
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之一，透過電視、電台、數位平台和出版刊物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等籌款，籌得善款高達六千萬元。
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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。
(洪文興於2026年3月29日離世)
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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。曾獲女皇金禧獎章、女皇鑽禧獎章、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。