We are excited to share with you the nominees for 2021 Asian Heritage Month:
Tina and Henry Wong – Community Advocates
Henry volunteers most of his time with The Children’s Breakfast Clubs and Diabetes Canada Toronto Chinese Chapter, promoting Diabetes awareness and education to the Chinese community in Toronto. Tina also worked at American Express as Secretary in the Data Processing Department for 4 years and later in the airline & hotel hospitality industry. Tina followed her passion for flowers and dedicated full time to her own flower shop
Wei Chih Lin – Entrepreneur
Wei Chi (Alan) Lin is a Taiwanese-Canadian. He is an entrepreneur, a mechanic, an advocate, a loving and caring husband, and a father. Speed may be his thing but safety will always be his priority. Taking racing off the street and promoting a proper safe motorsport environment is his mandate and mission. His enterprise, Lin’s Racing Group Ltd. not only offers world-class racing components but involves mentoring drivers about defensive driving, safe driving as well as high-performance driving. He also supports and coaches the young generation of motorsport enthusiasts via sponsorships and scholarships with professional training and team experience. He is a dedicated member of Canadian endurance racing leagues (LDRC) and a proud vice-president of the Taiwanese Canadian Association in Toronto.
Dr. Adrian Cheung – Immediate Past Chairman, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto
Adrian Cheung is an accomplished leader with more than 30 years of solid experience in the financial industry. Currently a senior executive with L-Can Group, he previously worked for BMO Financial Group as director of Asian Banking overseeing more than 100 culturally focused branches in marketing planning and execution. Over the course of his career, Adrian has established a proven track record that demonstrated his ability to translate strategies into action and achieving organizational goals. Adrian is the recipient of the “Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal,” awarded by the Governor-General of Canada. Besides serving on the CCC Board, he is also a trustee for the CPAC Foundation and Vice-President for the Toronto International Piano Competition. Adrian holds a DBA and MBA degrees and is a highly regarded and accomplished musician as well
Peter Yuen – Deputy Chief, Toronto Police Services
As a senior police leader with the largest municipal police service in Canada, Deputy Chief Peter Yuen is currently in charge of Community Safety Command which provides proactive and reactive public safety services and programs in partnership with diverse communities and key stakeholders. As Deputy Chief, Peter is responsible for all front-line policing and oversees 12 districts consisting of 16 divisions in the City. He is also in charge of Field Services which encompasses the Toronto Police Operations Centre, Communications Services, Traffic Services, Parking Enforcement, Public Safety Response Team and the Community Partnerships & Engagement Unit. Peter is most proud of the meaningful partnerships he has developed and expanded that are most relevant to the heart of the community, including the Neighbourhood Community Officer Program and the expansion of the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team Program. Peter has received numerous awards including the following internal and external awards
Sandra Yeung Racco, Ward 4 Councillor
Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco was first elected in 2003 and is currently the longest-serving Asian female politician in the City of Vaughan and York Region. Now entering into her fifth term on Vaughan Council, she has been a driving force in bringing vital services to her constituents. Additionally, she has played an integral role in arts and cultural initiatives, addressing the needs of youth and seniors, advocating for strong comprehensive development, and collaborating with various levels of government to get much-needed infrastructure in place, including the opening of the subway into the City of Vaughan in December 2017. In her current term as a City Councillor, Sandra sits as Chair of the Economic Prosperity Task Force and Vice-Chair of both the Smart City Advisory Task Force and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Committee. She continues to work with residents, businesses and stakeholders to develop a vision of what a Smart City would mean for the City of Vaughan, and she has also participated in a number of trade missions to Asia to nurture international business relationships and advance mutually beneficial economic growth. Sandra holds accountability high on her agenda, serving on the Audit Committee as well. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Ontario, Sandra obtained her A.R.C.T. at the Royal Conservatory of Music and graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Following graduation, the Councillor ventured into the world of international business relations, complimented with extensive volunteer work with local non-profit and diverse community organizations.
Website: 4mycommunity.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/raccoscommunityforum
Twitter: @4mycommunity
Instagram: @councilloryeungracco
Raymond Kang – Firefighter
Raymond Kang is a second-generation Korean and is married for 11 years with 2 boys. He is proudly Vegan for 1.5 years. He is an Artillery Soldier (Reserves) with the 7th Toronto Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery. His service to the community continues as 6 years Peace Officer (3 x Toronto Police Constable, 3 x GO Transit Safety Officer). Vancouver Park Ranger (2012 Summer). He has been a Firefighter for the City of Toronto for 5 years as well as mentoring BIPOC for Fire Service Recruitment
Tibetan Women’s Association of Ontario
The Tibetan Women’s Association of Ontario (TWAO) is a non-profit community-based organization that has been operating in the Parkdale community for well over a decade. TWAO works to promote the social, political, and economic equality of Tibetan women in the diaspora community. TWAO has a history of public service and in the last year of the pandemic, the women of TWAO have stepped up and have shown true leadership tapping into the skills and resources of community members in producing non-surgical masks and caps for distribution among elders and frontline essential workers. As well, TWAO has led initiatives such as delivering food for seniors and organizing virtual weekly yoga classes
which have helped many members of the community. TWAO’s work has helped to increase residents’ social connections and has helped to build lasting connections and support in our community that will endure for years to come.
Dr. Joseph Y.K. Wong – Doctor and Community Advocate
Dr. Joseph Yu Kai Wong immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong in 1968 to study medicine at McGill, but was prevented from doing so due to degree restrictions on foreign students. (He later got his medical degree in New York). So when he saw a racist segment on CTV news show W5 in 1979 called “Campus Giveaway,” claiming Asian students were taking university spots away from white students, he became politicized. Wong not only led a successful Chinese-Canadian protest movement against CTV, but he also went on to become a leading advocate for human rights. That same year he started an organization to help settle Vietnamese Boat People in Toronto. In 1987 he founded the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care and a decade later he founded Toronto ALPHA to “seek justice for the victims” of the Rape of Nanking. He was named Man of the Year by the Toronto Star in 1986 and received the Order of Canada in 1993. In 2005, he was awarded a Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Red Cross.
Matt Chung – Composer & Restauranteur
Matthew Chung, an energetic active member of the Vietnamese Association, Toronto (VAT), is a Leo-nominated composer, ghostwriter, and restaurateur. His commercial works can be heard both domestically and internationally. Aside from writing music he owns Papa Ceo, a pizzeria restaurant located in downtown Toronto, which has been shared by some of the top food bloggers in Toronto. He is currently preoccupied with developing an Asian fusion frozen pizza line.
Jeff Kong – Firefighter
Jeff is a firefighter for Toronto Fire Services at station 324: “I’ve been on the job for nearly 2 years now and come in every day proud to represent both my Chinese and Dutch heritage in the community. Previously living in China for 2 Years has given me insight into different ways of life that people all over the world experience. In my free time, I enjoy practicing the saxophone, playing video games, and dragon boating on warm summer days.”
Noonie Southalack – Founder of LAOCAN
Noonie has always been proud of her heritage. Starting at a very young age she was always finding ways to share her Lao roots to anyone she met. Since given the opportunity in 2015 by the Lao Association of Ontario as the president of the Youth Chapter, she continued to bring awareness to Lao heritage through food, cultural dance and storytelling. She has led and participated in various cultural events organized by the Canadian Multicultural Council (CMC), Toronto Police, York Regional Police and local community leaders. In 2019 she founded LAOCAN an organization that promotes pride in their culture & strengthening their identity as Lao Canadians by empowering the community to come together. Along
with her team, LAOCAN also provides a platform for the younger generation to voice and discuss issues that will cultivate positive change for future generations. She has become a role model for the Lao community, actively working towards bridging the gap between generations.
Gopal Simon – Past President of the Malaysian Association of Canada
Gopal immigrated to Canada in 1967 and has been a very proud Canadian for the last 55 years. Currently, he is the President of Ipoh Construction. He is the proud father of 2 and grandfather of 4
Dr. Tulsi Dharel – Educator
Tulsi Dharel was born in the country of Mt. Everest in a middle-class family who moved to Canada in 2000 with his wife and son. He has obtained his Ph.D., in Marketing and holds Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Dr. Dharel is a dedicated and committed social person who carries 25+ years of experience in business development and social inclusiveness. Beginning of his career, he has always been consistent in different endeavors, including advocacy for professional newcomers and helping entrepreneurs to succeed in their goals. He himself comes from family background of business and social activism, which has also helped smooth guidance people in need. Besides his teaching profession, Dr. Dharel is actively involved in helping and guiding community-based local & national level Nepalese organizations by offering them his professional support, encouragement, and time. Currently, he holds a vice-president position of Canadian Multicultural Council, Vice-President of Association of Nepalese in the Americas, Coordinator for Concern-Nepal, Canada, And advisor to Nepalese Canadian Community Service.
Sid Kiyoshi Ikeda – Community Advocate
Chaired and participated in planning, organizing countless Fundraising events, walkathon, and ran racing events for charities for over 40 years. Ran five Marathons in my late 50’s and early 60’s. Continue to walk and run to raise funds for charity. Climbed CN Tower for United Way 5 Times. Received numerous awards for service to name a few, from Toronto City Council, Police Department, JCCC Awards, Momiji Health Care Society Awards, Charities, for example, Easter Seals, Hospitals, United Way, Yee Hong Wellness Foundation, etc.
Patricia Youn – Firefighter
Patti (연민경) has been a firefighter since 2016. She was born in Toronto to Korean parents and grew up with her two older brothers in the suburbs just outside the city. She completed a degree in Fashion Design at Ryerson in 2009 and worked for a number of mascot companies, constructing costumes and a few outerwear bag companies. Since then, she has done catering, farm work, retail, auto-sharing fleet work as well as bicycle messengering, dog grooming, and other odd jobs. Her interest in firefighting was piqued in 2012 when two firefighters knocked on her door for a neighborhood smoke alarm awareness campaign. She now works the best job in the world!
Heang Chhaya – TCBC Club Leader
Heang is the club leader for the Children’s Breakfast Club of Blacksmith Public School. It is her dedication and commitment to the club that has served over 6,000 meals. Heang is a passionate leader, mother of two who brings her loving parenting skills to the club. Where every child is recognized and made to feel part of the extended family She shares her culture with the children by introducing them to culturally reflective meals, both children and Heang learn from each other by sharing. Her quiet demure is reflected in the program and in her relationship with the children.
Alan Lam – Engineer
Mr. Alan Lam is a registered professional engineer in Ontario, as well as the proprietor and chairman of Greenvilla Homes. His fields of specialization include land acquisition and development, housing construction and building materials import and export trade. His buildings and land development projects throughout most of the city, Toronto, Markham, Pickering, Burlington, Ajax, Whitby, and Georgina. He joined the Board of Directors of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto since 2000. He served as the Chairman of the Construction Committee of the central building, assisted in the construction of the theatre and multi-purpose hall in phase II. He now serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and served as the Golf Tournament of Cultural Centre for eleven years, as well as the director of Cultural Centre Foundation. Mr. Alan Lam positively promotes and protects the traditional Chinese culture in Canada, and was awarded the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Volunteerism in 2010. Alan loves playing golf in his leisure time. He was pleased to see his two daughters and a son inherit his share of entrepreneurial spirit, integrity, and self-motivated and pride.
Angela Chan, President – Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto
Mrs. Angela Chan has been a volunteer of CCCGT since 2000. She was invited to join the board in 2006 to organize Special Events and has since become the President. Angela’s detail-oriented nature and resourcefulness have led her to become the backbone of CCC’s increasingly popular events. She is interested in music and different kinds of art performances. She is currently the Event Coordinator of DFC Auto Group, as well as a member in the Board of Governors of Mount Sinai Hospital and Serving Sister of St. John. She was awarded The Queen Elizabeth II, Diamond Jubilee Medal, in 2012.
Norma Carpio, President of PIDC
Being the longest sitting President of PIDC, she has been a member of CMC since the year 2000. Norma’s first contact who supported Mabuhay Philippines is Sid Ikeda. In addition to receiving the Balangay award, she is also the recipient of the Megaworld International Exemplary Global Achievement Award 2021. Recognized as the Ambassador for Peace by the Federation for Peace of the UN, she also one of the influential Filipina in the world by FAWN 2019, Diamond Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria by the Gov’t of Canada.
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