Todd Wong named BC Community Achievement Award recipient for 2008
a) Todd Wong in Kitsilano b) 2007 BC Book Prize Soiree with Vancouver Poet Laureate George McWhirter c) 2006 Canadian Club Vancouver “Order of Canada/Flag Day luncheon with Staff Sergeant Constable Bob Underhill and author Joy Kogawa d) CBC Newsworld taping during the Chinese head tax redress campaign.
“It’s a great honour to be chosen,” says fifth generation Vancouverite
Todd Wong. “I hope that my activities can help inspire more people to become
active in their communities, and help make a difference. I love
community service. It’s a great way to help shape the world we want to
live in. I am indebted to the many community organizers that have both
helped to mentor and support me.”
“To save the Joy Kogawa
House was something that had to be done, just like righting the racial
injustice of the Chinese head tax. But along the way, I have been
blessed to meet wonderful people and organizations such as the Terry
Fox Run Foundation, Canadian Club Vancouver, Chinese Canadian
Historical Society of BC, Chinese Canadian National Council and Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop.”
“It’s certainly worthwhile knowing that my contributions touch people,
in helping to make Canada a more racially tolerant place. It was
amazing to learn about the challenges and racism that my ancestors and elders faced
while we made the CBC documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy. I know
that it is a tribute to my family ancestors and a legacy to our younger
generations.”
From the March 13th press release from BC Achievement Foundation:
recipients of the fifth annual BC Community Achievement Awards by
Premier Gordon Campbell and Keith Mitchell, chair of the British
Columbia Achievement Foundation.
“As British Columbia celebrates its 150 anniversary this year, we
recognize the strength of our province is founded in the spirit, ideas
and passion of our people,” said Campbell. “It is a privilege to
acknowledge the efforts of these individuals who work for the
betterment of our communities and our entire province.” “These
individuals have shared the most valuable of today’s commodities, their
time and compassion and, in doing so, have positively contributed to
their communities.” added Mitchell. “We’re honoured to celebrate the
contributions of these exceptional British Columbians.”The recipients of the 2008 awards are listed: http://www.bcachievement.com/community/2008/
Todd Wong is actively involved in many community endeavors:
Historic Joy Kogawa House Society
– founding President
–
helped spearhead campaign to save author Joy Kogawa’s childhood home
from demolition and turn it into a historical and literary landmark for
Vancouver
Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop
(publishers of Ricepaper magazine)
Co-president (2nd vice-president 2000-2005)
– helped create ACWW Community Dinners
– promote Asian Canadian arts and culture
Canadian Club Vancouver
– board member
– help plan and organize events
Chinese Canadian Head Tax Redress campaign
– worked with committees and blogged events
Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC
– contributed to short story/recipe anthology Eating Stories: A Chinese-Canadian and Aboriginal Pot Luck
Terry’s Team member since 1993, Terry Fox Run Foundation
– Cancer survivors who speak at Terry Fox Runs
– Todd has spoken at Terry Fox Runs and elementary schools in Metro Vancouver and Kelowna
Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
– served on Race Committee 2001-2003
– helped developed Public Paddle sessions in 2006
Vancouver Taiwanese International Dragon Boat Race
– helped co-found in 2003
– servied on CCC Dragon Boat Association 2003-2004
Simon Fraser University Gung Haggis Fat Choy Festival
– helped co-found in 2005
– helped co-found Terry Fox Day in 1994 and Terry Fox Run at SFU.
featured in 2007 CBC Documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy
– Rev. Chan Yu Tan arrived in Canada in 1896,
– Todd was consultant and one of the Chan descendants interviewed.
featured in 2004/2005 CBC Vancouver television performance special Gung Haggis Fat Choy
– based on Todd’s Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner
Coach and manage Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team
–
featured in television documentaries for Paris 3, French public
television and ZDF, German public television + CBC documentary
Generations: The Chan Legacy + CBC Newsworld.
Created GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
Served over 400 people in 2008. Interviewed by international media,
including BBC Radio Scotland and Sunday Post. Annual dinner event
started in 1998, with 16 people and grown into fundraiser event for Joy
Kogawa House, ACWW and Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.
PAST AWARDS:
Vancouver Heritage Award of Honour:
City of Vancouver, February 25, 2007
Outstanding Alumni Contributor:
Simon Fraser University Recreation Department, April 2005
Terry Fox Gold Medal Award:
Simon Fraser University, June 1993.
President’s Citizenship Award
Capilano College, May 1989.