Order of Canada recipients for 2005 were named last week.  I am happy to say that I have met Wayson Choy, Dr. Wallace Chung, and Alexina Louie, all prominent Chinese Canadians with strong Vancouver family connections.

Dr. Wallace Chung was named for his contributions in philanthropy, such as the Wallace Chung Collection at UBC Library.  He has also made significant contributions to the Vancouver Maritime Museum and the Chinese Cultural Centre.
Our paths significantly crossed with the moment of my birth, as I was delivered by Dr. Madeline Chung, wife of Dr. Wallace.  In 1986, Dr. Wallace Chung was chair of the Chinese Cultural Centre and helped to open the Salt Water City exhibit, celebrating Vancouver's centenial with 100 years of Chinese Canadian history ( I worked on the organizing committee).  Dr. Chung has an active interest in Chinese Canadian history, and has a wonderful slide show presentation that was featured at the Vancouver Public Library in 2002 as part of a program I created called "Stories from Chinatown II" for the One Book One Vancouver program featuring Wayson Choy's novel Jade Peony.  "Wally" is an incredible person, generous of spirit and enthusiasm.

Wayson Choy grew up in Vancouver, and in 2002 his first novel The Jade Peony was the inaugural selection for Vancouver Public Library's award winning program One Book One Vancouver, for which summer long programming tries to make the book come alive.  I was on the inaugural OBOV committee, and helped to program lots of events throughout the summer and integrating it with Asian Heritage Month celebrations.  We also created the inaugural Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop "Community Builders" dinner featuring Wayson, fellow writer Paul Yee, and Chinatown News founder Roy Mah. "Gracious" is the word I always use to describe Wayson.  Oh... we also organized a "Dim Sum with Wayson Choy and friends" event that turned into a bit of a roast - very heart touching.  His latest Novel "All That Matters" was nominated for the Giller Prize in 2004.

Alexina Louie is one of Canada's premier musical composers.  I have known her father Alec since I was a little boy.   Louie family owned busineses were prominent in Vancouver's Chinatown.  Her father managed the Le Kiu food store, while her uncle Victor managed the Marco Polo Restaurant.  My  sign painter father did signs for both businesses.  I met Alexina at a conference around 1985 about Asians and First Nations people in the Arts.  Her composition The Ringing Earth, was premiered at the opening gala concert for Expo 86 in Vancouver.  She has won many many awards and is a leading advocate for contemporary music, while she still finds ways to incorporate her Chinese heritage into her music and identity.

Oh... and one of my favourite musicians was also nominated.  I have every Diana Krall album.  She isn't Chinese Canadian, but she was born and raised in Nanaimo BC, where my great-great-grandfather was pastor of the Chinese United Church.  Okay... it's a tenuous connection.