The first International Women Champions Award
Hosted by the Canadian Youth Champions network (CYC), the first International Women Champions Award was held at 10 a.m. on March 2 in downtown Markham, selecting those in innovation, technology, and community service. Recognize and award outstanding women in fields such as art, business and public service.
CYC founder Linda Zhang said that this year is the first International Women of Distinction Award. The main reason is that with the advent of International Women's Day on March 8, it is held to praise and recognize the contributions of these women in Canadian society.
Linda Zhang saidThis year is the first International Women Champions Award! As we approach International Women's Day in March, the Canadian Youth Champions network, consisting of 100,000 youth and families across the GTA, with 70% being female, seeks to honor female seniors from diverse industries. These women serve as role models for our young girls. There are: Woman STEM and Arts Award, Entrepreneur Award, and Community Service Award at the event. There should be 100 youth and medias attending. We sincerely hope that you will be able to join us in person for this special occasion.
Vivienne Poy, who received the International Women of Distinction Award for Lifetime Contribution, said, "This event is indeed a great honor for me, especially when I am recognized by our young people. The host organization's Canadian Distinguished Youth Network is composed of a group of It is particularly meaningful to pay attention to the youth composition of the community.
Vivienne Poy said that he hopes that young people will continue to learn, participate in volunteer services and establish connections and good relationships with people from different ethnic groups. In addition, young people must not be afraid of difficulties, and should be proud of being Canadian citizens and proud of their traditional inheritance.
Canadian Women Champions Award Winners:
1. 陳劉燕玲Doris Chan
2. 陳林煖碧Rosa Chan
3. 葉秀霞Piera Ip
4. 李巫楚雲Adda Li
5. 蕭美珍Nancy M Siew
6. 利德蕙Vivienne Poy
7. 王蕙芳Emily Wong
8. 阮眉（王婉美）Yuen May Wong
Doris Chan 陳劉燕玲 First Vice-Chair of the Mon Sheong Foundation. She has served at the Mon Sheong Foundation for over 30 years, and has dedicated much of her time to serving and volunteering for her community.
Rosa Chan 陳林煖碧 founded RC Communications, a consulting firm specializing in public relations and strategic outreach/marketing projects and events. She spent her professional career with the Toronto Public Library for 25 years up to her early retirement in 1994. Rosa is also a pioneer of the Chinese media in Canada, and the former producer of the Chinese radio programming of CHIN Radio/TV International. Rosa has made a significant contribution to the Chinese community, her fellow citizens and Canada. She is the Founder of the Golden Senior Celebration, Founding Member of the Toronto Public Library Foundation, Co-Founder of the Citizens for Safe Driving, and Founding President of the Community Policing Cadet.
Piera Ip 葉秀霞 STEM and Entrepreneurship Award Winner. Graduated with a biology degree from California State university. She is the owner of Progenics cord blood cryobank, Canada's premiere cryobank, serving Canadians for 20 years.
Adda Li 李巫楚雲 Adda Li, an immigrant from Hong Kong, has been in Canada for over 30 years. Alongside her husband David, she's been a restaurateur for almost three decades, offering authentic Chinese cuisine that feels like home through their chain of restaurants. Despite the challenges, she believes in the power of hospitality and human connections. As a proud wife, mother of three, and grandmother to toddler Hudson, Adda cherishes every moment. Gratitude and attention to detail are her keys to success.
Nancy M Siew 蕭美珍After Nancy’s early retirement from public service, she was appointed by the Governor-General in-Council in 2014 as a Citizenship Judge for a term of three years. She supported Asian Heritage Month celebrations with Then Senator Vivienne Poy in The Greater Toronto Area when the Federal initiative was introduced in the Senate. Nancy chairs several non-profit organizations; Tribute to Early Chinese Immigrants Canadian Foundation is her latest endeavour. From 2018 – 21 she was conferred the title of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Canadian Forces Military Police Academy. Having been a volunteer for over thirty years, Nancy was conferred the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medals by the Government of Canada and recently The Queen’s Platinum Medallion
Vivienne Poy 利德蕙 Dr. Vivienne Poy is an author, public speaker, historian, fashion designer, entrepreneur & community champion. She founded Vivienne Poy Mode in 1981, and over the following fourteen years enjoyed great success in fashion design, manufacturing, wholesale and retail. In 1998, she was the first Canadian of Asian descent to be appointed to the Senate of Canada where she focused on gender issues, multiculturalism, immigration, and human rights, and was instrumental in having May recognized as Asian Heritage Month across Canada. She worked tirelessly to amend our National Anthem to include “all of us”, which was eventually passed into law on Feb. 1, 2018. After her retirement from the Senate of Canada on September 17, 2012, she continues to be actively involved with academia and with communities across Canada.
Emily Wong 王蕙芳 Currently the Vice President of Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto (CCCGT) and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Alumni Association (Ontario)
Yuen May Wong 阮眉（王婉美） Yuen May, formerly known as Yuen May Wong , was born in Hong Kong in 1926. She is a famous Cantonese period music and Cantonese opera lyricist, and a member of Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong. In the 1970s, she began to write lyrics for Cantonese period songs. He collaborated with popular singers and won many gold records. Later, she changed her interest in writing Cantonese operas. She has collaborated with countless famous actors and her works are very popular, including "魂夢繞山河" And "七月七日長生殿" won the "CASH Golden Sail Award for the Most Widely Performed" by Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong in 1994 and 2002. At the age of 97, Yuan May still continues to create and will perform two Cantonese operas in Hong Kong in May
Caption Story
Conference co-chair Hayley Chai introduced Dr. Vivienne Poy
Guests attending the event
Winners share their feelings about winning the award
Volunteers discuss various work details
Volunteers worked hard for the award ceremony
Award ceremony site
Adda Li, one of the winners
One of the winners is Piera Yip and CYC Director Dr. Andrew Shuen
CYC founder Linda Zhang (first from right) takes a photo with volunteers and guests
Volunteers who care about community service
From left: Regional Councillor Alan Ho, Ms Wang Emily Wong, Ms Nancy M Siew and Ms Piera Yip
One of the award winners, Ms. Yuen May (second from left) and Ms. Nancy M Siew (second from right), take a photo with Ho Kar-let (first from left) and (Aubrey Leung).