JEAN LUMB FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES the 28th ANNIVERSARY of The JEAN LUMB AWARDS with 17 WINNERS FROM ACROSS CANADA
From city to city, step by step, the Jean Lumb Awards winners are growing across Canada. This year's winners represent the bright minds and passions of young Canadians across the country. The winners are from communities nationwide, including 7 recipients from Ontario (Markham, Oakville, St. Catharines, Toronto), 6 recipients from British Columbia (Burnaby, Coquitlam, Langley, Vancouver, Victoria), 3 recipients from Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton), and 1 recipient from Quebec (Montreal).
The winners exemplify the dreams and ambitions of today's youth, from hackathon winners developing new apps to dedicated athletes with dreams of Olympic glory for Canada.
In athletics, Simone Huang from Montreal is a Canadian badminton champion, Virginia Cai from Calgary is an international Wushu champion, and Pippa Soyka Rozendaal from St. Catharines excels in rowing.
In music, Maeya Zheng is our contrabass performer, and Adrian Cham is a piano virtuoso, both from Markham.
Innovating for the future is a common theme, with Alexander Leung from Burnaby, Daisy Zhang from Toronto, Liam Pope-Lau from Victoria, and Aveline Gu from Oakville, all creating new ideas, applications and products for a better society.
There is no shortage of future leaders in healthcare, as exemplified by Janelle Wai from Edmonton, Annie Cai from Kitsilano, and Melissa Chau from Markham.
Finally, future community voices will be strong with Erick Yang from Calgary, Rianna Panuelos from Calgary, Angela Cheng from Langley, Caryl Szeto from Coquitlam, and Emmi Ping DuMont from Toronto.
"I want to congratulate this year's winners and welcome them as Jean Lumb Award alumni," said Arlene Chan, eldest daughter of Jean Lumb and President of the Jean Lumb Foundation. "Their fresh energy and ideas will serve our communities positively for generations. Also, I would like to thank our judging panel, who, year after year, invest many hours in reviewing the hundreds of applications from students across Canada. Finally, I can never say thanks enough to our many sponsors who make the awards possible, particularly the University of Toronto Scarborough, which has one of our longest-serving sponsors."
The Jean Lumb Foundation celebrates 28 years of awarding scholarships to recognize excellence in students of Chinese heritage from across Canada. Since the awards' inception in 1998, over 173 award alumni have worked in their chosen fields and made positive contributions to our communities. They work as lawyers, medical doctors, entrepreneurs, engineers, graphic artists, educators, accountants, artists, performers, dentists, and much more across Canada, as far north as Nunavut, and worldwide.
The Jean Lumb Awards celebrate the hopes and dreams of the early generations of Chinese Canadians, whose hard work and sacrifice paved the way for today's generations. Jean Lumb was the first Chinese Canadian woman to receive the Order of Canada for her tireless community work as a voice and advocate for Chinese communities across Canada.
The 28th Annual Jean Lumb Awards is to be held on Sunday, October 26, 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT, at Xinflix Media, 421 Bentley Street, Unit 8, Markham, Ontario.
Media are welcome to request advance interviews via videoconferencing or on October 26, before the Jean Lumb Awards ceremony at 11:30 a.m.
The 2025 Jean Lumb Award winners:
2025 AWARD RECIPIENTS – UNIVERSITY
E. Ling Kwong Family Medicine Award
Janelle Wai
Upon completion of her BSc in Kinesiology, MSc in Physical Therapy, and Doctor of Medicine, Janelle continues her studies at the University of Alberta in Family Medicine Residency. As a recipient of numerous awards in medical and other fields, including sustainability, innovation, and outreach, she has extensive experience in research, publishing papers, educational leadership, and community engagement as a student clinician and mentor. She maintains her avid interest in climbing, volleyball, baking, video blogging, and piano.
E. Ling Kwong Athletics Award
Simone Huang
Simone is ranked as the #1 Canadian badminton athlete in Girls' Singles and Mixed Doubles. Her accomplishments earned her a spot on Team Canada, during which time she competed at the 2024 Badminton World Junior Championship, as well as the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2024 Junior Pan Am Badminton Championships. She was the youngest badminton athlete to represent Team Quebec at the 2023 Canada Games, among many other medal-winning championships. Her elite athletic performance is no small feat for someone who overcame challenging hardships and illness in her family.
Simone's goal is to represent Canada at the Olympic Games. She is enrolled in Health Sciences at Collège Boise-de-Boulogne, Montreal.
2025 AWARD RECIPIENTS – SECONDARY/HIGH SCHOOL
University of Toronto Scarborough Academics Award
Annie Cai
Kitsilano S.S., Kitsilano, BC
Throughout her high school years, Annie has prioritized maintaining academic excellence while also challenging herself. Because her school only offered 2 AP classes, she took it upon herself to study other subjects and earned the AP Scholar with Distinction award in Grade 11. She also wrote the SAT, where she scored a 1560 in August 2024. She has taken two college-level classes at UCLA and was accepted into the Yale Young Global Scholars program. She grew interested in neuroscience and participated in Pioneer Academic's Spring Term as a research student. Her interest in medicine has led to a clinical research volunteer position with BC Children's Hospital. Annie's academic standing reflects her work ethic, while her research achievements showcase her passion and dedication for neuroscience and medicine.
Annie is studying neuroscience at UC Berkley, CA.
University of Toronto Scarborough Entrance Award
Melissa Chau
Markville Secondary School, Markham, ON
Throughout her high school years, Melissa made continuous efforts to improve her community through awareness campaigns, supports and projects. She served as President of the Markville Secondary School Equity Club and as a member of the school's Health and Wellness Team. Initiatives included an anti-vaping campaign, a Heritage Month social media campaign, and awareness about positive mental health. Her community work included volunteering as a Reading Buddy and working as a camp counsellor. She continues to work on empowering students to build a more inclusive community.
Melissa is enrolled in the Health Sciences program at the University of Toronto Scarborough.
University of Toronto Scarborough Entrance Award
Maeya Zheng
Markville Secondary School, Markham, ON
Music has been a driving force for Maeya since elementary school through to high school. Music has made a significant contribution to her life, building her resilience through collaborations on challenging pieces. As a contrabass performer in award-winning orchestras or a member of choral ensembles and theatre productions, she has been inspired to uplift others, whether as a mentor to support her peers or as a collaborator to foster connections. Her goal is not only to master an instrument but also to learn how to harmonize individual passions to create something greater.
Maeya is studying Life Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough.
University of Toronto Scarborough Entrance Award
Angela Cheng
Walnut Grove Secondary School, Langley, BCAngela has had a long-time passion for environmental sustainability and engineering. She served as a team member to design a plan for Langley's urban development. She pursued her interest in Formula 1-level race cars and learned about the importance of innovation in engineering projects to optimize race car components. As a tutor and volleyball mentor, she refined her skills in leadership, communication, and strategies for various learning styles and techniques.
Angela is enrolled at the University of Toronto Scarborough in Applied Sciences.
Chung-Kotcheff Family Arts Award
Adrian Chan
St. Augustine Catholic High School, Markham, ONSince he first began playing the piano at the age of six, music has shaped Adrian's life, developing him into a disciplined pianist and a passionate, determined performer. His talent has taken him to local festivals, then beyond to the Musikverein in Vienna, the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and finally to Carnegie Hall in New York. He remembers struggling with Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G Minor, but hours of patient, slow practice prepared him to perform it at Carnegie Hall. Music is meant to be shared and holds the power to evoke emotions. Aspiring to give back to the community, he has performed at school fundraisers and intends to continue using music to support meaningful causes, creating a positive impact.
Adrian continues his studies at St. Augustine Catholic High School in Markham.
Dorothy and Jung Shao Lu Community Services Award
Emmi Ping DuMont
St Joseph's Morrow Park Catholic Secondary School, Toronto, ON
When Emmi was 13 months old, she was left in a shopping area in a cardboard box and taken to an orphanage in Chongqing, China, and then diagnosed in Toronto with a rare respiratory disease. She has joined the SickKids Foundation as an Ambassador/All-Star, participating in initiatives such as Slices for Smiles, 100,000 Hugs for SickKids, Powering Holiday Smiles, the Get Better Gifts Catalogue, and the SickKids VS video campaigns. She sits on the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Youth Advisory Council and, in 2021, applied for and led three School Grants from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Since age 11, she has volunteered at Lansing United's Nearly New Shop. She received the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award in 2025, the Merit Award Bursary in 2024, and the Toronto Catholic District School Board Student Achievement Award in 2024. Emmi remains committed to addressing health and social inequities in the community as reflected in her acceptance into the degree program Health & Society at York University.
Emmi is studying Health and Society at York University.
Murphy & Chung Chartered Accountants Athletics Award
Pippa Soyka Rozendaal
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, St. Catharines, ON
Pippa started rowing at school at 14, competing in the Ontario Ergometer Championships. At 16, she earned bronze in the Junior Women's Single. She is a Chinese adoptee and only 5'2" tall, when height is key in rowing recruitment. In 2022, she placed first in the Junior Women's Eight, Four, and Double. She placed second in the Junior Women's Eight, Four, and Double at the International Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. In 2023, she placed fourth in the Senior Women's Quad in Boston and won gold in Philadelphia. In 2024, she won the Lovey Farrell Cup and silver in the Senior Women's Double. At the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, she won bronze in the Women's Four, competing against 22-year-olds while she was only 17. Pippa's Chinese family is from Yunyang County on the Yangtze River; she believes that water and watersports are in her blood.
Pippa is studying Biomedical Sciences, as well as the Honours and Pre-Medical programs, at Canisius University, Buffalo, New York. She will continue her athletics on the D1 women's rowing team.
Choi King and John C. Mah Memorial Innovation Award
Liam Pope-Lau
St. Michael's University School, Victoria, BC
In 2019, Liam began developing LifeHeat, a self-heating survival pack designed to increase survivability in cold water emergencies, and received the Blue Ocean International Competition First Place Award for his invention. In May of 2024, he was recognized as an Ingenious+ National Award Winner by the Rideau Hall Foundation and given a special invitation to attend the Governor General's Innovation Awards Ceremony at Rideau Hall. In November 2022, he was named Innovator of the Year by the Science Fair Foundation of BC for this invention, and he was also voted the winner of the 2022 People's Choice Young Innovator Award as the most popular science innovation. He has also earned notable awards, including the Rotary Club of Victoria Award for Environmental Excellence (2023), the ASHRAE Distinction Award (2023), and the Excellence Award for Engineering and Geoscience (2022). He was named a finalist in the 2025 International Youth Innovation Challenge as the only finalist from North America.
Liam continues his studies at St. Michael's University School in Victoria, BC.
AMI Wealth Group Dignity of Life Award
Aveline Gu
Oakville Trafalgar High School, Oakville, ONAveline is a MEDLIFE student executive and the creator of the Care Machine. She has been travelling to low-income communities around the world to improve healthcare knowledge and practices. This is done through mobile clinics in rural towns, where living conditions remain stubbornly below a humane standard. Her greatest achievements are in education, teaching children about self-care and personal hygiene. Inspired by her trips, she proposed to install medicalized vending machines in rural communities: the Care Machine. She is a winner of the 2024-2025 school year's Optimist Essay Contest of Oakville. She has volunteered at a pediatric clinic in Oakville. Aveline learns continuously about the people and the profession of medicine, and follows this path to build dignity where it is absent and to restore it where it has weakened.
Aveline is enrolled in Life Science at the University of Toronto.
Kwai Chun Wong Award of Excellence
Alexander Leung
Moscrop Secondary School, Burnaby, BC
In 2023, Alex won the CyberPatriot Platinum Award in a national cybersecurity competition. At Hackathons, he built Tuki, an AI app that connects charities with donors. Its smart system matches groups, such as linking food banks with grocery sponsors, and raises $500 in beta tests. He also created AI Genius Learner, an AI tool for custom study questions. Alex worked as an IT assistant, earning him a Computer Engineering offer and a Major Access Award Scholarship in April 2025. He founded Moscrop's E-Recycling Club in February 2024 and organized the 3-Day E-Recycling Day (June 2024). His Instagram and Twitter campaigns educated 100 people about the dangers of e-waste, while three workshops helped change the habits of 100 students. Alex's ambition drives him to solve bigger problems. Computer technology is his chosen path to change lives, one code at a time.
Alex is enrolled at Queen's University to study Computer Engineering.
Fay and John Wong Defence of the Environment Award
Caryl Szeto
Gleneagle Secondary School, Coquitlam, BC
Caryl began volunteering at the Hyde Creek Watershed Society at the age of 11, driven by her interest in environmental sciences. As a volunteer at the hatchery, she stewards the salmon, educates the public, gives tours of the facilities, trains new members and collaborates with like-minded individuals. The educational aspect of the hatchery is one of her most important jobs. At the hatchery, she collects data on fish and invertebrate species in the local watershed. She also represents and mentors youth at workshops and research meetings. Caryl volunteers at the Future Science Leaders program at Science World's Girls in STEAM events. After graduation, Caryl plans to study environmental sciences at Simon Fraser University. Her experiences at the hatchery fostered her love for the environment and sparked her hopes of becoming an environmental scientist.
Caryl is enrolled in Environmental Science at Simon Fraser University, BC.
Ample Ace Holdings Ltd Innovation in Technology Award
Daisy Zhang
Georges Vanier Secondary School, Toronto, ON
Daisy constructed sustainable wooden structures and a disc golf course, and also designed benches for Heart Lake Conservation Park to align with the community's needs, utilizing a Miroboard and SketchUp to incorporate bike storage. At the Jamhacks hackathon, she created a website called Bin to Bite, which aims to help individuals and families who cook for themselves use all their available ingredients to minimize food waste and maximize meals. She has also prototyped a design for affordable vertical garden planter kits that can save space while growing plants and vegetables in urban homes. She enjoys combining engineering and sustainability to solve problems and actively participates in her school's robotics and eco-club, the engineering programs at local conservation parks, and the GEM mentorship program. Her dream is to be an engineer using technology to create new innovations that help others and improve sustainability.
Daisy is enrolled in Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo.
Jeffrey W. Lem and Susan Chong Lem Leadership Award
Erick Yang
Sir Winston Churchill High School, Calgary, AB
Erick became the youngest and only public school champion of the 2023 World Individual Debate and Public Speaking Championships. His Atlas initiative created an online tournament that welcomed over 300 debaters from coast to coast, channelling $7,500 to UNICEF Canada and other charities. As in-person gatherings resumed, he helped Churchill's debate crew transform Atlas into Alberta's largest annual tournament. At the 2023 World Schools Debating Championships, he tabulated ballots for 50 teams as the youngest tab director ever, leading a legendary team through the disruptions of Typhoon Talim. Erick was invited to speak at the Ceremony Marking the 100th Anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act. He recognizes that adaptability and calm resolve light the way through any storm.
Erick is studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Western University with a specialization in Economics.
Foon Hay Lum Commemorative Award for Overcoming Adversity
Virginia Cai
Sir Winston Churchill High School, Calgary, AB
Virginia was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 10, and her doctors warned that the physical demands of high-level Wushu would be too much. Instead, she competed the following year at the World Junior Wushu Championships, earning a silver medal for Team Canada. Since then, she has held the national #1 ranking in her division and has gone on to represent Canada four times internationally. As a coach at the Calgary TaiChi and Martial Arts College, she has led teams to the Can-Am International Wushu Championships for three consecutive years. In 2023, her students earned six Grand Champion titles, and in 2024, two Grand Champions and one All-Around Champion. This year, her team came back with 6 grand champions. Virginia hopes to demonstrate that resilience means choosing to rise and to help others rise with youVirginia is studying Economics at the University of British Columbia.
Marilyn Lee Journalism and Communications Award
Rianna Panuelos
STEM Innovation Academy, Calgary, AB
As a Project Lead at the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association, Rianna led a campaign aimed at raising awareness about family violence. She managed every aspect of the project, from budgeting and organizing to hosting and promoting. She created a podcast that explored the impact of family violence on individuals and families, its social consequences, and resources to help those affected. Through this work, she learned how powerful storytelling and media make a difference in people's lives. As a Student Apprentice with the Creative Destruction Lab in 2023, she had the eye-opening opportunity to see how start-ups pitch their ideas to investors, which piqued her interest in digital media and storytelling.
Rianna is pursuing a Bachelor of Journalism and Digital Media at Mount Royal University in Calgary, AB.
A Pioneer Chinese Canadian Woman
Jean Lumb (nee Wong), one of twelve children, was born in Nanaimo, BC. She left school at the age of 12 to work and support her family. In 1935, she moved to Toronto and opened her own grocery store at the age of 18. She married Doyle Lumb, her husband of 50 years. The mother of six children, grandmother of nine grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren, Jean Lumb, was the co-owner and director of the Kwong Chow Restaurant in Toronto for 23 years.
Jean Lumb was the first Chinese Canadian woman and the first restaurateur to receive the Order of Canada for her tireless community work. Most notably, she was recognized for her pivotal role in changing Canada's immigration laws that separated Chinese families and for her contribution to saving Chinatowns in Toronto and other cities. She achieved additional firsts in the community:
First Chinese woman on the board of governors of the Women's College Hospital
First Chinese woman on the board of University Settlement House
First Chinese restaurateur and first woman to receive the Fran Deck Award for outstanding achievement in Toronto's restaurant industry
First Chinese Canadian woman to sit on the Board of Rotary Laughlen Centre
Through her life, we get a glimpse of the history of Chinese Canadians in Canada. She represents generations of Chinese Canadians whose hard work and sacrifice made it possible for the present generation to enjoy the benefits they have today. Learn more about the Jean Lumb story at jeanlumbfoundation.ca.