Gala awards to celebrate top Asian Canadians

OTTAWA (April 27, 2009) - The AsiaNetwork Asian of the Year Awards, to be held May 6th on Parliament Hill, counts Adrienne Clarkson and Sandra Oh among its finalists this year. But also nominated in a newly created category is former prime minister Jean Chretien.

There are fifteen distinguished finalists in five categories, including a category for Canadians of any descent who have made significant contributions to Asia Canada relations. The finalists represent a broad spectrum of Canadian society, from doctors to social workers, Muslims to Christians, Vancouverites to Torontonians.

Awards Chairperson the Hon. Sheila Copps said gala event has grown bigger and faster than anyone could have imagined when it began just three short years ago. She expects with this year’s lineup, along with 200 or more invited guests that include MPs and senators, Asian ambassadors and others, the Asian of the Year Awards will no doubt live up to its name as Canada’s only national awards program for Asian Canadians.

“The quality of nominees is phenomenal again this year,” Ms. Copps said. “This year’s group of finalists will go a long way to attracting notoriety to these awards across the country.”

Ms. Copps said the awards are important because they link mainstream Canada with a flourishing and diverse segment – Asian Canadians. The awards not only showcase the contributions made by Asian Canadians, she said, but the event spreads awareness about the cultural and economic contributions being made to bolster Canada’s position in the world.

AsiaNetwork Magazine created and continues to oversee the event. Publisher Elizabeth Yeh agrees with Ms. Copps that interest in Asian Canadian communities is growing, but she is also in it for very personal reasons.

“Immigrants like me are grateful to Canada for being an open, multicultural and equal society. The awards are in part to say thank you for that,” said Ms. Yeh. “But I also have two children myself, and second generation Canadians need role models for guidance and inspiration.”

The awards started modestly to give recognition to unsung heroes featured in the magazine, a general interest publication available across the country at Chapters/Indigo, Yeh said. But some well known Asian Canadians and Canadians from other backgrounds who also fit the mold of “role model.”

Dr. Ken Hiu-Ming Ng is one of those role models. A finalist in the Volunteerism category, Dr. Ng said the awards can prove a valuable networking tool for likeminded people.

 “It seems to me that this is a way for us as finalists to work together, to know that we act as role models for others,” he said. “This nomination is encouragement for me to continue to provide services in the Asian community. It is also something special for a person of Asian origins to be recognized in this way, on Parliament Hill.”

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Media Contact: Karen Keskinen

Tel. 613.355.8596 or Karen.Keskinen@rci.rogers.com