Chinatown Fiesta on July 26, 2025!

 

Join the ultimate Chinatown Fiesta: Sip tropical drinks, savor street tacos, and dance to live music—wear your Hawaiian shirt and celebrate summer before the fireworks light up the night!

Today in History 30 Years Ago -- Go-For-Broke Revue

 

In the fall of 1995, the Asian Canadian Performing Arts Resource (ACPAR), co-founded by Jim Wong-Chu, launched the Go-For-Broke Revue at Vancouver’s Firehall Arts Centre. This multi-day festival showcased Asian Canadian cultural performances and was an early milestone in celebrating Asian heritage in Canada. As a precursor to Asian Heritage Month, the Revue brought together artists, writers, and performers to build community and amplify the voices of Asian Canadians on stage.

The Riveter Book Launch with Jack Wang on July 6

Step into 1940s Vancouver and war-torn Europe through the pages of The Riveter, a powerful new novel by award-winning author Jack Wang. This sweeping love story follows a Chinese Canadian man who defies racism to fight in WWII—and to find his way back to the woman he loves. Don’t miss an afternoon of unforgettable storytelling, insightful conversation, and a book signing with the author.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jack Wang is the award-winning author of We Two Alone, a celebrated story collection exploring the Chinese diaspora. His work has received numerous accolades, including the Danuta Gleed Literary Award and recognition from Canada Reads, the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, and the Journey Prize. He has held fellowships internationally and remains a vital voice in Canadian literature.

Sunday, July 6, 2025
3:00 - 4:00 pm

Chinatown Storytelling Centre

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Registration

Announcing the Winner of the 2025 Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award -- Samantha Jade MacPherson

ACWW is proud to announce that the winner of the 2025 Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award is Samantha Jade MacPherson for her manuscript PONY, with Chyx Xyng named as the runner-up for the manuscript Letter A.

Samantha MacPherson's "Pony" captivated the judges with its imaginative storytelling, emotional depth, and evocative exploration of identity and belonging. MacPherson’s ability to craft compelling characters and vivid settings makes PONY a standout work. Interspersed with vignettes of Pony’s deceased mother’s point of view, the stories follow her through childhood, adolescence, and early motherhood to cover pivotal moments in her life.

Chyx Xyng’s "Letter A" earned runner-up honours. With its innovative narrative and striking use of language, Xyng’s composite novel comprises seven interwoven stories that explore gender dysphoria, forbidden love, and the acceptance of difference.

The Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award was created to continue Jim Wong-Chu’s legacy of supporting emerging voices in the literary community. Jim’s impact on Vancouver’s literary and cultural scene was immeasurable, and this award honours his spirit of identity, creativity, and community-building.

Quote from the Award Committee

“We were deeply impressed by Samantha MacPherson, whose work showcases immense talent and creativity. MacPherson captures a unique voice and demonstrates a command of language that promises a bright future in the literary world. The Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award seeks to give space to new voices like hers, and we are proud to see these promising writers recognized.”

Biography of Samantha Jade MacPherson
Samantha Jade Macpherson is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she studied fiction as a Patterson Fellow. She also holds a BFA in writing with a minor in environmental studies from the University of Victoria. Her writing has appeared in The Kenyon Review, The Fiddlehead, The Malahat Review, The New Quarterly, and Ricepaper Magazine. She was the winner of the 2018 Malahat Review Novella Prize, as well as the Jack Hodgins Founders’ Award for Fiction. In 2019, she was a finalist for the Writers’ Trust Journey Prize.  Her novel's manuscript, PONY, explores her biracial identity, self-estrangement, and maternal absence, as well as a collection of short stories.  Samantha can be found at www.samanthajademacpherson.com.

About the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award  

The Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award, established in honour of the late Jim Wong-Chu, an influential writer, poet, and community leader, celebrates the exceptional talents of emerging writers who contribute fresh voices and diverse perspectives to the literary landscape. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding work of writers beginning to make their mark in the literary world, supporting their journey and fostering their development.

The publisher will include an acknowledgement of the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writer Award in the finished book and on press releases and advertisements. Should a successful contract be concluded, the ACWW will help promote the book.

The jury consisted of Tariq Malik, an award-winning writer; Dr. Trevor Carolan, author and Professor Emeritus at the University of Fraser Valley; and Marlene Enns, editorial consultant and past board member of the ACWW.

For more information about the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award, please visit http://www.asiancanadianwriters.ca/p/emerging-writers-award.html

ACWW 30th Anniversary Dinner

 

Winners of the 2025 Community Builders Award: ACWW Honours Winnie Cheung, Larry Wong, and Bonnie Nish

The Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop (ACWW) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Community Builders Award, honouring individuals whose vision, advocacy, and tireless dedication have significantly advanced Asian Canadian arts and literature. This year’s honourees are Winnie Cheung, Larry Wong, and Bonnie Nish—each recognized for their extraordinary commitment to fostering inclusive cultural spaces and empowering marginalized voices.

Winnie Cheung has long been a driving force in Vancouver as an educator, curator, arts administrator, and champion of intercultural dialogue. Her leadership at organizations, including the Pacific Canada Heritage Centre Museum of Migration (PCHC-MoM), explorASIAN, and ACWW, has helped amplify underrepresented narratives in the arts, supporting generations of Asian diasporic artists.

Larry Wong, historian, writer, and community advocate, has been instrumental in preserving and sharing the stories of Chinese Canadians through decades of work. As a founding member of the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of British Columbia (CCHSBC) and the ACWW, and the author of Dim Sum Stories and the play Empress of Asia, Larry has used storytelling to challenge historical amnesia and inspire pride in community heritage. His mentorship and oral history work continue to influence emerging writers and researchers.

Bonnie Nish, Executive Director of Pandora’s Collective and Word Vancouver, is celebrated for her powerful vision in making literature accessible to all. Her work has broken down barriers to literary participation through initiatives such as prison writing workshops, poetry outreach programs, and community festivals. Bonnie’s leadership reflects a deep belief in the healing and connective power of the written word.

“These three remarkable individuals exemplify what it means to build community through words, action, and heart,” said Allan Cho, Executive Director of ACWW. “Their work not only uplifts Asian Canadian artists from underrepresented identities, but also creates space for the kind of storytelling that heals, teaches, and unites."

The Community Builders Award recognizes sustained, behind-the-scenes efforts that may not always make headlines but have profoundly shaped Canada's arts and literary landscape. The award presentation took place during the LiterASIAN Festival, where each winner was honoured for their legacy and continued impact.

About ACWW

The Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the development and recognition of Asian Canadian writers and artists. Through programming, advocacy, and community partnerships, ACWW cultivates literary talent and fosters dialogue on equity, identity, and storytelling across generations. Over the years, ACWW has honoured individuals, community organizations, and educational institutions that have made significant contributions to the community. Past recipients of the ACWW Community Builders Awards include Roy Mah, Wayson Choy, Paul Yee, Harvey Lowe, Roy Miki, Fred Wah, The Bulletin (National Association of Japanese Canadians), Joy Kogawa, Scott McIntyre, Gim Wong, Evelyn Lau, Tradewind Books, Brian Lam, and Barbara Lee.