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Associate Professor Yew-Thong Leong Awarded Outstanding Asian Canadian Award

May 16, 2023
Yew-Thong Leong speaking at the 2023 Asian Heritage Month Award Gala Banquet.

In celebration of Asian Heritage Month, we are excited to announce that associate professor Yew-Thong Leong has been awarded the Outstanding Asian Canadian Award for exemplary contribution to the greater Canadian community. 

Asian Heritage Month, which was officially adopted in the early 2000s in Canada after a proposed motion by Dr. Vivienne Poy, the first Senator of Asian descent in Canada, reflects on and celebrates the achievements of those with Asian heritage.  In 2016, the population of those of Asian descent in Canada was 16%. This number continues to grow today, especially in cities such as Toronto and in the Greater Toronto Area. With the rise of anti-Asian racism in recent years, Asian Heritage Month has become an important reminder to recognize and highlight the sacrifices of those of Asian descent in Canada. 

The award, which was presented at the Canadian Multicultural Council's (external link)  18th Awards Gala, was hosted on April 30th, 2023. A plaque was presented by Mar Mar Cho, the president of the Canadian Multicultural Council, and Consular Henry Lee Leong Bee, chairman of the Gala. 

Born in Malaysia, associate professor Leong arrived in Canada as a teenager and newcomer more than 40 years ago. After completing his secondary and post-secondary studies in Canada, and later, graduate studies in the United States, Yew-Thong worked on a variety of projects. Contributing to the greater Canadian society at varying degrees, Yew-Thong’s work spans over 150 architectural projects. Namely, his designs and expertise have touched the campuses of the University of Toronto, York University, and countless other Canadian institutions. 

Beyond his professional experience, he has also served in leadership and advisory roles in the Toronto Society of Architects, Toronto Metropolitan University, and the Toronto Preservation Board. Currently, Yew-Thong is the Board’s Secretary of the Waldorf Academy, and is a sitting member of the National Roundtable on Heritage Education. 

With an impressive record and countless accolades, Yew-Thong believes that the role of citizenship, especially that of Canadian citizenship, is to be participatory, to assimilate, and to contribute. Despite his experiences, which have brought him abroad and throughout Canada's landscapes, Yew-Thong has never lost sight of his Asian heritage. Instead, his background brings pride to his identity. 

Today, Yew-Thong advocates on behalf of his heritage in both academic and professional opportunities. He sits as a member of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto’s (external link)   "Stronger Together” anti-Asian racism initiative, and he stands to advocate for all of Asian descent. 


To learn more about Asian Heritage Month, please visit the following links for articles and resources: 

Supporting and Showcasing Asian Canadian Voices

Meet Dr. Vivienne Poy–the Leader behind Asian Heritage Month

National Forum on Anti-Asian Racism

Alan Shepard Award Recognize Community Members Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Asian Heritage Month 2023: Celebrating Asian Heritage in Canada (external link) 

May is Asian Heritage Month (external link) 

Images courtesy of Yew-Thong Leong