“We imagine the jump, the spin or the trick so we can analyze all the movements, with the specific parts of our body throughout the jump, to make sure it turns out well. It is important to have a focused mindset.” This is how Daisy Li, a promising 13-year-old Chinese figure skater from Prince Edward Island, explains how she approaches a jump during a competition. It’s how she, quite literally, finds momentum.
Read MoreGrowing up in Vancouver, Fung never took his privileged upbringing for granted. Early on, he knew that he wanted to chart his own path, to work for the benefit of others, and eventually contribute something of his own to the family business. Although not official, resilience and enterprise are what come to mind as family mottos; personal resilience being his own core principle.
Read MoreA corporate lawyer and fashion influencer who puts together looks showcased and sold on her own ShopLTK online boutique, Lisa Marinelli is a firm believer that women really can have it all. “So often women put themselves in a box, limiting themselves about what or how they can be,” she says, speaking from her home in London, England. “But I want to demonstrate that women can have a family and still make money and ascend through corporate structures. They can be multifaceted and express themselves in ways they want to be heard.” She’s living proof of that.
Read MoreMost people know Margaret Chung as the Toronto-born actress who made her endearing debut in 1997 in the drama series Detective Investigation Files III as character 李思龍. At the time, she was a fresh face who won audiences over whenever she spoke Cantonese with her friendly Chinese-Canadian accent. So how did she then become the face of advocacy for families in Hong Kong with children with special needs?
Read MoreMeet Tiana Shern, a TikTok dance sensation with over a million international followers — and counting. Born and raised in Markham, Ont., the 26-year-old Chinese Canadian started her dancing career relatively late in life. But her passion for and dedication to mixed-style hip-hop choreography have since taken her far. Based in Toronto, Shern frequently travels to Vancouver and Los Angeles to work with local dancers while honing her own dance skills through continuous training. For her, dance isn’t just a popular social trend. It’s a powerful form of interpersonal communication that brings people together, regardless of cultural background or body type.
Read MoreA singer-songwriter whose passion for music is as infectious as her down-to-earth personality, Yoyo Sham is a talent on the move. When she sings the above lyric from Come What May, a Cantonese song written for her by manager Chan Wing Him, she’s not just performing. She’s giving soulful expression to her own reality as a culturally nomadic artist. As the jazz/pop/folk singer said herself in a conversation I had with her following her appearance at this past year’s Fête Chinoise Lunar New Year Gala in Toronto, she has been shaped by her constant travels around the world. Sham sings in Cantonese, English and Mandarin, languages reflecting her musical and life journey so far.
Read MoreWhen the green flag drops at the top of a race, Samantha Tan feels the adrenaline coursing through her veins. The 26-year-old motorsport professional knows the course like the back of her hand and at this point, any doubts she might have had about how to navigate it have vanished. Her focus becomes laser-sharp as she revs to the finish line.
Read MoreWhat is the secret to being a young and successful entrepreneur? According to Derrick Fung, CEO and founder of the Drop digital loyalty platform and a past Forbes 30 Under 30, it’s all about grit and hustle — what he learned first-hand from his immigrant parents while growing up in Canada.
Read MoreAlex Porat is on the cusp of greatness. Raised in both Toronto and Vancouver, the 26-year-old Canadian soft pop singer-songwriter began her musical journey recording covers of hit songs in her bedroom just over a decade ago, posting them on YouTube where her crystalline voice, tremulous vulnerability and alluring physical presence quickly attracted more than a million global subscribers. Today, Porat is the artist other artists are getting excited about.
Read MoreBorn into a family of mixed Asian heritage (her mother is Samoan-Hawaiian, and her father Singaporean-Chinese), Eva Chin was raised on her grandmother’s farm in Kahuku, Hawaii. Growing up, she learned how to harvest vegetables, fish and prepare seafood. She also became familiar with a variety of cuisines and cooking styles, from Thai to Portuguesae to Japanese. But becoming a chef wasn’t a given.
Read More“Going to do a stir-fry later with chicken!” says the fella who is one of the most pervasive comic celebrities in Canada. We are 40 minutes into a conversation about his life and his work — how he rose to prominence with his role on the hit Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience, and his new venture as master of his own CBC show, Run the Burbs — but his focus is now all on his dinner? He is a jokester after all.
Read MoreWe were honoured to host Bernice Liu at our Toronto Signature Event on February 3rd, 2024. Bernice, a beloved Canadian actor, has captivated audiences not only through her on-screen performances but also through her remarkable journey as a winemaker and cultural ambassador. Having previously graced the pages of Edition 7 of Fête Chinoise, it was a pleasure to catch up with Bernice once again and delve into her diverse career and profound insights.
Read More
