Enlightening minds with a reflection of snow, and ink flowing with radiant light: The Canada-China Writers Association's 2025 Cultural Pilgrimage bids farewell to the old and welcomes the new.

December 31, 2025 yanfei3001

Traveling through twelve grand literary and artistic feasts, planting Chinese civilization in the fertile land of Canada, and blooming the flower of multiculturalism.

As the first snowflake of the new year gently lands on the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto is draped in white. Amidst the clear, biting cold of minus ten degrees Celsius, a spring for Chinese literature is blossoming with warmth and vitality. As we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, looking back on the diligent efforts of the Chinese Writers Association of Canada in 2025, we see a vibrant tapestry of Chinese civilization unfolding in the land of the maple leaf. From the association's change of leadership celebration in spring, graced by the blessings of Member of Parliament Jenny Kwan, to the autumn seminar on new generation Chinese writing and the interdisciplinary dialogue exploring literature and the interplay of light and shadow; from Chairperson Yan Fei's spirited leadership in promoting cultural inheritance, to twelve cultural events, large and small, bridging the classical and the contemporary, the Chinese Writers Association of Canada, like flickering flames, under the canopy of multiculturalism, uses Chinese characters as fuel and literary heart as flame, nurturing the vibrant spring of interconnectedness beneath the ice and snow. At this moment, let us together turn the pages of these twelve annual chapters written with passion, and listen to the resonant echoes of civilization that traverse the winter, warm and resolute.

A fresh snow welcomes spring, and literary gardens bloom in competition. The Chinese Writers Association of Canada held its 2025 Council election meeting on February 8th at the Chinese Overseas Building in Toronto. Renowned writers Jiang Zilong, Jia Pingwa, Han Shaogong, Xiao Jian, and Gao Jianqun sent congratulatory messages via correspondence. The election meeting of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association was held at the headquarters of the Chinese Canadian Federation in Toronto. It was the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, and the joy of the new year still lingered. Writer Yan Fei hosted the meeting. The first half of the meeting was dedicated to the election of the new council, with prospective council members taking the stage one by one to deliver passionate campaign speeches. The second half of the meeting discussed the work plan for the new year, with enthusiastic participation and a lively atmosphere. The meeting elected 15 new council members. Yan Fei, Yan Bo, Pang Jin, Jue Min, Lang Li, Zhou Zhihua, Wan Mu, Jiang Ni, Gu Tu, Luo Yangfu, Sun Ruixiang, Wang Xianming, Chen Rong, Fang Hong, and Qi Yaling were elected as council members, forming the new council. Subsequently, the election for vice-chairpersons took place, with writers Yan Bo and Pang Jin being elected as vice-chairpersons. Finally, the election for the chairperson was held, and writer Yan Fei was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association, securing a second term.
The Chinese Writers Association of Canada's 2025 Spring Festival Gala and Inauguration Ceremony was held on March 30th at the Chinese Cultural Center in Toronto. The event was hosted by the Chinese Writers Association of Canada and co-organized by "Voice of North America." The General Director was Yan Daxia, and the Executive Director was Chen Rong. Former Member of Parliament Olivia Liu extended her congratulations in person at the venue. Attendees included: Former Member of Parliament Olivia Liu, Chinese Writers Association of Canada President Yan Fei, Vice Presidents Yan Bo and Pang Jin, some board members from the Greater Toronto Area of the Chinese Writers Association of Canada: Sun Ruixiang, Chen Rong, Zhou Zhihua, Luo Yangfu, Wang Xianming, Jiang Ni, Wan Mu, Qi Yaling, Administrative Assistant Huang Zanyang, and entrepreneur Chen Yijun, President of FOSON Cabinets & Countertops Company and Platinum Sponsor. Also present were Mr. Wang Quanlei, a Hainan business elite, and his wife Ms. Zheng Sujing, former chairperson of the East Maple Color Multicultural Arts Troupe Zhang Xiaoyan, East Maple Color Multicultural Arts Troupe Leader and the gala's sound engineer Lin Lin, Han Meng Ni Shang Arts Troupe Leader Tracy Lu, Yuan Hang Arts Troupe Leader Wang Yuanliang, as well as over 100 people including renowned writers, artists and people from all walks of life in the Greater Toronto Area, members of the Chinese Writers Association of Canada, and performers.
A Splendid Chapter, An Audiovisual Feast. On the afternoon of April 19, 2025, the “Poetic Heart Original Works Poetry Recital,” jointly organized by the Canadian Chinese Writers Association and the Canadian Recitation Arts Troupe, was successfully held at the performance hall of Shuang Kuai Chinese School in Richmond Hill, Toronto. Over 20 reciters, accompanied by music and stage art, recited nearly 30 poems and works created by members of the Chinese Writers Association, presenting an audience with a high-quality, immersive audiovisual feast. Yan Fei and Liu Mowei delivered opening remarks. Cui Binghui, City Councilor for Ward 4 of Richmond Hill, attended the event to offer congratulations. The poetry recital commenced with a joint recitation of “Four Beauties Ode to Classmates” by Wang Xianming, APPLE, Yan Daxia, and MANDY, a work by writer Yan Fei. Following this, the recital unfolded through four chapters covering nature, history, culture, and emotions: “Ode to the Four Seasons,” “Ballad of Mountains and Rivers,” “Reminiscences of Time,” and "Melodies Flowing." Wen Lan, Xiǎtiān, Zhang Huiwei, MANDY & Sun Xi, Huang Zanyang, and RONA respectively recited "My City" by Jiang Ni, "A Row of Evergreen Pines in the Community" by Yan Bo, "Early Spring in Southern Ontario" by Wan Mu, "Toronto Summer" by Pang Jin, "Agua Canyon" by Gugu, and "Sunset by the Lake" by Zhang Haiqi. Lai Chen, Feng Wenjun, Zhu Yun, Liu Shucheng, Yànzi, and ANNA SONG & Huang Huitong respectively recited "Chinese Characters in Capital Letters" by Lai Chen, "Visiting Taihao Mausoleum" by Feng Wenjun, "Gifts of Time" by Zhang Xiaoyun, "The Wilderness" by Wu Qiqi, "Guarding Peace" by Li Hongwei, and "Echoes of Time" by Hu Qingwen. He Yuning, Wang Bingjie, JENNY CUI, Ye Tingting, JULIE, and Chen Dezhen respectively recited "Shadow" by Huang Zanyang, "Some Cold Will Pass" by He Meihong, "Who is the Greatest Writer" by Feng Feng, "Another You" by Wang Lusheng, "Virtually Meeting" by Mi Yangguang, and "Sweet Talk" by JULIE. Wang Xianming, Li Yan, MINNE & FENG, Chen Rong, and Li Weitao respectively recited "The Yellow River" by Wang Min, "Women's Romance" by Zhou Ruifang, "Flower of Woman" by Xiao Mei, "The Distance" by Fu Ju, "Missing" by Li Weitao, and "Three Thousand Blossoms, Crown Her" by Yu Zhonghua.
4. Novel Workshop. On May 25th, the Canadian Chinese Writers Association invited outstanding novelists from Toronto to share their creative journeys and insights, discussing the art and mysteries of novel writing. The event was welcomed by literature enthusiasts and was held both in-person and online. The host was Gu Tu, a board member of the Canada-China Writers Association. Yan Fei, President of the Canada-China Writers Association, attended the seminar and delivered the opening speech. The offline event venue was a spacious multi-functional conference hall on the 3rd floor at 8300 Woodbine Ave, Markham. Key members of the Canada-China Writers Association and cultural figures including Jiang Ni, Wang Xianming, Chen Rong, Huang Zanyang, Qi Yaling, Wan Mu, Lu Jie, Hui Wei, Lin Peter, Yang Ying, and the host Dr. Ali, participated in the event. Vice presidents Yan Bo and Pang Jin, who were visiting relatives in China, sent their regards and well wishes as they were unable to participate online due to the time difference.
5. Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival and Intangible Cultural Heritage Arts Festival Literary Salon. In June 2025, coinciding with the grand opening of the 7th Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival and Intangible Cultural Heritage Arts Festival, the Canadian Chinese Writers Association specially organized a unique literary salon at the East Maple Color main venue. This event, themed “Literary and Chinese Traditional Culture Chit-Chat,” attracted writers, poets, and cultural enthusiasts from the Greater Toronto Area, engaging in a dialogue filled with poetic and humanistic sentiment during the Dragon Boat Festival. The event was convened by Chen Rong, a director of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association, and hosted by Yan Fei, the president of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association. Writers, poets, and cultural scholars from the Greater Toronto Area, including Qi Yaling, Huang Zanyang, Lu Jie, Fu Ju, Jian Dai, Camel, Bao Yiling, Xia Tian, Hui Wei, and Dong Xia, spoke enthusiastically and in turn. The salon unfolded in a relaxed and open format, with topics ranging from poetry and novel writing, the essence of Chinese traditional culture, the philosophical connotations of Chinese Kung Fu, to the diverse landscape of cultural associations in the Chinese Canadian community. Participants, in conjunction with the cultural background of the Dragon Boat Festival, discussed how literature can inherit and innovate traditional culture, and how to imbue classics with new vitality in overseas contexts.
"The Ballad of Lin Daiyu" was featured on the stage of the Chinese National Television Poetry Recitation Session in Canada. "The Ballad of Lin Daiyu," created by Yan Fei, is an ancient style long poem commemorating the legendary figure Chen Xiaoxu. It was published on "Chinese Poetry Network" on May 13th of this year, which would have been Chen Xiaoxu's 60th birthday, and later reposted by "Tianjin Literature and Art Network," "Huawen Net," and others. On July 6th, Yan Da Xia, along with Shi Qin, Wei Tao, Hong Xi, Zan Yang, Lu Jie, and Ze Yu from the Canada-China Writers Association and the Poetry Recitation Art Troupe, took the stage at the Chinese National Television Poetry Recitation Session in Canada and eloquently recited "The Ballad of Lin Daiyu." A week later, "The Ballad of Lin Daiyu" was included as a term in Baidu Baike and 360 Baike.
7. Jia Pingwa inscribes a message for the Canada-China Writers Association. In mid-August, Pang Jin, vice president of the Canada-China Writers Association, visited the renowned contemporary Chinese literary master Mr. Jia Pingwa during his vacation back in China. During this meeting, Jia Pingwa graciously inscribed a message for the Canada-China Writers Association: “Write every sentence of the Chinese language well.” This conveys Mr. Jia Pingwa's earnest expectations for Chinese writers abroad.
8. Parent-Child Literary Masterpiece Reading Exchange Session. On the afternoon of September 6th, the “Parent-Child Literary Masterpiece Reading Exchange Session,” hosted by the Zhou Enlai Foundation and the Canadian Chinese Writers Association, and co-organized by Better Education and Shuai Chinese, was successfully held at Better Education in Richmond Hill. This event served as both a summary of the outcomes from the 2025 summer parent-child reading of "The Old Man and the Sea" and a sharing of family reading and literary reflection. The exchange session was moderated by Luo Yangfu, co-founder of Better Education and principal of Shuai Chinese. Nearly twenty participating families, along with guests from Toronto's literary and educational sectors, gathered together. Guests including Yan Fei, President of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association; Zhao Min, Secretary-General of the Zhou Enlai Foundation; Helen Gao, President of the Toronto Institute for International Education; Gu Tu, President of Lakeside Academy of Canada; Martha, founder of The Little Elephant Media, Canada; Echo Liu, founder of World Vision Publishing House; Liu Siyuan, President of the Sino-Canadian Cultural Artists Association; Hao Wei, veteran overseas Chinese teacher and media writer; Li Yan, President of Value Life Financial Planning Company, Canada; Richard Yang, representative parent of Ivy League students; Lili Cheng, veteran media person; Feng Wenjun, office assistant of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association; and Liu Zuhua, Vice Principal of Better Education, attended and participated in the reviews and speeches.
9. Literature and Art Themed Salon. On the afternoon of September 14, 2025, a literature salon hosted by the Canadian Chinese Writers Association was successfully held in Toronto. This salon, themed “Literature and Art,” brought together scholars, writers, and art enthusiasts from the fields of literature and art to jointly explore the beauty of the fusion between words and art. The host was Qi Yaling, Director of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association. Writer Yan Fei delivered the opening remarks. Host Qi Yaling specially invited three guests: Ms. Asharf, formerly a literature professor at an Iranian university, who turned to painting after immigrating to Canada; Ms. Wang Lin, owner of Run Defei Manor in China, an industry elite who has persisted in organizing national poetry and prose competitions for a decade; and Professor Chang Zaisheng, Professor at the School of Arts of Yangzhou University and a renowned sculptor. Yan Dapeng also invited Fang Bi, a talented new-generation female writer and author of the existentialist philosophical novel "The Black Hole Doesn't Go Around," as a guest. Directors and key members of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association, including Sun Ruixiang, Chen Rong, Jiang Ni, Wan Mu, Huang Zanyang, Li Yan, Fu Ju, Feng Wenjun, and senior media person LiLi Cheng, participated in the salon.
10. Toronto New Generation Chinese Writing Seminar and “Ink Aroma Under Maple Leaves” Book Launch. On November 9th, the “Toronto New Generation Chinese Writing Seminar and ”Ink Aroma Under Maple Leaves“ Book Launch,” jointly organized by the Zhou Enlai Foundation and the Canadian Chinese Writers Association, and co-organized by More Excellent Education and Shuang Kuai Chinese, was grandly held in Richmond Hill. With the theme “Write Every Sentence of Chinese Well – Building the Overseas Youth Chinese Writing Dream Together,” the event showcased the latest achievements and exploration directions in overseas Chinese writing education through opening remarks, a new book unveiling, student recitations and expert critiques, parent speeches, and keynote speeches. Welcoming guests amidst wind and snow, esteemed figures gathered, with ideas and words shining. Dozens of guests, parents, teachers, and students witnessed together the fruitful results of 330 student masterpieces and ten years of dedication to Chinese education. The event was hosted by Luo Yangfu, Principal of Shuang Kuai Chinese. Yan Fei and Zhou Yue, heads of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association and the Zhou Enlai Foundation, along with Richmond Hill City Councillor Cui Binghui, delivered speeches respectively. Guests such as Yan Bo, Pang Jin, Sun Ruixiang, Zhai Naigang, Zhou Zhihua, Chen Rong, Long Muhua, Gu Tu, Wan Mu, Martha, Zhu Yanyan, Li Yan, Hao Wei, Yu She, Lu Jie, Zeng Yi, Fu Ju, Feng Wenjun, Liu Zuhua, Dai Liyan, and LiLi Cheng either participated in critiques or delivered keynote speeches. From perspectives such as “Diverse Cultural Soil,” "Pathways for Advanced Writing," and "Evaluation Standards in Overseas Contexts," they offered insightful viewpoints, collectively outlining a long-term blueprint for overseas Chinese education.
A film and literature seminar and screening of the short film "Under the Shattered Jade Shadow," jointly hosted by the Canadian Chinese Writers Association and Jiahua Media, was successfully held on the afternoon of November 22, 2025, at the GengYou Education Centre in Richmond Hill. The seminar and screening were presided over by Yan Fei, president of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association, with Vice Presidents Lang Po and Pang Jin, as well as Jiahua Media President Zhou Zhihua in attendance. More than thirty writers, artists, filmmakers, local cultural figures, and literature enthusiasts from the Greater Toronto Area participated in the event. The film "Under the Shattered Jade Shadow," directed by a local Toronto film production team and dedicated to commemorating the 90th anniversary of Ruan Lingyu's death, is set in the Republican era and showcases a unique historical landscape and artistic expression. It possesses both viewing value and provides ample room for discussion on the interdisciplinary exchange between literature and film. The director and lead actor, Mr. Chen Zhiguang, was present for an interactive session. During the seminar segment, contemporary writers Yan Fei, Lang Po, and Pang Jin spoke successively, offering profound insights and perspectives. Poets Yu Zi, Jiang Ni, and Huang Zanyang also delivered passionate speeches. Prominent media figures Zhou Zhihua, Chen Rong, Peng Lin, and Cao Fei, along with key members of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association, Li Yan, Manduona, Lu Jie, Feng Wenjun, Xiao Li, and Camel, spoke in turn, exploring topics ranging from literary creation and script conceptualization to cross-cultural expression.
On December 13, 2025, the Canadian Chinese Writers Association's Modern Poetry Seminar was successfully held at Shuang Kuai Chinese School in Toronto. Yan Fei, the President of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association, presided over the seminar. Luo Yangfu, Principal of Shuang Kuai Chinese School and a board member of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association, delivered the welcome address. The keynote speaker and organizer of this event was Jiang Ni, a board member of the Canadian Chinese Writers Association and a renowned poet. Also present were the association's Vice Presidents Yan Bo and Pang Jin, board members and key figures of the association Sun Ruixiang, Chen Rong, Huang Zanyang, Li Yan, and Lu Jie, famous conductor and poet Yu Zi, poetry friends Cui Jianshu and Hui Min, and invited guest Lü Zenglu, a famous Chinese tenor singer in Toronto. All gathered to explore the true meaning of modern poetry creation.

(Chinese Canadian Writers Association Publicity and Reporting Team)

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