Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and HSBC Bank Canada Announce Winner of $5000 Youth Video Contest

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, together with presenting sponsor HSBC Bank Canada, announced Vancouver-born Canadian Joanna Wong, now living in Beijing, as the Grand Prize Winner of the “25@25: Canada’s Future with Asia” youth video contest. Joining from Beijing via internet-based video-chat, Joanna was presented with a red envelope containing a $5,000 prize cheque, during an awards celebration held today at the Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (Centre A).

 Joanna’s entry for 25@25, Canadian Resources 2.0 was selected by a diverse panel of Canada-Asia innovators, including: Yuen Pau Woo, President and CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation; Hon. Jack Austin, former Senator; Nanon de Gaspé Beaubien-Mattrick, President, Nanbeau Inc.; Hank Bull, co-founder of Centre A; Gerri Sinclair, Executive Director of the Masters of Digital Media Program, Great Northern Way Campus; Nobu Adilman, broadcaster and filmmaker; Ziya Tong, co-host and producer, Discovery Channel Canada and Mark Whitmell, Head of Cultural Markets for HSBC North America. Wong was selected as grand prize winner among 5 finalists, which included: Knowledge Diplomacy; Canadian Resources 2.0; Child Rights in Asia; R + D; Riding the Green Leap Forward. The main message of Wong’s entry was built around her belief that Canada’s relationship with Asia is about more than foreign policy and trade, and more than anything, animated by human connections.

APF Canada’s 25@25 contest opened on September 17, 2009 and closed on January 15, 2010. The contest asked young Canadians (18-35) to share their vision for Canada’s Future with Asia, and set out to identify some of the 25 most important issues, in the next 25 years of Canada-Asia relations. More than 35 video submissions were received, and nearly 2,000 Canadians cast their votes in the ($500) People’s Choice Award.

The contest was also in celebration of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s 25th anniversary. It’s amazing how much things have changed since the organization was started in 1984, and how much more things are poised to change in the next 25 years.

 “Asia has never been more important for Canada, and the entries in our 25@25 contest make that point loud and clear. We were thrilled to see the creativity, sophistication, and passion that came across in all the submissions,” said Yuen Pau Woo, President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

“As someone who has observed the relationship between Canada and Asia evolve over many years, I think we’re at a special time when young Canadians are changing the way we connect. The entries for 25@25 exemplify this, and showcase how innovative and energetic the next generation of Canada-Asia practitioners really are,” said Senator Jack Austin, PC, QC, one of the 25@25 judges.

HSBC Bank Canada was presenting sponsor for the Foundation’s first-ever video contest, and 25@25 Judge Mark Whitmell (Head, Cultural Markets HSBC North America) notes, “the diversity of insights and experiences shared by a national community of young Canadians through 25@25 was a positive experience for everyone involved, and we were very pleased to have worked with APF Canada in order to make this increasingly important conversation possible.”

 “A look at the entries in the 25@25 Asia-Pacific Foundation video contest and it is clear – young Canadians at home and abroad want to be a part of building Canada’s future with Asia” said winner Joanna Wong. “And it’s a future that will grow from the energy and passion of our generation”.

The awards celebration was emcee’d by 25@25 judge and TV host Nobu Adilman. Held in Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (Centre A), guests were invited to record their own thoughts on Canada’s Future with Asia in an interactive 25@25 Speaker’s Corner, view highlights from the video contest, and take in a special edition of The World Tea Party, which is a part of the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

For additional information, please contact:

Trang Nguyen
Communications Manager
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
Tel: 604-630-1540
Email: trang.nguyen[at]asiapacific[dot]ca

About the Contest

25@25: Canada’s Future with Asia was launched to celebrate the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s 25th anniversary. It’s amazing how much things have changed since the organization was started in 1984, and how much more things are poised to change in the next 25 years. With a whopping $5000 grand prize, 25@25 set out to identify some of the 25 issues that youth are thinking about, in the next 25 years of Canada-Asia relations.

We asked for forward-thinking entries between 30 sec. – 3 min. in length, with the main idea articulated as a theme or short phrase.

About HSBC Bank Canada

HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, has more than 260 offices, including over 140 bank branches, and is the leading international bank in Canada. With around 8,500 offices in 86 countries and territories and assets of US$2,422 billion at 30 June 2009, the HSBC Group is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations. For more information visit www.hsbc.ca

About OMNI Television

25@25 National TV sponsor OMNI™ is a free, over-the-air multilingual/multicultural television system committed to positive portrayal and broadcast reflection of Canada’s diversity through the airing of inclusive and accessible programming. With five television stations – in BC; Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton) and Ontario (OMNI.1 and OMNI.2) – OMNI is available to 16.5 million households in major market areas. As well as specializing in Canadian multilingual/ multicultural programming, OMNI carries well-known International series and films – including East Asian Super Cinema and South Asian Bollywood Freetime Movies. OMNI Television is a part of Rogers Broadcasting Limited., a division of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI and NYSE: RCI) which is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For more information visit www.OMNItv.ca

For additional information about OMNI TV, please contact:

Poonam Bains
Community Liaison Officer
OMNI Television
Tel: 604-678-3918
Poonam.Bains[at]rci.rogers[dot]com