On October 26, the Jean Lumb Foundation held its annual scholarship award ceremony in Toronto, honoring 13 outstanding Chinese-Canadian youth from various regions across Canada. Named after the late Jean Lumb, a legendary figure in the Chinese-Canadian community, the foundation continues her legacy of supporting young talent.
This year, six recipients hail from Ontario, five from British Columbia, and one each from Nova Scotia and Alberta. The awards presented include categories such as Academic Award, Entrance Award, Arts Award, Community Service Award, Sports Award, Innovation Award, Environmental Protection Award, Overcoming Adversity Award, Excellence Award, and Leadership Award.
Among the distinguished winners are a squash champion planning to study Computer Science at Harvard University, a researcher exploring the link between genetics and post-traumatic stress disorder, a young pianist, and an innovator creating learning platforms that leverage artificial intelligence to aid education.
The Jean Lumb Foundation stated that this year’s scholarship recipients epitomize the intelligence and passion of young Chinese-Canadians. Chen Linruiling, the foundation’s chair and Jean Lumb’s eldest daughter, remarked that these young thinkers embody a bright future for the community. She also expressed gratitude to the judging panel, who dedicate countless hours each year to evaluate hundreds of applications, and to the sponsors who have provided ongoing support.
This marks the 27th annual scholarship awarded by the Jean Lumb Foundation, which has recognized outstanding Chinese-Canadian high school students since its inception in 1998, leading to over 160 recipients to date.
Jean Lumb, born in 1919 in British Columbia, Canada, experienced the dark times when the Chinese Head Tax and the Chinese Exclusion Act were imposed. As a business leader and community advocate, she actively fought against discriminatory policies and worked to secure rights for the Chinese community, leading the “Save Chinatown” movement in Toronto during the 1960s. In 1976, she became the first Chinese-Canadian woman to receive the prestigious “Order of Canada.”
