華人和平獎

主要成就

• 推廣中華文化超過30年以上
• 促進國際間彼此了解，文化融合與世界和平
• 推動全球華人團結合作，和諧相處
• 促進世界各地華人社區發展與生活福利
• 協助國際及加拿大境內慈善公益活動
• 推廣理想家庭文化與孝道於自身、家庭、社會、國家

媒體報導

• 2018 加華國際商報，瑰寶傳盛 — 向文化中心創始主席張明達醫生致敬
  Dispersing Treasure – Tribute to Dr. Cheung Ming-Tat, the founding chariman of the Cultural Centre
• 2015 中國僑網：加拿大安省勋章评选：医生张明达为唯一入选华裔
  2015 China Overseas Chinese Network: Canada’s Ontario Medal Selection: Dr. Cheung Ming-Tat is the
  only Overseas Chinese selected
• Ming-Tat Cheung: Doctor with a big heart
• 2010 搜狐新聞： 携手救济海地灾区 加拿大华社赈灾筹款一呼百应，張醫生為主辦人
  2010 Sohu News: Hand in hand to rescue the disaster-stricken area in Haiti. The Canadian Chinese
  Society’s fundraising for disaster relief has elicited one hundred responses, with Dr. Cheung as the
  organizer

現職&經歷:

•  心臟專科醫生
• 在紐約，芝加哥和多倫多大學進修臨床醫學
• 加拿大華人專業人員聯會（安大略省）
• 創會會員與主席 (1977-1978)
• 亨伯紀念醫院臨床學會主席兼心臟病學和內科主任
• 加拿大多元文化委員會會長，安大略省的亞洲人

獎章&表揚記錄

• 2012 – 加拿大總督 鑽石禧年獎章 – 加拿大總督頒發
• 2002 – 加拿大總督 金禧獎章 – 加拿大總督頒發
• 2002 – 多倫多大學25年服務獎 – 多倫多大學頒發
• 1997 – 向城市致敬獎 – 多倫多伊頓 中心頒發
• 1994 – C. Y. Lee Tang 女士 紀念基金會獎 – C. Y. Lee Tang 女士 紀念基金會頒發
• 2018 – 加拿大現任總理 Justin Trudeau親筆簽名信函 – 現任總理頒發
• 2017 – 加拿大150周年傑出貢獻獎 – 加拿大聯邦政府頒發
• 2015 – 加拿大150周年傑出貢獻獎 – 加拿大聯邦政府頒發
• 2007 – 士嘉堡星光大道名人榜 – 士嘉堡市頒發
• 1978 – 美國心臟學院院士 – 美國心臟學院

“變動時代中，華人傳統文化的價值 “

The Value of Traditional Chinese Culture in an Ever-Changing World

                    Canada is a country with immigrants from over 100 different countries and regions of the world.  Canada has been described as a beautiful garden into which hundreds of flowers from all over the world have been transplanted, but each is allowed to grow in its own best way.

                    Of course, while Canada is known to be one of the most inclusive and culturally diversified countries in the world, it is not immune from historical and ongoing issues of discrimination and stigmatization against minority groups. For example, in the early 1900s, Canada enacted the Exclusion Act and the Head Tax legislation against the Chinese immigrants.  More recently, the horrifying discovery of the unmarked graves of countless indigenous children at former residential schools across the country has shone a light on the terrible cost of Canada’s racist history. In all of these cases, it will take brave and principled leaders and governments to acknowledge and apologize for mistakes made, and to make appropriate compensation to the victims and their relatives.

           I came to Canada over half a century ago and although I love my new home, there are both benefits and drawbacks to being a cultural hybrid. I am very aware of the conflict that exists within an immigrant like myself. As Chinese Canadians, we are proud to be Canadian and we benefit from Canadian policies that celebrate inclusion and diversity. At the same time, whether they arrived half a century ago as I did or more recently, most immigrants retain immense pride in their heritage.  These immigrants dream of success and acceptance in their new homeland, while being free to share the best elements of their heritage with their children and grandchildren.  For Chinese people, some of the best elements of our culture are teachings and beliefs that are thousands of years old.

           For 2500 years, Chinese culture has drawn on the teachings of Confucius and other great thinkers by valuing harmony, mutual respect, peace, and equality. For people of Chinese descent everywhere, one of the more treasured elements of our heritage is belief in the virtue of Filial Piety.  Respect for one’s parents, elders and ancestors is not unique to our culture, but it is particularly revered.  Other valuable teachings include the importance of taking care of the vulnerable and disadvantaged in society:

「故人不獨親其親，不獨子其子，使老有所終，壯有所用，幼有所長，鰥寡孤獨，廢疾者，皆有所養.」      

Which can be translated as: ”An elderly person does not only look after his/her own relatives; not only take care of his own children. The old should have a peaceful ending; the strong adults should become most useful; the young should have the opportunity to grow; the widows, the lonely, and the sick should all receive support.”  These concepts are remarkably relevant to the today’s challenges of poverty, inequality, and the protection of society’s most vulnerable.

The world has changed rapidly in the last few years. New political issues and geopolitics have made the lives of cultural hybrids more challenging and at times, difficult. Many are feeling pressured to take sides as extreme ideology and polarization threaten to disrupt harmonious coexistence.  In these unsettled times, it is more important than ever to be able to turn to these proven principles that have been a part of Chinese heritage for centuries.  The value of these teachings still apply, and it is crucial that we continue practicing and sharing these beliefs with our children and the rest of the world.

                The Chinese community in Toronto is fortunate to have a unique space in which to share our culture with the rest of Canada.   Thirty-three years ago, with the help of thousands of donors and volunteers, the community built the largest Chinese Cultural Centre in North America. When we started the project to build the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, it was seen as ambitious and daunting.  However, those involved trusted in the wisdom of another great Chinese thinker, Lao-Ziu (老子): “A journey of thousand miles starts with a single step.” (千哩之行始于足下)。 I am so glad that we took the first step. Now is the time to harvest the dream by sharing the best elements of our culture with the rest of the world.