Arlene Chan (right), daughter of Jean Lumb and president of the Jean Lumb Foundation, along with Michael Chan (back row, centre), Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade, and the winners of the 18th Annual Jean Lumb Awards pose at the awards ceremony held on Oct 31 in Markham. NA LI / CHINA DAILY

The 18th annual Jean Lumb Awards, which celebrate and honour the achievements of outstanding Canadian youth of Chinese heritage across the Greater Toronto Area, were handed out at an event in Markham on Oct 31.

"These young people have accomplished so much in many areas of interest. My mother would have been very proud of their achievements," said Arlene Chan, eldest daughter of Jean Lumb and president of the Jean Lumb Foundation. "The panel of judges faced a challenge selecting the winners from such a highly competitive roster of applicants."

This year, Chloé St. Amand won the Dynamic Security and Telephone Systems Community Services Award; Bryan Yau was awarded the University of Toronto Scarborough Academics Award; Newton Zicheng Zheng got the Murphy & Chung Chartered Accountants Athletics Award; Vicky Ze Ran Xu took home the BMO Nesbitt Burns Innovation Award; and Jessica Sze Nga Chan, the Chung-Kotcheff Family Arts Award.

The first-ever Award of Excellence, sponsored in memory of the late Elizabeth & William C. Wong, was presented to Eric Chong, the first-ever winner of MasterChef Canada. After giving up a career in chemical engineering and winning a television cooking competition at the age of 21, Eric fulfilled his dream of opening R&D Restaurant in Toronto's Chinatown with his mentor and three-Michelin-starred restaurateur, Alvin Leung. He was cited for inspiring young people to follow their dreams.

The Jean Lumb Awards are given to recognize the extraordinary talents and skills of young people and to encourage them to continue their quest for excellence. The awards celebrate the hopes and dreams of the early generations of Chinese Canadians whose hard work and sacrifice have paved the way for today's generations.

Jean Lumb was the first Chinese-Canadian woman to receive the Order of Canada for her tireless community work as a voice and advocate for Chinese communities in Toronto and across Canada.