explorASIAN Gala Recognition Dinner2 min read

explorASIAN Recognition Gala will shine a spotlight on the importance of print medium in our society and have singled out two outstanding community leaders for recognition – retired publisher, Scott McIntyre and Georgia Straight editor, Charlie Smith. Both Scott and Charlie have accepted explorASIAN nominations and during the course of evening, they will receive the inaugural explorASIAN Community-Builder Award in gratitude and recognition of the significant contribution they have brought to the diverse social and cultural fabric of Pan-Asian community.

The evening will be hosted by CBC Radio personality, Margaret Gallagher and Chinatown chef and historian, Bob Sung and includes a 10 course Chinese dinner presented by the famous cuisine chefs of the Pink Pearl Restaurant.

Purchase your ticket here: https://explorasiangala.eventbrite.com/

Short bios of explorASIAN Community-Builder Award‘s recipients:

Scott McIntyre, through his firm, D & M Publishing Inc., has had a long-standing and continuing commitment to publish Asian Canadian works. During their 40 years, Scott and D & M produced pioneer publications such as Saltwater City, the first illustrated coffee table book on the history of the Chinese in Vancouver. Scott and editor, Saeko Usukawa were both instrumental in the production of the seminal Many-Mouthed-Birds, a ground-breaking anthology of Chinese Canadian writing, both publications were instrumental in sparking a wider interest in Asian Canadian topics and a more diverse and inclusive voice in multicultural Canada. Many published authors under the D & M banner such as David Suzuki, SKY Lee, Wayson Choy, Paul Yee and others have gone on to receive national attention and acclaim by winning the Governor General Award, BC Book Prize and Vancouver Book Award and others prizes.

Charlie Smith grew up in Victoria and studied a University of Victoria before moving to Vancouver and graduating from BCIT’s broadcast journalism program. He worked in private radio and at CBC Radio and CBC TV. He wrote for numerous publications before joining the Georgia Straight in 1994. He became the editor of the paper in 2005. As an editor and writer, Smith has tried to educate readers about diversity within B.C.’s many communities of Asian Descent. He credits the owners of the Georgia Straight, the McLeod family, and the editors and writers at the paper for supporting his vision of community representation and awareness. He gives special thanks to the editorial staff of Asian descent – Carolyn Ali, Michelle da Silva, Stephen Hui, Carlito Pablo and Craig Takeuchi – for enhancing his sensitivity to the day-to-day issues that impacts the diverse citizens in our community.