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Résumé

Education and Academic/Professional Experience

2010-presentFreelance bilingual writer, critic, poet, curator, art project developer and manager
1992–2010Teaching various adult English courses for Toronto District Board of Education.
1986–1998Teaching various courses, English Department & Writing Workshop, York University.
1986–1995Ph.D. in English, York University, Canada.
1984–1986Master of Arts in English, York University, Canada.
1978–1982Bachelor of Arts, English Department, Wuhan Teachers’ College, China.
1973–1982Teaching various courses in English (high school and university) in Wuhan, China.

Literary Awards

1997Beyond Silence: Chinese Canadian Literature in English published by TSAR Publications won the 1997 Gabrielle Roy Prize for Canadian Criticism awarded by the Association for Canadian and Quebec Literatures/ Association des Littératures Canadiennes et Québécoise.

Grants Received

  • Ontario Arts Council, Recommender Grants for Writers, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024.
  • Ontario Arts Council, Literary Creation Grant 2017.
  • Ontario Arts Council, Writers’ Reserve Grants 2011, 2012, 2016.
  • Ontario Arts Council, Writers’ Reserve Grants 2000, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010.
  • Ontario Arts Council, Writers’ Reserve Grants 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999.
  • The Canada Council, Grants for Professional Writers, 1998.
  • Ontario Arts Council, Work in Progress Grant, 1998.
  • Canadian Heritage, Writing Project Grant, 1997.
  • Toronto Arts Council, Grants to Writers, 1996.
  • The Canada Council, Explorations Program Grant, 1993.
  • Toronto Arts Council, Grants to Writers, 1992.

Publication of Literary Books

  • Spiritual Pursuits and Other Stories. Mawenzi House Publishers, 2023 (186 pages).
  • Salt in My Life (Poetry in English & Chinese). Mawenzi House Publishers, 2019; (133 pages).
  • The Chinese Knot and Other Stories. TSAR Publications, 2008; (138 pages).
  • More Than Skin Deep (Poetry in English and Chinese). TSAR Publications, 2004; (147 pages).
  • Strike the Wok: An Anthology of Contemporary Chinese Canadian Fiction. Ed. Lien Chao with introduction; co-ed Jim Wong-Chu, Toronto: TSAR Publications, 2003; (248 pages).
  • Tiger Girl (Hu Nü).  A Creative Memoir.  Toronto: TSAR Publications, 2001; (233 pages).
  • Maples and the Stream: A Long Narrative Poem in English and Chinese. Toronto: TSAR Publications, 1999, (125 pages).
  • Beyond Silence: Chinese Canadian Literature in English. Toronto: TSAR Publications, 1997; (205 pages). Winner of the 1997 Gabrielle Roy Prize for Canadian Criticism.

Publication of Visual Art Book

  • Ed. with Introduction, “Traditional and Contemporary: In Search of Abstract Ink Painting (in English and Chinese). Peng Ma: Abstract Ink Painting. Toronto: TSAR Publications, 2011.
  • Ed. with Preface, “The Vitality in Peng Ma’s Chinese Brush Painting” (in English and Chinese). Peng Ma: Chinese Brush Painting. Toronto: TSAR Publications, 2008.
  • Ed. with Preface, “From Natural to Super-Natural: Wang Dehui’s Artistic World” (in English and Chinese). Wang Dehui: Oil and Chinese Brush Paintings. Toronto: TSAR Publications, 2008.
  • Ed. with Preface, “Art is International” (in English and Chinese).  China-Canada Friendship Sculpture Garden. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2004. 
  •  “Preface: The Sound of Wind and Stream.” Yeon-Tak Chang’s Recent Sculptures. Seoul Korea: Hyundai Art Publications, 2000.
  • A Collection of Ma Peng’s Chinese Brush Paintings (in English and Chinese). Taiwan: Dynasty Design, 1997.

Inter-Arts Collaborations and Performances

  • Rejuvenation: A Taoist Journey, (Orchestra, Narration) composed by Vincent Ho; “The Heroic Metal Rat” (poem) by Lien Chao. China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing. March 14, 2020, event cancelled due to COVID-19.
  • Rejuvenation: A Taoist Journey, (Orchestra, Narration) composed by Vincent Ho; “When Heavenly Dog Returns” (poem) by Lien Chao. Kindred Spirits Orchestra, Flato Markham Theatre, Ontario, Feb. 10, 2018. 
  • Awakening the Land Within Us. Poetry written /narrated by Lien Chao, a multimedia stage performance for Canadian Comparative Literature Congress, Ryerson University, May 29, 2017. 
  • Rejuvenation: A Taoist Journey, (Orchestra, Narration) composed by Vincent Ho, Narrator: Mark Rowswell (“Dashan”), “When Sky Rooster Crows” (poem in English and Chinese) written by Lien Chao commissioned by Toronto Symphony Orchestra; World première Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Roy Thomson Hall, Feb. 4, 2017.
  • Our Land of Canada: Diversity and Peace: A multimedia Stage Performance, (long poem) written /narrated by Lien Chao, première at 2016 Asian Heritage Month Festival Opening Ceremony, Toronto City Hall Rotunda, Moon Pointer Productions, May 13, 2016.
  • Best to Be Like Water: A Multimedia Stage Performance of Taoism, written /narrated by Lien Chao, Asian Heritage Month Festival and Aga Khan Museum, première on June 7, 2015.
  • Postlude: Song of Hope, (Orchestra, Soprano) composed by Vincent Ho, lyrics by Lien Chao, première by Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra on Feb. 27, 2015.
  • Maples and the Stream, (Chamber Music, Vocal) composed by Vincent Ho, long narrative poem by Lien Chao, narrator Evelyn Hart, Land’s End Ensemble premiered at Ottawa Chamber Music Festival 2013, touring the country in 2014, 2015, 2016.

Selected Public Reading/Presentation

  • Solo-Book-Launch for Lien Chao’s new book, Spiritual Pursuits and Other Stories, selected by Toronto Lit Up, funded by Toronto Arts Council and The City of Toronto, January 20, 2024, Toronto North York Central Library.
  • English/Chinese translator for “Poetry Translation Slam” at the Canadian Pavilion of the 2010. Shanghai Expo, China, Sept. 13, 2010.  The same program delivered at Shanghai Writers’ Association in China, Sept. 14, 2010.
  • English/Chinese translator for “Blue Metropolis Translation Slam,” 2010 Luminato Festival, June 19, Isabel Bader Theatre, Toronto.
  • “Talk/Reading from The Chinese Knot and Other Stories” Canadian Writers in Person Program, York University. Nov. 3, 2009.
  • “Talk/Reading from The Chinese Knot and Other Stories,” Celebrate Canadian Library Month, Milliken Mills Library. Oct. 31, 2009.
  • “The Narrative of Cultural Conflicts,” Lecture/reading at University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, “Cultural Affairs,” Feb. 7, 2008.
  • Reading for Asian Heritage Month, Toronto North York Central Library, May 12, 2007.
  • Reading for “Asian Canadian Poets,” the Toronto Reference Library, May 28, 2005.

Other Professional Experience

  • Creating and organizing live-streaming virtual presentations by Asian Heritage Month artists during the COVID-19 shutdown and afterwards from May 2020 to the present.   
  • Coordinator for Canada 150 Art Workshops for Schools, Asian Heritage Month /York University, 2017-2018, and continued to spring 2020; team-teaching 200 Art Workshops for TDSB and TCDSB schools. During COVID-19 shutdown and ever since, teaching Chinese Brush Painting via Stream-Yard to thousands of students of TDSB and TCDSB from May 2020 to 2023.
  • Curator for Asian Heritage Month Art Exhibitions from 2008 to current year.
  • Board member for the Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture (Central Ont.) Inc.
  • Assessor for Canada Council for the Arts, Minority Languages, Writing and Publishing, 2014.
  • Project developer for the China-Canada Friendship Sculpture Garden in Beijing: 2002- 2004.
  • Assessor for Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada: 1999, 2003.
  • Juror for Ontario Arts’ Council, Grants to Writers, Work-in-Progress: 2000.
  • Curators for various art exhibitions in Toronto and overseas.