On June 21, 2025, the Edmonton Chinese Writing Club (ECWC) was honored to participate in a summer gathering hosted by the Edmonton Japanese Community Association (EJCA). More than just a book sale, the event offered a warm and inclusive space for cultural sharing, community connection, and storytelling across generations.

Not long before, ECWC had just launched its first English anthology, Edmonton Heritage Stories: A Collection of Stories on Crossings, Courage, Community. One of the contributing authors, Paul Fujishige, kindly reached out to ask if we’d be interested in showcasing our new book at his community’s upcoming event. He even offered support by inviting another author, Oliver Rossier, to join us for the sale. I was touched by Paul’s generous invitation and gratefully accepted.

Shortly after, Cathy Tennant from EJCA contacted me with thoughtful coordination. She even suggested Paul write a short introduction about ECWC’s participation to include in the community announcement. Cathy’s thoughtful gestures reflected the genuine care and inclusiveness of the organizing team.

When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the community volunteers and members. The venue buzzed with activity: families browsed tables filled with Japanese books and crafts, and the aroma of homecooked dishes filled the air. The ECWC table was set up in a lovely spot and proudly displayed our new anthology which features stories from twenty-three local writers who identify with the heritage of China, Germany, Japan, Nepal, the Philippines, Poland, and Ukraine. The book also includes beautiful paintings by nine artists from the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts.