Edmonton, AB – May 17, 2025 – Edmonton’s vibrant cultural history came alive at the Stories of Edmonton: A Book Launch Celebration, held at Edmonton City Hall. The event marked the official release of Edmonton Heritage Stories: A Collection of Stories on Crossings, Courage, Community—a collaborative publication featuring non-fiction stories that highlight the lived experiences of Edmontonians from diverse backgrounds.

Hosted by the Edmonton Chinese Writing Club (ECWC), the event welcomed community members, artists, authors, and civic leaders for an afternoon of celebration, reflection, and connection. The project was generously supported by the Edmonton Heritage Council.

The event began with a Land Acknowledgement by Dr. Mila Bongco-Philipzig, the project managing editor and book designer. She honored the Indigenous peoples of the region and emphasized the importance of respectful storytelling rooted in place and history.

The Project Manager and President of the ECWC, Dr. Cathy Shi, delivered the opening remarks. She noted that the event also marked the celebration of the successful completion of the year-long 2024–2025 initiative, Creative Writing Boot Camp: Sharing Wisdom Across Cultures through Stories. She said that it had been a journey of learning, creativity, and meaningful connection across communities.

She continued:

“This book came to life through the heartfelt writing of 23 authors and the stunning artwork of 9 local artists, who came together to bring these stories to life through both words and visuals. It is also the result of deep collaboration and a shared vision among people who believe in the enduring power of community heritage.”

City Councilor Jennifer Rice, a guest of honor, praised the book for its contribution to preserving Edmonton’s cultural heritage and fostering inclusivity through storytelling. As one of the first visible minority women to be elected to City Council in Edmonton’s history, she reflected on her own journey as a community advocate and emphasized the importance of creating space for diverse voices in shaping the city’s future. She then presented a certificate to the Edmonton Chinese Writing Club, which read: “Congratulations to all writers and contributors who brought this book to life. Let’s continue to champion the power of storytelling and enjoy the writing.”

Other distinguished speakers included:

• Fatme Elkadry, Grants Coordinator, Edmonton Heritage Council, who congratulated on the success of book launch and emphasized the council’s commitment to funding heritage initiatives;
• Olenka Bilash, ethics workshop facilitator, who spoke on the power of community support and the importance of ethical storytelling in building trust and inclusion;
• Jared Quinney, artist from The Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, who contributed original artwork and shared insights into the role of visual art in cultural storytelling.
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Halfway through the celebration, the spotlight turned to the talented voices behind the newly released book, as Dr. Mila Bongco-Philipzig moderated the authors’ reflection and book reading segment. She introduced the contributing authors in attendance, offering insight into their diverse backgrounds and creative journeys. Each participating writer spoke about the inspiration behind their story and read an excerpt from their personal narrative that captured the heart of Edmonton’s cultural and historical landscape, bringing their stories vividly to life for the audience.

Dr. Mila Bongco-Philipzig also extended her gratitude to the contributing partner organization, the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, and shared the story of how an unexpected yet meaningful collaboration developed between the Nina and the ECWC for this book project. She expressed special thanks to Director Janice Easton and Author Oliver Rossier for their invaluable support in helping include the artworks of nine artists with developmental disabilities.

Councillor Keren Tang, a public health advocate and community builder, also made time to attend this event. She was invited to give a speech during the celebration. She praised the book as a powerful reflection of Edmonton’s diversity and resilience, emphasizing the role of storytelling shaping inclusive communities.

The event featured live music by the Small Band for Seniors, special guest speeches, and book readings by contributing authors. Guests also enjoyed photo opportunities, raffles, and book signings.

“Edmonton Chinese Writing Club is deeply honored and humbled in taking on this collective project. May is Canada’s Asian Heritage Month, and this year’s theme is “Unity in Diversity”, perfectly captures the spirit of this initiative. Through this project, we celebrate and showcase the unified contributions of the Asian community,” said Dr. Cathy Shi in her closing remarks. “Let’s keep these stories alive. Let’s keep telling them, sharing them, and listening to them because they remind us of who we are and where we have come from.”

Edmonton Heritage Stories was developed to amplify underrepresented voices and document the experiences that shape Edmonton’s evolving cultural landscape. The book is now available for purchase, and plans are underway for future projects and storytelling workshops inspired by the collection.

For more information about the project or to get involved, please visit.