The ensemble cast, drawn from Canada’s most seasoned and versatile performers, brings nuance and depth to Kam’s diverse characters. George Chiang anchors the production as John, the imperious teahouse owner who has left his wife in China, and whose pragmatic resilience is tempered by regret and bitterness.
For the full review, click here
George Chiang’s John is a strong and determined man, and Chiang certainly stands in that strength. His stage presence is undeniable.
For the full review, click here
There are, however, pockets of authentic emotion and many details of the characters lives have significant, inherent meaning—on their own terms, in the telling.
There is John (George Chiang), the teashop owner, who is missing his ‘rice cooker’ back in China. Though he and Grandad Lian use the term affectionately… John proves to be unwavering in his oppressive attitude towards women, clinging obstinately to Grandad’s old ways.
For the full review, click here .
On August 29, 2025, The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey, co-authored by Chad Soon and George Chiang, was named a finalist for the Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction at the 2025 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Awards.
The award recognizes outstanding non-fiction for young readers, and this year’s winner will be announced at the CCBC Awards event in the fall.
Written for ages 9–12, The Longest Shot tells the story of trailblazing hockey player Larry Kwong, the first Chinese Canadian to play in the NHL. Kwong’s two-minute appearance at Madison Square Garden in 1948 broke barriers and inspired generations. The book is illustrated by Amy Qi and published by Orca Book Publishers.
Read the full announcement here.
—— By Cameron Bridge/Nicola Valley Museum & Archives
In 2017, a children’s story called “The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing” was published, written by George Chiang based on the life of Sing and interviews with his son.
[View the full article: https://www.merrittherald.com/chen-sing-the-chinese-railway-worker-who-built-a-legacy-in-merritt/]
The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey, Chad Soon and George Chiang, illustrated by Amy Qi (Orca Book Publishers, 9-12 )
Canadian Larry Kwong, born in Vernon, B.C., changed hockey in just two minutes at Madison Square Garden in 1948 when he became the first Asian hockey player in the NHL. Despite the racism and discrimination Kwong had to face and fight for every step of his career, he never gave up. Based on Chad Soon’s extensive interviews with Kwong, this is a story that will surely inspire young hockey fans.
For the full Article, see here.
[View the full article: https://www.slj.com/review/the-longest-shot-how-larry-kwong-changed-the-face-of-hockey]
Gr 4-6–Born in 1923 in Vernon, British Columbia, Chinese Canadian Larry Kwong had a big dream: playing hockey for the NHL. This biography explores Kwong’s journey to becoming the first player of Asian descent to play in the NHL, as well as discussing the color barrier and Asian hate historically faced by Chinese Canadians. Canadian hockey players of many ethnic backgrounds are portrayed, as well as Kwong’s friends and family, which include Asian and white people. The illustrations often rely on side profiles or front-facing portraits but are very colorful and engaging. Text generally makes up half of the page, with white space and illustrations making the layout more inviting and accessible. Although the book relies heavily on facts and dates, it also includes quotes from Kwong throughout that help add interest. A glossary covers both hockey and equity-specific language that is used in the book. Chapters are broken into small sections, usually only a paragraph long, with frequent sidebars, which make it easier to read and follow the story. Overall, these elements combine to make this book great for building reading confidence or attracting reluctant readers. One of the authors has Taiwanese Canadian heritage, and the other author and the illustrator identify as Chinese Canadian.
VERDICT Highly recommended; an easy-to-read sports biography with cross-genre appeal.
Reviewed by Shelby Hogle
[View the full review: https://www.slj.com/review/the-longest-shot-how-larry-kwong-changed-the-face-of-hockey]
The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation will host a Family Day event at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre on Saturday, November 16. This family-friendly program welcomes participants of all ages.
From 11:00 to 11:30 a.m., award-winning author George Chiang will present a special storytelling session featuring his latest book The Pioneer Adventures of Chen Sing. This engaging story, based on oral histories shared by Isaac Sing, recounts Chen Sing’s adventures in the Canadian Interior after the completion of the railway, highlighting friendship, perseverance, and courage. Attendees will hear how Chiang transformed these precious family stories into a beautifully illustrated children’s novel.
Following the reading, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., there will be a family tree workshop. Participants are invited to bring their own family photos and create a keepsake genealogy booklet to take home.
George Chiang is an award-winning children’s author, director, songwriter, and producer. He is best known for Golden Lotus, a musical that has won over 60 international film awards, as well as his acclaimed illustrated books for young readers. His theatre career has taken him across Canada, including performances at the Stratford Festival, and he has appeared in film and television productions such as Disney’s Eloise at the Plaza.
Admission: Adult tickets are 50% off and youth tickets are free. For more details on “Chinatown Family Day,” please visit the official website.
(Translated from the original Chinese article in Sing Tao Daily: link here)
The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation will host a special Family Day event on Saturday, November 16 at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, welcoming families and community members of all ages.
Acclaimed author George Chiang will present a storytelling session of The Pioneer Adventures of Chen Sing, an engaging tale based on oral histories shared by Isaac Sing. The story follows Chinese pioneer Chen Sing’s adventures in the Canadian Interior after the completion of the railway, showcasing friendship, perseverance, and resilience. Audiences will also learn how Chiang transformed these treasured family stories into a beautifully illustrated children’s novel.
The organizers encourage participants to bring along their own family photos to create a personalized family tree booklet to take home.
George Chiang is an award-winning children’s author, director, songwriter, and producer. He is best known for his internationally acclaimed musical Golden Lotus, which has earned over 60 international film awards. He has also been recognized for his illustrated books The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing and The Pioneer Adventures of Chen Sing, as well as co-authoring The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey. His theatre career spans across Canada, with appearances at the Stratford Festival and in film and television productions such as Disney’s Eloise at the Plaza.
The Chinatown Storytelling Centre notes that Chiang’s storytelling will run from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., followed by the family tree workshop from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
(Translated from the original Chinese article in Ming Pao Daily: link here)
All of this is in the stunning Stratford drama “Salesman in China,” with elegant performances from Tom McCamus as Miller and George Chiang as Chinese actor Zhu Xu…
[View the full article: https://www.thespec.com/entertainment/stage/scraps-of-yellowed-newspaper-and-old-memories-recall-arthur-miller-and-salesman-in-china-now/article_7f387a2f-de06-5791-969f-85d501190233.html ]]
Adrian Pang 彭耀順 as Ying Ruocheng with George Chiang 江重仁 as Zhu Xu in “Salesman in China.”
David Hou/Stratford Festival
STRATFORD, ONT.—In 2017, something extraordinary happened on Broadway. Dozens of diplomats gathered to watch the Canadian musical “Come From Away.” It was a rare moment of cultural diplomacy, orchestrated by Justin Trudeau and the Canadian government.
We could use more of that, now more than ever in these bitterly divisive times. So, if Trudeau is looking to organize another gathering of world leaders, may I suggest that he take them to see “Salesman in China,” the impressive new play currently running at the Stratford Festival and travelling early next year to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Written by the married couple of Leanna Brodie and Jovanni Sy, this show may very well go down in the annals of Stratford as a landmark piece of Canadian theatre, a production that demonstrates the capacity for art to unite, challenge and, ultimately, heal us…
[View the full article: https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/this-new-play-at-the-stratford-festival-could-become-a-landmark-piece-of-canadian-theatre/article_0eaaa43c-609c-11ef-bc4e-7f8b562edfd9.html]
University of Guelph alumni’s award-winning musical has won more than 60 international film awards.
The highly anticipated musical film "Golden Lotus" is set to captivate audiences worldwide as it begins streaming exclusively on the Stratford Festival's digital streaming platform, Stratfest@Home, starting May 1.
"Golden Lotus," penned by the University of Guelph alumni George Chiang, has garnered international acclaim since it received the prestigious Heckler’s Award for Best Original Work in Hong Kong, solidifying its status as a groundbreaking theatrical production….
[View the full article: https://www.stratfordtoday.ca/local-news/golden-lotus-begins-streaming-on-stratfesthome-8640262]
The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey by Chad Soon and George Chiang, with illustrations by Amy Qi
Reviewed by Daniel Gawthrop
The story of Vernon’s Larry Kwong, the first professional hockey player of Asian descent to crack an NHL line-up, has been told many times. The Province’s Tom Hawthorn, CBC reports, documentaries, and at least one biography (Paula Johanson’s King Kwong) have all mined the archives to share the inspiring tale of a Chinese Canadian who excelled at our national game during a time of anti-Asian racism in society and white supremacy in the sport.
For the full review, see here.
Excerpt:
That season Larry racked up more points than any Rover had in almost a decade. New Year fans voted him the team’s most valuable player (MVP) of the year. On March 7, 1948, he received his prize, a wristwatch, from the Rovers’ fan club. That night the Rangers needed another forward to go up against Gordie “Mr. Hockey” Howe and the Detroit Red Wings. Again they passed over Larry, inviting his roommate Hub Anslow to join them instead At the time Larry didn’t complain but many years later in shared his feelings. “Definitely I should’ve been up there,” he said “I was the leading scorer, and yet they pull everybody else up before me.”
The evolution of sports in Canada has a long history that extends back to early indigenous games and includes the emergence of more recent sports such as snowboarding and kite surfing. Initially consisting of private activities for the participants’ enjoyment and benefit, organized sport became increasingly professionalized during the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly with the development of local and national organizations dedicated to sport. With these developments, the activity of sport took on a greater collective significance and became an important part of communal life, people’s sense of belonging, and their expression of shared identity. Numerous works of fiction and nonfiction about hockey for young readers have been published, but only more recently has more attention been devoted to the contributions of underrepresented communities to Canada’s sport history.
A chapter book for older readers, Chad Soon and George Chiang’s The Longest Shot addresses these omissions in Canada’s sport history and profiles Chinese Canadian hockey player Larry Kwong who made significant contributions to the sport and inspired future generations to participate. As Chad Soon mentioned in the book’s preface, he learned about Kwong from his grandfather during his childhood years and was reminded of this individual in a news article decades later. However, little information existed in print and on the Internet about Kwong, which prompted Soon to contact Kwong himself. Through his extensive conversations with Kwong over several years, Soon learned about his life and career which began with his childhood years in Vernon, British Columbia. As a culmination of those conversations, The Longest Shot brings Kwong’s compelling story to the public, ensures that his contributions are not forgotten, and inscribes his presence within Canada’s historical past…
For the full review, see here.
The Longest Shot tells the story of Larry Kwong, who grew up in Chinatown in Vernon, B.C., during the 1920s and 30s, and became the first Asian player in the NHL in 1948. His is a significant story that is only now beginning to be recognized. However, the text isn’t just facts and figures. The narrative is informed by firsthand knowledge of Kwong’s personal experiences. Soon, as noted in the introduction, was friends with Kwong for 10 years, and the pair had weekly calls and numerous in-person visits. Soon and Chiang paint a detailed picture of Kwong and his life. They write, “Before bed in the winter, Larry would help carry store items like pickle jars upstairs to prevent them from freezing overnight.”
The Longest Shot also provides important context and a valuable history lesson on the experiences of Chinese Canadians in Canada. There were times when some stores would not serve Chinese customers, and when Kwong is told at a barbershop in Vernon that they won’t cut Chinese hair, his perspective is given voice: “It was hard to take … I just had to swallow my pride.” Kwong expresses similar anger and disappointment when he is forced to sit separately from his white teammates on a train.
Reclaiming Kwong’s story of life in small-town Canada and rising up against so much discrimination is both inspiring and aspirational. Qi’s bright, large, and movie-esque illustrations are sure to be popular with children. This real-life tale firmly rooted in history will educate and engage readers, regardless of whether they are hockey fans.
[View the full review: https://quillandquire.com/review/the-longest-shot-how-larry-kwong-changed-the-face-of-hockey/
Global News recently highlighted The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey, co-authored by Chad Soon and George Chiang with illustrations by Amy Qi.
The feature looks at Larry Kwong’s groundbreaking role as the first player of Asian descent in the NHL and the lasting impact of his story on Canadian history and hockey culture. The book continues to spark important conversations about representation, resilience, and breaking barriers.
📺 Watch the full Global News segment here: New biography about Larry Kwong – Global News
Canada’s Chinese Exclusion Act split up families, some for good. A new museum tells their stories.
…When Clement put out the call for the CI documents, Bev Wong (no relation to Richard Wong) went through her late mother’s papers and found not one but two such certificates. One was issued to Ng Yew, her paternal grandfather, the other to Chen Sing, her maternal grandfather. “When I grew up, we didn’t talk about that. Nobody talked about it, nor would they tell us,” says Wong, 79, of her grandparents’ experiences settling in Canada. Her second-generation parents never told her about the racial and financial hardships her grandparents faced, because they didn’t know either, and they were keen to integrate into the community, as was Wong’s generation. Not until many years later did Wong learn more about Chen and his life in British Columbia, which was fictionalised in a 2017 children’s book called The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing, by George Chiang. Born in China around 1860, Chen was an orphan who grew up in poverty. One day, he heard of an opportunity to help build the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia.
Arriving in 1876, he worked as a tea boy, bringing tea to Chinese railway workers and earning C$1 a day. Such low pay meant clearing the C$800 debt he owed a labour contractor to take him to Canada would take years. Given the lack of Chinese women in the country at the time, Chen was lucky to find a wife. They had six children, all of whom were issued the CI45 cards for locally born Chinese Canadians….
For the full article, click here.
The World Independent Cinema Awards (WICA) recently honoured Golden Lotus with Best Picture of the Festival.
When George Chiang started writing the Golden Lotus musical in the early 2000s, little did he know what it would become.
But nearly two decades later, the Stouffville resident is finally reaping the rewards.
The World Independent Cinema Awards (WICA) recently honoured Golden Lotus with Best Picture of the Festival. It honoured the musical film as the "champion of champions" among the winners of Film Fest International's 11 successful festivals in 2022 across cities including London, Edinburgh, Canterbury, Broadstairs, Nice, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Antwerp, Birmingham, and Rome. Golden Lotus was selected as the standout film of the year and named the best film from all 11 festivals.
For the full article, see here.
George Chiang, resident of Stouffville since 2010, wrote, composed, and produced the internationally acclaimed musical and film, Golden Lotus, which has won over 60 film festival awards.
Golden Lotus is based on one of the most famous Chinese novels which has been banned in China since 1610, and whose overall theme is, “You reap what you sow.”
George took 10 years to adapt it into a musical, filmed the stage production, submitted it to film festivals, and won many awards to his surprise.
He has written a book about Larry Kwong, the first Asian hockey player in the NHL, which will be out next spring.
To watch the video interview with George Chiang, click here.
For the full article, see here.