Member Testimonials
The following testimonials are from 2 former CES presidents.
Sophia Liu, Former President, 1996-98
It was some 10 years ago that I was invited to join the Civic Education Society (CES) by the founder, Dr. Fei Wong. At that time, he assured me that this society was very unique and I would find it very exciting. I joined CES really out of respect for him.
At the first meeting I was impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the members. Hardly could I remember all the names that were introduced to me on that first day, but their faces are still around me today. As I look at my 10-year-old collection of pictures, I see a lot of the same faces. Perhaps they look younger then, but their hearts and enthusiasm have shown no sign of aging at all.
When I look back at some of the activities and achievements, I realize how much I have actually learned through my involvement with this organization. Take for example the following two activities.
1. NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON QUEBEC’S SEPARATION
During this period I was faced with the dilemma of which way should I vote. I must admit for one fleeting moment I thought about abstaining from voting. I found that I wasn’t alone in this feeling. A lot of us new Canadians living in the west coast really didn’t have the knowledge nor understanding about Quebec and her people. CES was quick to respond to this need. The directors researched, collected materials, translated and finally produced two pamphlets. One gave the reasons why we should vote YES and the other why we should vote NO. We disseminated these pamphlets around town. Many people including myself found the pamphlets helpful in our final decision.
2. CHINESE “ELECTION HOTLINE”
In 1996, with minimal budget, four of us operated the Election Hotline for the first time. We could not foresee what kinds of problems we might have. Each time a Mandarin enquiry came in, we panicked. Why? Because I was the only person that understood and spoke Mandarin (not very well either!) We were also surprised by some of the questions. As the Chinese Canadians moved out to other municipalities, I found myself also learning more about these municipalities. Meanwhile my Mandarin also improved.
As I reflect on the last ten years, I came up with three key elements: CITIZENSHIP, COMMITMENT, MISSION. For me, these words encapsulate the activities and direction of the Society. Our directors have that sense of responsible citizenship and are committed to seeing the mission of CES carried out. I thank all the directors and volunteers for having accompanied me all these years. True to Dr. Fei Wong’s words, I find the time spent at CES very exciting.
Mabel Tung, Former President, 1998-99
Volunteering for the Civic Education Society for ten years has given me a great sense of satisfaction. Our objectives are to promote better understanding of the culture and political system of Canada; to educate the public about civil rights and duties; to encourage the public to actively participate in political processes; and to encourage community involvement. We certainly have done our very best to encourage the community to involve in different aspects of Canadian issues and activities.
Looking back at the last ten years, we have not only encouraged our community to understand more about our political issues, but also involved in different community issues, such as learning about the health care system, or expressing our concern with the mass media. A few years ago, we organized a Writing Contest “How to celebrate Canada Day” in order to promote citizenship.
This summer, we faced another challenge of organizing a youth program on “Understanding the First Nations People”. No one in the Chinese community has ever done such a program, nor is it popular in the mainstream society. This program allowed participants, especially youth, to understand more about the history of our country, recognize the social and political impact of aboriginal issues, and how all these concerns affect different ethnic groups and individuals.
Last but not least, the best part of volunteering is the friendship that stays forever.
