TORONTO—Tia Zhang, a former instructor at Canada’s top ballet school and an artist with the world-renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts, has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Zhang, who was a ballet dancer in China, immigrated to Canada over four decades ago and went on to teach at the National Ballet School in Toronto for more than 20 years. She later dedicated herself to reviving classical Chinese dance and culture with Shen Yun, the New York-based performing arts company that tours globally each year.
For many years, Zhang served as a tour manager for one of Shen Yun’s troupes, overseeing international performances and supporting the company’s mission. She now teaches at New York’s Fei Tian College, where Shen Yun performers receive their professional training.
Kevin Vuong, MP for Spadina-Fort York who presented the medal to Zhang at Toronto City Hall on Feb. 13, noted that thanks to Zhang’s contributions, the world has the opportunity to experience the art showcased by Shen Yun.
“Toronto, through Tia, has a hand in the world being able to consume and see Shen Yun and the magic that comes through the dance, through the performance. It’s something that I think is so important to acknowledge and to celebrate,” Vuong said during the award ceremony.
“That brings me pride as a Torontonian. That brings me pride as a Canadian.”
The King Charles III Coronation Medal was created to commemorate Charles’s coronation in May 2023, and is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Canadian society.
Speaking at the ceremony, Zhang said the medal also recognizes Shen Yun’s contributions to Canadian society through its sharing of ancient wisdom and values deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture. She added that many Shen Yun artists cultivate inner purity through practicing Falun Gong whose principles of “truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance” are drawn from this ancient culture and shine through in the performances.
‘Bipartisan Support’
A number of elected officials, including MPs from both the Liberal and Conservative parties, sent congratulatory letters marking Zhang’s receipt of the King Charles III Coronation Medal. This, Vuong said, indicates “bipartisan support” and national recognition for both Zhang and Shen Yun.Liberal MP Judy Sgro said Zhang’s work at Shen Yun Performing Arts, sharing the richness of China’s age-old traditions with the world, makes her “a beacon of cultural preservation.”
“This is a well-deserved recognition of your unwavering dedication to promoting the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, as well as your tireless efforts in preserving and revitalizing traditional Chinese culture within our Canadian community,” Sgro wrote.
Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman commended Zhang’s efforts in “preserving important cultural history through dance and Shen Yun,” noting that her dedication has not only brought “joy and enlightenment to millions,” but also played a vital role in defending values such as freedom, democracy, and justice amid malign attacks.
Conservative MP Garnett Genuis also commended Zhang for her “unwavering stand against the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners” in China and her advocacy for human rights, noting that she has made “a lasting impact.”
“Your role in bringing Shen Yun to life has given audiences a rare opportunity to experience the beauty of Chinese culture. Your contributions not only preserve an invaluable heritage but also reflect Canada’s values of freedom and justice,” Genuis wrote.
Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak applauded Zhang’s dedication to the performing arts over the past 60 years, saying in a letter, “The city of Toronto is proud of individuals who have made a difference in their communities through their unique skills and talents, touching the lives of others and making a tremendous difference.”
Right to Be Free
Last year, Shen Yun became the target of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) escalated transnational repression—which includes disinformation warfare and lawfare—outside China, with the aim of shutting down the dance company in the United States and around the world and eliminating Falun Gong, the spiritual practice many of the artists follow.“Shen Yun’s explicit mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture, the very culture the Communist Party has spent decades trying to destroy in order to make room for its own ideology,” the dance company says.
When asked about such threats in Canada, MP Vuong emphasized Canadians’ right to be free from harassment and intimidation, adding that the CCP’s transnational repression “is a real issue” in Canada.
“I don’t see why anyone should be afraid to see an incredible performance of art and culture in this country,” he told The Epoch Times. “Canadian pluralism is one where different cultures come together, united through shared values and democratic values, but also in freedom and liberty. So everyone should have the freedom to be able to enjoy all that Shen Yun has to offer.”
