Alumni mark the Year of the Dragon

Ashley Ang
Graphic Communications Management ’12
Manager of Creative Services, TD Securities

Ashley Ang is a creative professional based in Toronto with experience in retail and financial marketing environments, bringing to life a wide variety of pieces and campaigns. Whether it’s designing precious metals pieces, illustrating her own line of greeting cards or providing creative direction in her day-to-day work, Ashley enjoys the thrill of every challenge that happens at her doorstep. She is always open to opportunities and collaborating.

Zodiac Sign: Horse

Forecast/Plans: I grew to love Lunar New Year more as I got older — cleaning, decorating, red envelopes, the immense amount of food and especially the nian gao [sweet rice cakes]! What I most enjoyed was spending time with my grandparents, celebrating with them the traditions that they brought through the generations. This year will look different as my grandparents have passed peacefully in the last year, but their traditions will carry on with me. The Year of the Dragon is a special one as that was my grandfather’s zodiac, and I look forward to what this year has in store.

Adrian Ma (centre) with his family at the Chinese Canadian Museum in Victoria, BC. Photo courtesy of Adrian Ma.

Adrian Ma
Journalism (MJ) ’09
Associate Professor, School of Journalism

Adrian Wei Zhi Ma is an associate professor of journalism at TMU’s The Creative School. In addition to his teaching and research work, Adrian has written about his experiences growing up in the Chinese Canadian diaspora for media outlets including The Walrus and the CBC.

Zodiac Sign: Pig

Forecast/Plans: I was born and raised in Canada to parents who immigrated from Hong Kong. Growing up, we celebrated major holidays many other Canadians enjoy. But the Lunar New Year was a special connection to our Cantonese heritage. And what more visceral way to connect to a culture than through the food? All due respect to roast turkey and mashed potatoes, but for me, the holiday meal of the year is in my parent’s dining room during the Lunar New Year: steamed whole fish, stir-fried noodles, homemade dumplings and more. Pull up a chair, there’s plenty of room at this table.

Wayne Ng
Social Work ’88
Author 

Wayne Ng was born in downtown Toronto to Chinese immigrants who fed him a steady diet of bitter melons and kung fu movies. Wayne is a social worker who lives to write, travel, eat and play, preferably all at the same time. He is an award-winning author who lives in Ottawa with his wife and goldfish. 

Zodiac Sign: Tiger

Forecast/Plans: My favourite Lunar New Year tradition is to make homemade pork, shrimp and chive dumplings with my family. Food is love and joy!

Having just retired from social work to write fiction full-time, I am excited about the career growth and development opportunities that the Year of the Dragon forecasts for me. I look forward to publishing my fourth novel, Johnny Delivers, set in Toronto’s Chinatown in 1977. It is a sequel to Letters From Johnny, voted Canada’s Best Crime Novella.

Although Tigers and Monkeys are supposed to clash, I have been happily married to a Monkey for over 20 years — we actually have tattoos with each other’s zodiac characters.