A Special Evening Recognising Dr. Sylvester And Mrs. Pauline Chuang’s Philanthropy
Written By Fête Chinoise Editorial Team (Janet Nakayama).
Photography: Louis Li Photography
On Tuesday, February 3, the City of Markham, the Varley Art Gallery of Markham, and the Varley-McKay Art Foundation of Markham came together for a special evening celebrating a generous donation from Dr. Sylvester and Mrs. Pauline Chuang. We were honoured to celebrate their remarkable contributions.
Dr. Sylvester and Mrs. Pauline Chuang are respected Canadian entrepreneurs and philanthropists whose lifelong commitment to community, education, and the arts has made a lasting impact across Markham and the Greater Toronto Area. As founders of the AWIN Group of Dealerships, they built one of Canada’s leading automotive networks while supporting initiatives in healthcare, youth empowerment, and cultural development. From establishing the Dr. Sylvester & Pauline Chuang Bursary at York University’s Markham Campus to supporting institutions such as the Varley Art Gallery, their generosity reflects a deep belief in nurturing future generations and strengthening the cultural fabric of our city.
More from Fête Chiniose
Wine, in many ways, is fascinating because it has the ability to preserve the taste of time. When Eastern flavours meet Western vintages, culture and sentiment naturally begin to intertwine at the table, creating a dialogue that adds depth to every shared occasion.
We are sincerely grateful to celebrity wine expert Bernice Liu for sharing her thoughtful perspective with Fête Chinoise on pairing Chinese cuisine with wine during festive occasions. Through her refined sensibility, she invites us to rediscover culture through the lens of each dish and its accompanying wine pairing.
As the only Canadian media outlet invited to Hong Kong’s 3rd annual Fashion Fest, Fête Chinoise offers an exclusive, on-the-ground look at “Rhythm Of The Heart.” From grand couture showcases at the Hong Kong Palace Museum and dynamic citywide pop-ups to CENTRESTAGE, sustainable menswear exhibitions, and the star-studded Gala, discover how Hong Kong is redefining its role as a premier international hub for global fashion, culture, and design.
In this chapter, Mimi Chinese returns to the language of memory, reinvention, and quiet abundance. Under Chef Braden Chong’s vision, familiar Cantonese forms are reinterpreted through a contemporary lens—where tradition is not replicated, but carefully reassembled through place, season, and instinct.
Rooted in the spirit of celebration that defines the Mid-Autumn Festival—where reunion, harvest, and reflection converge under the fullness of the moon—each dish becomes both gesture and offering. From the tactile pleasure of shared plates to the precision of technique hidden beneath restraint, the menu moves between nostalgia and invention, between the comfort of the familiar and the intrigue of the unexpected.
Set against the sweeping backdrop of Victoria Harbour at the Rosewood Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Fashion Fest Gala 2026 brought together international designers, cultural icons, and stars like Stephanie Au, Irene Kim, and Elva Ni. From the "10 Asian Designers to Watch" showcase to a spellbinding performance by the Hong Kong Ballet costumed by Robert Wun, Fête Chinoise takes you on the ground for an unforgettable evening celebrating Asian design mastery.
From honing her craft under Vera Wang to launching her own atelier, Hong Kong fashion designer Vivian Luk embodies creative evolution and resilience. Discover the Toronto-raised couturier’s journey, her signature draping techniques, and her latest "Enchanted" collection unveiled at Hong Kong Fashion Fest 2026’s VIRTUOSE showcase.
"Wear’s HK" brings 20 of Hong Kong’s most compelling fashion designers to six iconic shopping hotspots—including Harbour City, ifc mall, Harvey Nichols and more. From the gender-neutral tailoring of DEMO and PONDER.ER to the exquisite couture of KEV YIU and Natacha Van, explore how these homegrown talents are redefining modern Asian fashion.
Hong Kong Fashion Fest 2026 kicked off its third annual edition with VIRTUOSE: The Artistry of Couture at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Set against a dramatic, crimson-swathed foyer, four visionary designers from Hong Kong, Spain, and Vietnam came together in a vibrant creative exchange, redefining modern haute couture through traditional craftsmanship and cultural storytelling.
On July 26, 2026, Lead Chef Keith Pears and Team Canada took home the Silver Medal at the Bocuse d’Or Americas in New Orleans, the regional qualifier for what is widely recognized as the Olympics of the culinary world. Beyond securing Canada's ticket to the global grand final in Lyon, France, the achievement was a performance defined by technical precision, Canadian ingredients, and the personal heritage of the chefs behind it.
This past Wednesday, NAAAP Toronto presented a panel exploring how Chinese cuisine in Canada has evolved from humble café staples into one of the country’s most dynamic culinary movements. Held at the beautiful Porsche Centre North Toronto and proudly supported by the dealership, the evening brought together chefs and culinary voices including Trevor Lui (Fête Chinoise Edition 8), Eva Chin (Edition 9), Braden Chong (Edition 11), and David Schwartz.
In the intricate world of Chinese weddings, few roles carry the weight of heritage, superstition, and social etiquette like the Dai Kam (大妗)—a traditional female wedding emcee and consultant often tasked with orchestrating rituals, offering blessings, and ensuring customs are upheld properly. Literally known as “the elder auntie” (Dai Kam Jie 大妗姐), the Dai Kam is considered the indispensable soul of a Chinese wedding, a role traditionally filled by an older woman entrusted with guiding the couple through the complex rites. Once a figure closely associated with older generations and conservative values, the Dai Kam has evolved in recent years.
The Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards was held in Montreal for the first time on April 23, 2026, honouring RVNG, École de Pensée, Coco Rocha, and Ashley Galang alongside Canada’s leading designers and creatives in fashion, beauty, and styling.
Haute couture fashion designer Phan Huy’s journey reads like a Cinderella story. From playing with curtain fabric in rural Vietnam to making history as the first and youngest Vietnamese designer to present at Paris Haute Couture Week, Phan Huy and CEO Steven Doan are redefining global style. In an exclusive interview with Fête Chinoise at Hong Kong Fashion Fest 2026, the duo shares the emotional inspiration behind their Blurred Boundaries collection, balancing creative soul with commercial wisdom, and their ambitious vision for Vietnamese couture on the world stage.