Ai Thien Tran.
A leader of Ottawa’s Vietnamese-Canadian community has been chosen as one of the country’s “Top 25 Immigrants” for 2012, an honour reflecting Ai Thien Tran’s dedication to numerous causes, including the planned Vietnamese Boat People Museum in Centretown.
In addition to being a probation officer at the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Tran is currently co-ordinator of fundraising for the museum set to start construction in 2013 at 105 Preston St.
Tran is the first Vietnamese-Canadian to win one of Canada’s Top 25 Immigrant Awards, presented by Canadian Immigrant Magazine in May and sponsored by the RBC banking corporation.
This year, more than 28,000 Canadians voted online to choose the top Canadian immigrant, the largest number of participants since the award program began in 2009.
“Newcomers bring their unique skills and talents, which benefit us all and enrich Canada’s productivity and diversity,” says Paul Sy, director of multicultural markets at RBC.
Tran was nominated by Dr. Daphne Nahmiasn, his former professor at McGill University.
“I was surprised but felt proud when I was told that I had,” says Tran. “I also felt proud because I shared this honor alongside with some of the most incredible community leaders who represented their communities across Can-ada.”
Tran began his journey when he left Vietnam in 1989 as a 20-year-old boat person. After spending 12 years as a refugee in the Philippines, he married a long-lost friend who had previously immigrated to Montreal and re-established contact with him. In 2001, she sponsored him to come to Canada.
Although faced with many obstacles as a newcomer to Canada, Tran showed great determination. He enrolled in the social work program at McGill University and graduated with honours.
In 2006, Tran won the Golden Key award, which recognizes individuals for academic excellence while balancing additional commitments, such as family, career and community leadership.
Tran is actively involved in the Vietnamese Canadian Federation and the Ottawa Parole Office’s citizen advisory committee.
The Vietnamese Boat People Museum project was launched in 2005 by the Vietnamese Canadian Federation and in 2009 organizers secured the proposed site on Preston Street. Although construction on the museum has not yet begun, it is slated to start in 2013 and open in 2015.
In the 1970s, Canada received numerous Vietnamese refugees and a large number made their way to Ottawa between 1979 and 1982. A significant number came to Ottawa because of Marion Dewar, Ottawa’s mayor at that time, implemented Project 4000, an effort to find sponsors for 4,000 Vietnamese refugees.
In 1995, the Vietnamese Commemorative Monument was unveiled at the corner of Preston and Somerset streets to show the contributions of the Vietnamese community, something that the museum will showcase as well.
Yasir Naqvi, MPP for Ottawa Centre, said the museum, “will serve as a testament to the sacrifices they made, instilling pride within the Vietnamese community, and allowing the greater community a chance to learn and understand the challenges the Boat People faced.”
Naqvi says he’s confident there will be success in the federation’s vision to create a world-class museum that celebrates the Vietnamese –Canadian heritage.
The purpose of the museum is to showcase the flight to freedom of Vietnamese refugees, most of whom– like Tran – fled the country by boat.
“Never give up hope, no matter what happens in our lives,” is Tran's advice to immigrants who are new to Canada. “My favourite motto is that ‘The only thing that stands between a person and what he or she wants to do in life is the will to try it and the faith to believe it is possible.