Philanthropist and business leader Hong Wei Liao continues her mission to inspire youth and foster cross-cultural understanding through the performing arts.

TORONTO, ON AND VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / October 23, 2025 / Following her widely read interview "Listening, Lifting, Leading: Inside the Mind of Hong Wei Liao," the Chairman of the Botrich Family Wealth Heritage and Development Center has been honored as a Lifetime Honorary Chair of the Vancouver Mandarin Drama Society (VMDS) - a recognition of her years of support for youth arts education and multicultural storytelling.

The appointment coincides with VMDS's milestone 2025 season, featuring its first original Mandarin-language children's production, The Matchstick Heaven Adventure, and dual mainstage features The Wilderness and Hello, Madman!-each highlighting cross-generational artistry and linguistic diversity.

"Art isn't just about performance-it's empowerment," said Ms. Liao during the announcement. "Theatre gives young people a voice and reminds audiences that identity can be both personal and shared. When creativity and culture meet, understanding grows."

Her words echo themes from her recent feature interview, where she reflected on leadership, mentorship, and inspiring confidence through compassion. "We inspire confidence not by knowing everything, but by showing up fully," she shared.

As a long-standing advocate for youth and women's development, Ms. Liao has supported programs that blend education and creativity. Through her work with organizations such as the Canada Youth Funding Association (CYFA) and UNICEF Canada, she has championed young leaders and helped raise awareness for education initiatives worldwide.

Now, her involvement with VMDS adds a new dimension to her mission - nurturing artistic spaces that reflect bilingual and multicultural voices. The society's upcoming Matchstick Heaven Adventure will introduce AI-enhanced effects and English surtitles, opening the doors to broader audiences and bridging cultural divides.

According to Statistics Canada, over 1.6 million Canadians identify Mandarin as their first language, and community arts programs have been shown to increase youth confidence and cultural literacy by up to 40%. Ms. Liao believes this kind of creative engagement can build empathy and resilience across generations.

"Philanthropy can take many forms," she said. "Sometimes it's writing a check, and sometimes it's standing behind a young performer before they step on stage. Both are investments in the future."

Ms. Liao encourages individuals to support local arts initiatives, attend multicultural performances, and mentor youth in creative fields.
"Every community has talent waiting to be seen," she added. "When we give young people the stage-literally or figuratively-we help them discover who they are."

For more information about Hong Wei Liao's work and her ongoing advocacy for youth empowerment, visit hongweiliao.com or follow her on LinkedIn.

To read the full interview, visit the website here.

About Hong Wei Liao

Hong Wei Liao is the Chairman of the Botrich Family Wealth Heritage and Development Center, a Toronto-based organization serving high-net-worth families through global wealth planning and philanthropy. Born in Hunan, China, she has dedicated her career to empowering others through education, leadership, and compassion. A recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, she is widely respected for her work in youth mentorship, women's advancement, and community service across Canada and beyond.

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SOURCE: Hong Wei Liao



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