Fiona Tinwei Honoured
June 30th, 2026
The Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop (ACWW) has named Vancouver writer Fiona Tinwei Lam as the recipient of the 2026 ACWW Community Builders Award. The annual award recognizes individuals and organizations whose work advances racial equity, inclusion and advocacy for Asian Canadian communities.
Lam was honoured for her literary achievements and her longstanding commitment to mentorship, education and community-building. During the rise in anti-Asian racism throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she was recognized for using her writing and public advocacy to foster understanding and empathy.
From 2022 to 2024, Lam served as Vancouver’s Poet Laureate, where she launched the City Poems Project, a series of initiatives encouraging residents to explore the city’s diverse histories, communities and landscapes through poetry. Her work as a poet, editor and educator has helped shape Vancouver’s literary community for decades.
Fiona Tinwei Lam is the author of Intimate Distances, Enter the Chrysanthemum, Odes & Laments and the children’s book The Rainbow Rocket. Her poetry and prose have appeared in more than 45 anthologies, and she teaches creative writing through Simon Fraser University Continuing Studies.
The ACWW Community Builders Award has previously been presented to writers, publishers and community leaders including Roy Mah, Wayson Choy, Paul Yee, Roy Miki, Fred Wah, Joy Kogawa, Evelyn Lau, Tradewind Books and Larry Wong.
The award celebrates Lam’s lasting impact on Canadian literature and her dedication to supporting Asian Canadian writers and communities.
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