Chinese-Canadian author Wayson Choy has been named winner of this year’s George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding long-time contributions to B.C. literature.

The author was raised in Vancouver’s Chinatown during the 1940s, and was the first Chinese-Canadian student to enroll in a creative-writing class at the University of British Columbia. His most recent novel, All That Matters (Doubleday Canada), was shortlisted for the 2004 Scotiabank Giller Prize. He has taught creative writing at Toronto’s Humber College for more than four decades.

Vancouver Public Library chief librarian Sandra Singh says in a press release:

“We are delighted to be recognizing Wayson Choy for his considerable literary contributions. His works over the years have served as a critical thread in B.C.’s diverse literary fabric. His stories connect us, help us understand our city’s past, and let us see life through a different perspective. He has helped tear down barriers between cultures and generations.”

Choy will be presented with the $5,000 prize at a public ceremony at VPL’s central branch on June 11.