Chinese Aces Skate the Canal

Artist statement submitted by Tia Wong:

Tia Wong’s work uses historical references to evoke feelings of nostalgia, with the aim of bringing attention to global issues. Weaving history into the subject matter of her work creates a conversation with the past, while continuing that dialogue into the present through the audiences who will engage with her work into the future.

Tia’s journey of creating this mural began in March 2024, when Ottawa had just experienced another winter plagued by uncertainty around the opening of the Rideau Canal Skateway. Having attended Carleton University and lived in the Glebe for years, skating the Canal is one of Tia’s favourite winter pastimes. As a lifelong environmentalist, Tia felt the urge to bring her personal emotions about the climate crisis and the fate of the canal into this piece. Much of the canal snakes through and around the Glebe, so the artist sought out stories with a connection between history and our present challenges.

Tia began by looking at historical resources like the Workers History Museum, City of Ottawa Archives, and Library and Archives Canada for articles about the Glebe and the Rideau Canal. Through this research, Tia found a story that perfectly blended two worthwhile angles she wanted to represent: a little-known piece of Glebe lore and the history of the Rideau Canal.

Through the Worker’s History Museum and Denise Chong’s Lives of the Family, Tia learned about a Chinese family that settled in Ottawa in the 1930s. After working hard to bring their families over from China, Sue and Shing Wong each opened grocery stores – one of which was located at 797 Bank Street in the Glebe. Shing’s son, Leslie, was a hockey player who coached and played as goalie for the first all-Chinese team in Ottawa. They called themselves the Chinese Aces, and they spent their days practicing on the Rideau Canal after school.

Tia Wong represents this story with pride through “Chinese Aces Skate the Canal”. The hope is that it encourages viewers to learn about and appreciate the diversity of people who have made the Glebe what it is today. Tia took inspiration from Canadian artists in this mural, such as the Group of Seven, and commercial works like old designs for Tim Horton’s cups and the five-dollar-bill. These references help evoke a feeling of nostalgia for the idyllic scene illustrated in this 30 foot piece. While embracing the past, however, Tia’s ultimate goal is to remind people of what the community stands to lose as we face the impacts of climate change.

“Chinese Aces Skate the Canal”
Latex paint on concrete
2025