Paul Nguyen, OMC MSM (born February 23, 1980) is a Canadian filmmaker. He is an award-winning social activist, journalist and founder of Jane-Finch.com. In 2012, he was among the first 60 Canadians to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal at the inaugural presentation ceremony at Rideau Hall to honour significant contributions and achievements to the country. Citizenship and Immigration Canada featured Nguyen on the list of Notable Canadians of Asian Heritage to highlight valuable contributions made by Canadians of Asian heritage.
Life and career
Nguyen was born in Toronto, Ontario to Vietnamese parents who fled to Canada after the fall of Saigon during The Vietnam War. After graduating from C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute, he attended York University and earned his Bachelor of Arts in film in 2004. Nguyen grew up in the troubled Jane and Finch neighbourhood. In 2004, Nguyen created Jane-Finch.com to address the constant negative media coverage about his community.
Nguyen launched Jane-Finch.com on March 13, 2004 in response to negative stereotypes about the Jane and Finch community. The website gives an unprecedented look at the neighbourhood and features a multimedia library of information. In late 2005, a community news section was added to allow reporters to document local events not covered by the mainstream media. The website produces music videos, public service announcements, and broadcasts local political debates and town halls. In addition to the production of original content, the website also publishes submissions from residents.
The website has received widespread critical acclaim and national media attention. In 2005, the website was featured on the Global Television Network evening newscast, Global National. In late 2005, CBC Radio host Shelagh Rogers featured the website for a special edition of Sounds Like Canada. In 2008, the website was selected by Now Magazine among "9 things we love about Jane-Finch". The website won back-to-back Canadian Ethnic Media Association Awards in 2010 and 2011 for its ongoing community news coverage and the 2011 Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence in the media category.
Nguyen is a frequent media commentator on social issues affecting the Jane and Finch community.
Nguyen has used his media footing to offer his opinion or act as an advocate for various issues.
February 3, 2005, Nguyen appeared on Global National to talk about his viral music video You Got Beef? and Jane-Finch.com.
August 4, 2005, Nguyen appeared on G4 Tech TV's Gadgets and Gizmos detailing his community work in the Jane and Finch area.
October 18, 2005, CBC Radio Metro Morning host Andy Barrie introduced Nguyen's uncensored op-ed "The Real Toronto".
December 2, 2005, Nguyen took CBC host Shelagh Rogers on a tour of Jane and Finch for an episode of Sounds Like Canada.
January 14, 2006, Nguyen appeared on CBC's Canada Now to discuss solutions to gun violence.
May 24, 2007, Nguyen and Mark Simms appeared on CTV's The Verdict with Paula Todd to discuss the Jordan Manners shooting.
Summer 2007, Nguyen discussed the CBC Television documentary Lost in the Struggle in the Ryerson Review of Journalism.
May 12, 2008, Nguyen talked about the growth of Jane-Finch.com in The Toronto Sun.
June 18, 2009, Nguyen appeared on Goldhawk Live with Dwight Drummond and Anthony Perruzza to discuss the future of Jane and Finch.
January 8, 2009, Nguyen spoke out in The Toronto Star against the rebranding of Jane and Finch to University Heights.
January 8, 2010, Nguyen appeared on CBC's Metro Morning to give his opinion on Toronto's unsolved murder rate.
July 5, 2010, Nguyen was interviewed on Radio Canada International's The Link with Marc Montgomery about winning the Paul Yuzyk Award.
October 6, 2010, Nguyen asked then-mayoral candidate Rob Ford how he would help solve the problems in the Jane-Finch area on CBC Radio's Metro Morning.
December 13, 2010, The Honourable Judy Sgro, PC, MP praised Nguyen's community work in the House of Commons of Canada.
June 4, 2012, Nguyen appeared on the CTV News Channel program, National Affairs, to discuss reaction to the Toronto Eaton Centre shooting.
June 29, 2012, Nguyen appeared on Voice of America about being the first Vietnamese-Canadian to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Nguyen has produced several documentaries featuring Toronto's Jane and Finch neighborhood. In 2006, Nguyen served as an associate producer on the Gemini Award-nominated CBC documentary Lost in the Struggle. Nguyen and Mark Simms spent 10 months following the lives of three troubled youth from the Jane and Finch neighborhood. The story was updated 6 years later in Lost in the Struggle: The Next Chapter, airing on CBC on October 26, 2012.
Lost in the Struggle: The Next Chapter (associate producer) (CBC Television, the fifth estate, 2012)
Revealed: Missing the Target (associate producer) (Canwest Global/90th Parallel Prod., 2010)
Goldhawk Live: What's in the future for Jane and Finch? (community associate producer) (Rogers TV, 2009)
Ian Jones: Activist and Artist, How the Steelpan is Changing Lives (director) (Bravo!/Leda Serene Films, 2007)
Give A 'Hood A Bad Name... (producer) (CBC Radio One, "Outfront" 2007)
Lost in the Struggle (associate producer) (CBC Television, the fifth estate, 2006)
Racism: Wash it Away (director) (Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition/MuchMusic, 1999)
2015: Nguyen was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal from Governor General David Johnston for his website in allowing area resident's voices to be heard.
2012: Nguyen received the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada Award from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, David C. Onley, at the Ontario Legislative Building.
2012: Nguyen received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Governor General of Canada, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston and Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, for fighting stereotypes and acting as role model and mentor for at risk youth.
2011: Nguyen received the Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence for preserving the living cultural history of the Jane-Finch neighbourhood. The 37th annual awards ceremony was held at Koerner Hall, the Royal Conservatory of Music.
2011: Nguyen received the Newcomer Champion Award from The Honourable Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. He was recognized as a community leader in the Jane and Finch area who promotes civic engagement with at-risk youth.
2011: Nguyen received the Bobbie Resnick Philanthropy Award from the Toronto chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC/Toronto) for outstanding leadership and service to the community.
2010: Nguyen was granted the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship. He was invested at Queen's Park by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Canada, David C. Onley.
2010: Nguyen received the Canadian Ethnic Media Association (CEMA) Award for best ethnic internet journalism in Canada.
2010: Paul Nguyen received the Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism for making significant contributions to multiculturalism in Canada from the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, The Honourable Jason Kenney, PC, MP. Nguyen received a $20,000 grant towards a non-profit organization of his choice. He was selected among 88 nominees across Canada.
2009: Nguyen was honoured at the City of Toronto's Access, Equity and Human Rights Awards. Nguyen received the William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations for outstanding achievement in fostering a positive race relations environment and the elimination of racism and prejudice in Toronto. The award was presented at Toronto City Hall by City Councillor Gord Perks and the Mayor of Toronto, David Miller.
1999: Nguyen was one of ten winners in Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition. His winning entry was broadcast nationally on MuchMusic. Nguyen was awarded by former Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Status of Women, Dr. Hedy Fry. The winners were selected among 320 entries across Canada. The 1999 winners were brought to Toronto for a March 3 taping of the MuchMusic Stop Racism Concert and Video Awards Program.
Know Your Rights (executive producer), Jane-Finch.com (2010)
Open Your Eyes (director) (2007)
You Got Beef? starring Chuckie Akenz (director) (2004)
