Latest news with #DreamFactory
Cision Canada
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
Chinese Canadian Museum Celebrates Canada's Role in Three Golden Decades of Cantopop and Mandopop's Global Musical Revolution
Launching Wednesday, May 28, 2025 , and running through to May 31, 2026 , from dazzling music videos and glamorous fashion to the unforgettable voices of Cantopop superstars like Anita Mui , Leslie Cheung and Faye Wong , Dream Factory explores the three-decade rise of popular music sung in Cantonese and Mandarin, and the role Canadians played in the cultural era. Originating in Hong Kong and inspired by Western genres, Cantopop and Mandopop resonated far beyond its geographic origins, shaped the Asian entertainment industry and ignited a global music revolution. More than just music, Cantopop and Mandopop were the nostalgic soundtracks of growing up Chinese in Canada . Dream Factory reclaims these histories by exploring how Chinese Canadian youth connected with pop idols like Jacky Cheung , Andy Lau , Sally Yeh , and Sam Hui — icons who bridged continents and hearts — as well as the many Chinese Canadians who were actively involved in the industry whether in front of the camera, on the stage, or behind the scenes. "Cantopop and Mandopop weren't just music — they were lifelines," says Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee , CEO of the Chinese Canadian Museum. "At a time when waves of immigrants from Hong Kong , Taiwan , and mainland China were arriving in Vancouver — from the late 1960s through the 2000s — these songs carried the pulse of home. They helped newcomers navigate a new world while staying rooted in who they were. The voices of Anita Mui , Leslie Cheung , and Faye Wong didn't just echo through radios — they echoed across generations, linking parents to children, and memories to futures. This music connected the Chinese diaspora in ways no passport ever could." Curated by Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee with Yilin Chen and Bofei Zhang, Dream Factory features a dynamic mix of vintage album art, music videos, eclectic fashion, fan memorabilia, the original hand-written scores of Chinese Canadian composer Joseph Koo and unique installations by contemporary artists, this exhibition tells the story of cross-Pacific cultural exchange — fueled by waves of immigration, family ties, and the global power of pop. "As a cultural museum, our exhibitions aim to reflect the Chinese Canadian identity and stories of lived experiences," explains Grace Wong , Board Chair of the Chinese Canadian Museum. "Cantopop and Mandopop played an important role in helping Chinese Canadians feel connected to their places of origin and to each other, reflecting their struggles, hopes and dreams and offering comfort, connection, and a sense of identity. As a museum, we are honoured to spotlight how this beloved music genre resonated across generations and continents, connecting heritage with home." Set against the backdrop of Chinese Canadian communities — long a hub of transnational culture — Dream Factory invites visitors to step into a dazzling, immersive space that celebrates the glam, grit, and genius of a golden era in Asian pop. This is not just a retrospective — it's a reclamation of a cultural history that belongs at the heart of Canada's story. The Dream Factory feature exhibition highlights include: Fashion Meets Music spotlights the bold vision of six Chinese Canadian fashion designers, including Charlotte Chang , Bev Huynh , Stephanie Kong , Tina Tam , Ric Yuenn , and the iconic Vancouver Chinatown tailoring store, Modernize Tailors . From vintage glam to streetwear edge, their designs reimagine the visual language of Cantopop and Mandopop. spotlights the bold vision of six Chinese Canadian fashion designers, including , , , , , and the iconic Vancouver Chinatown tailoring store, . From vintage glam to streetwear edge, their designs reimagine the visual language of Cantopop and Mandopop. Legendary Sounds - A full-height LED sound wall anchors this immersive space, pulsing with custom-built 1980s-style speakers. Visitors are enveloped in a video projection playlist that brings Cantopop's most beloved stars — Anita Mui , Leslie Cheung , Faye Wong , and others — vividly to life. Their electrifying rock ballads, synth-driven dance tracks, and emotionally charged duets became the soundtrack of longing, rebellion, and joy for a generation of Chinese Canadians. At the heart of it all is a tribute to legendary composer Chinese Canadian Joseph Koo , whose unforgettable handwritten scores defined the cinematic and musical soundscape of Hong Kong's golden era and reverberated through the diaspora. A full-height LED sound wall anchors this immersive space, pulsing with custom-built 1980s-style speakers. Visitors are enveloped in a video projection playlist that brings Cantopop's most beloved stars — , , , and others — vividly to life. Their electrifying rock ballads, synth-driven dance tracks, and emotionally charged duets became the soundtrack of longing, rebellion, and joy for a generation of Chinese Canadians. At the heart of it all is a tribute to legendary composer Chinese Canadian , whose unforgettable handwritten scores defined the cinematic and musical soundscape of golden era and reverberated through the diaspora. Contemporary Art and Film Commissions showcases a show-stopping stage installation by internationally acclaimed artist Ming Wong and Liam Morgan and features vibrant new visual artworks by Bagua Artist Association and commissioned paintings by Ho Tam — a vibrant tribute to the bold aesthetics, emotional intensity, and nostalgic glamour and spectacle of Cantopop performance culture. A new Leslie Cheung documentary by Black Rhino Creative captures the iconic sound, star power, and cultural legacy of the pop singer Leslie Cheung , a voice and star that connected generations across borders. Dream Factory goes beyond the exhibition space with dynamic public programs, including live musical performances, karaoke nights, theatre productions, and film screenings. Educational initiatives such as drama lessons for children, school tours, interactive workshops, and documentary screenings provide opportunities for deeper engagement with the themes of the exhibition. The museum's new retail gift shop, 1889 Trading Co., is also open to the public featuring a curated selection of unique cultural gifts and museum products that celebrate Chinese Canadian heritage. From locally handcrafted artisan creators to exclusive exhibition-inspired one-of-a-kind pieces, the shop is designed to extend the cultural stories found within the museum's walls. The Dream Factory exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the Province of British Columbia and Din Tai Fung North America . For more information about the Chinese Canadian Museum and its current exhibitions, please visit . About the Chinese Canadian Museum | The Chinese Canadian Museum Society of British Columbia is an independent, non-profit organization established in March 2020 to create a museum honouring and sharing Chinese Canadian history, contributions, and living heritage. Guided by its mission statement "Connecting to the Chinese Canadian story – addressing inclusion for all", the Chinese Canadian Museum aspires to provide an invigorating and transformative experience for present and future generations through its exhibitions and educational programming throughout B.C. and Canada . The first of its kind in Canada , the Chinese Canadian Museum opened to the public in 2023, and is located in the historic Wing Sang Building in Vancouver Chinatown. Instagram: @ccmuseumbc Facebook: @ChineseCanadianMuseum Linkedin: @ChineseCanadianMuseum SOURCE Chinese Canadian Museum Media contact: Yvonne Chiang, [email protected]
The Province
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Province
Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, Andy Lau: Cantopop's pop idols showcased in Vancouver Chinatown museum
The exhibition celebrates Canada's role in the global music phenomenon Melissa Lee, CEO oft he Chinese Canadian Museum with the new exhibit, "Dream Factory: Cantopop Mandopop 1980s-2000." Photo by NICK PROCAYLO / Postmedia News For countless Canadian Chinese, the soundtrack of their childhood takes centre stage at Vancouver's Chinese Canadian Museum, where a new exhibit celebrating the rise of Cantopop music opens Wednesday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Dream Factory: Cantopop Mandopop 1980s-2000s showcases popular music sung in Cantonese and Mandarin that swept Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and the communities of the Chinese diaspora in Canada and around the world. For many immigrants to Canada, the music carried 'the pulse of home,' said curator Melissa Karmen Lee. 'This is in many ways an exhibition for our parents,' for that generation 'who immigrated and left behind homes to come here and rebuilt their lives,' said Lee. 'It provides an emotional connection they could reach across and have.' Lee's parents came to Canada in 1967, part of an early wave of immigration from Hong Kong. For the Canadian-born Lee and her generation who grew up in Canada, astride both worlds, the music is more than nostalgia. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's honouring the cultural heritage of our parents and the fact that this mix of being Chinese and growing up in Canada and listening to some Chinese music and western music is really what it means to be Chinese Canadian.' Many of the pop stars that defined the genre — and those working behind the scenes — weren't just from Hong Kong, Taiwan or China, but were products of the Chinese diaspora. That's something the exhibit highlights, said Lee, so people understand that while the genre is 'viewed as an Asian phenomenon, many of these singers had Canadian roots and Canadian ties.' Sally Yeh in 2003. Handout That includes Cantopop diva Sally Yeh, who was born in Taiwan and grew up in Victoria. Early in her career, she did not know how to read and write Chinese and had to write out English phonetics to Cantonese lyrics. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There's also Chinese Canadian composer Joseph Koo, who has been called Godfather of Cantopop for his musical creations that defined Hong Kong in the 70s and 80s. And pop icon Leslie Cheung who, at the height of his career, moved to Vancouver. To this day, fans make a pilgrimage to a memorial bench outside one of his favourite spots, the Teahouse at Stanley Park, on the anniversary of his death. Joseph Koo in 2006. Photo by Handout / Vancouver Sun The exhibition includes a mix of installations by Chinese Canadian artists, vintage album art, music videos, and fan memorabilia. Original handwritten scores by Koo, who died in Metro Vancouver in 2023 at age 91, are displayed. Hundreds of artists are featured in various ways throughout the exhibition, including music legends Teresa Teng, Anita Mui and Faye Wong and the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Leon Lai and Aaron Kwok. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A fashion section shows the work of Chinese Canadian designers who redesigned some of the costumes worn by the pop superstars. There's a floor-to-ceiling LED sound wall with custom-built 1980s-style speakers playing Cantopop hits, with hundreds more accessible at listening stations where visitors can be immersed in the music of that age. Leslie Cheung in Vancouver in 1999 Photo by Peter Battistoni / Vancouver Sun For Lee, who described the exhibit as her 'dream exhibit, the one I always knew I wanted to do,' the connection was personal. She vividly remembers going with her parents' to their friends' homes and playing with other kids to the strains of Cantopop. One song resonated: Cheung's bright and bouncy 1986 chart-topping hit, Monica. 'It's this pivotal song, which is on our exhibition, and I remember we as seven- and eight-year olds just dancing to this song,' said Lee. 'That's a core memory of mine.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And not just hers. According to Lee's research, there was a boom that year of Chinese Canadian baby girls named Monica. Listening to Cantopop perhaps set Chinese Canadians apart from mainstream Canadian culture back in the 80s and 90s, but that's something Lee wants to reclaim as part of Canada's story. 'The music always has been a key part of culture an Canadian culture, but in many ways it was left out,' she said. 'But it was so emotional and important and sparked the imagination of many in the Chinese Canadian community.' Dream Factory runs to May 31, 2026 at the Chinese Canadian Museum at the Wing Sang building in Vancouver's Chinatown. Also on exhibit: A Soldier for All Seasons, on the third floor, which features overlooked stories of Chinese Canadian soldiers in the Second World War. chchan@ Read More News Vancouver Canucks Hockey Vancouver Canucks News
Korea Herald
25-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
LG Innotek to invest W600b in Gumi plant
LG Innotek said Tuesday that it has signed a 600 billion won ($408 million) investment agreement with North Gyeongsang Province and Gumi City. The electronics parts maker plans to utilize the investment to expand the mass production lines for flip chip ball grid array and introduce new facilities for the production of high-value camera modules. The investment period will span from next month to December next year. Prior to the latest deal, LG Innotek signed an investment agreement with Gumi City in 2022 and made a large-scale investment of 1.4 trillion won in its Gumi operations. The last investment enabled LG Innotek to acquire Gumi Plant 4, covering a total floor area of 230,000 square meters. The facility has since been transformed into a key production base for its new FC-BGA business, known as the 'Dream Factory.' Additionally, the company expanded its production lines for mobile camera modules. Through the additional investment, LG Innotek aims to accelerate the enhancement of its competitiveness in the substrate and optical solution businesses. It has incorporated cutting-edge IT technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and digital twins into the Dream Factory, which officially began mass production of PC-use FC-BGA for global Big Tech clients in December. Starting this year, LG Innotek will focus on securing additional FC-BGA customers while advancing next-generation substrate technologies, including glass key integration, to grow its FC-BGA business into a multi-trillion-won industry. To solidify its position as the global leader in camera modules and enhance cost competitiveness in its optical solutions business, LG Innotek plans to operate a dual production system: legacy model products will be manufactured at its Vietnam plant, while high-value camera modules for new models will be produced at the Gumi plant. "Gumi is a strategically vital hub for LG Innotek's key businesses," said CEO Moon Hyuk-soo. "We will continue investing to create maximum customer value while fostering mutual growth with local communities and partner companies."
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Who Can Actually Do Your Digital Transformation? Your Summer Intern.
Employees Finally Have The Tools To Fix Their Own Bottlenecks. No central IT needed. LAS VEGAS, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DreamFactory and Adalo have announced a strategic partnership to eliminate data bottlenecks and empower employees to build business applications without IT intervention. The problem with making things better in corporate AmericaThey are called 'data silos' for a reason, and the bigger the company, the harder it becomes for any innovative spirit to come to life. Within the basement of many Global 2000 companies lies a farm of mainframes multiple decades old, and custom-enterprise contracts require any actual customization to occur through pre-approved consultants armed with GANTT charts that never measure beneath 12 months in length. Legacy systems even stopped DOGE, eliciting cabinet-level frustration from Elon Musk himself that 'these systems are so old, my people cannot even connect to the data to see what's going on.' No wonder 70% of digital transformation projects fail, according to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG)1. Bottleneck buster DreamFactory and Adalo have partnered to end this 'integration madness'–providing instant plumbing to old systems and the canvas for employees to create the applications they need to get stuff done–all without any need for coding. DreamFactory, a LLM and Application Data Gateway, automates what what many firms are struggling with–connecting old and new systems together while adhering to strict data compliance and security. Through creating a portfolio of standardized Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) behind the corporation's firewall (even in an air-gapped environment such as the DoD), DreamFactory creates a Control Layer for all system data. These APIs are then federated by Roles Based Access Control, meaning that central IT can determine who gets access to what type of data, solving the problem of LLMs retrieving sensitive data and giving it to those it shouldn't (known as the deterministic data problem in AI). Adalo then takes the data served through DreamFactory's APIs and is able to represent it in any type of application that a team needs. Featuring a drag-and-drop visual canvas with intuitive flows, Adalo is a No Code builder optimized for creating full-scale applications, including automatic publishing to Apple and Google Play App Stores. Executive Insight'We're seeing summer interns looking to take on eight-figure business problems–solving the pain associated with legacy systems that are just too expensive to replace. A great example is a workforce dependent on an ERP and several other systems. Instead of slaving internal processes to what these systems need, eating up employee and manager time, companies are creating custom apps in-house that are fast and intuitive. The idea is these fast internal apps then feed the relevant information back to the older systems. The employees bypass consultants, central IT resourcing, and often any imposed cost centre thresholds. Then, of course, there is a real win and sense of ownership for the team,' said James Crennan, CEO of Adalo and Chair of DreamFactory. Why It Matters:Legacy systems are bleeding corporate budgets dry while throttling innovation and security. The numbers are staggering: IT Budget Drain: Companies spend up to 80% of their IT budgets just maintaining outdated systems instead of innovating (McKinsey, 2023). Globally, legacy maintenance costs exceed $1.14 trillion per year (Mechanical Orchard, 2025). Productivity Black Hole: Employees waste up to three hours per day due to slow, fragmented legacy systems, costing businesses $35,000 per employee annually (UK Productivity Report, 2024). IT teams are equally drained—spending up to 25 hours per week patching legacy systems (CIO Dive, 2024). Cybersecurity Risks: Aging infrastructure is a prime target for hackers, with unpatched vulnerabilities being the root cause of major breaches like Equifax (147M records exposed) and WannaCry ($4 billion in damages) (Forbes, 2023). Regulatory & Compliance Headaches: Outdated IT makes it harder to meet data regulations like GDPR and CCPA, leading to over $2 billion in fines in 2023 (Statista, 2024). Development Bottlenecks: Legacy-bound companies take 6-18 months longer to launch new digital products, forfeiting 3-8% in annual revenue due to missed market opportunities (Forrester, 2023). Companies that modernize see up to 40% gains in productivity, 50% faster transaction speeds, and IT cost reductions of up to 41% (McKinsey, 2024). The message is clear: modernizing outdated systems isn't just an IT decision—it's a business survival strategy. Call to Action:For senior executives ready to accelerate their digital transformation, discover how Adalo and DreamFactory are turning everyday employees into agents of change. Reach out to Adalo today for more information or to schedule a demo. About AdaloAdalo is a leading no-code platform that empowers businesses to build web and mobile applications with a simple drag-and-drop interface. Serving startups to enterprise teams, Adalo transforms ideas into impactful digital solutions without the need for extensive coding. About DreamFactoryDreamFactory is an API integration platform that automatically generates secure REST APIs for diverse data sources, unifying legacy and modern systems under one secure access control plane. Its innovative approach enables enterprises to integrate and extend critical systems efficiently and securely. Contact Information James Crennan - CEO Adalo, Chairman DreamFactory - +1 (775) 577-7769 Glen Little - Director of Operations, Adalo - Terence Bennett - CEO DreamFactory - References Boston Consulting Group (2020) Flipping the Odds on Digital Transformation Success. Available at: (Accessed: 12 March 2025). McKinsey & Company (2023) AI for IT modernization: Faster, cheaper, better. Available at: (Accessed: 12 March 2025). Mechanical Orchard (2025) Legacy's drag on productivity. Available at: (Accessed: 12 March 2025). UK Productivity Report (2024) The cost of inefficient systems on workforce productivity. Available at: (Accessed: 12 March 2025). CIO Dive (2024) The hidden costs of maintaining legacy IT. Available at: (Accessed: 12 March 2025). Forbes (2023) How outdated IT led to major cybersecurity breaches. Available at: (Accessed: 12 March 2025). Statista (2024) Global fines for data compliance failures. Available at: (Accessed: 12 March 2025). Forrester Research (2023) The impact of legacy systems on revenue and digital agility. Available at: (Accessed: 12 March 2025). McKinsey & Company (2024) The cost of technical debt and modernization ROI. Available at: (Accessed: 12 March 2025). 1 'Flipping the Odds of Digital Transformation Success' - BCGSign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Local event aims to assist critically and chronically ill children
The Dream Factory of Northwest Missouri hosted their 5th annual Quarter Auction and Vendor Fair on Saturday in order to help deliver "dreams" to critically and chronically ill children. The event drew a large crowd of people wanting to help support the cause and possibly take home some prizes. There were different tiers of raffle prizes, with bid prices ranging from 25 to 75 cents. Rita Hook, the chapter director for The Dream Factory of Northwest Missouri, explained that events like this are beneficial to the organization because fulfilling children's dreams, like going to Disney World, is expensive. "It does cost," Hook said. "Airfare especially has gotten really high for us." Hook shared why she enjoys seeing children's dreams get granted. "It's just to make the child, to kind of get away from their medical issues, doctors visits," Hook said. "As a family unit they can get away and not have to worry about any of that. Just have fun with each other." More information about The Dream Factory can be found at
