Yang Guang, founder of YouGuang Mandarin School, has been officially nominated for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, one of Canada’s prominent national awards recognizing women entrepreneurs. The nomination recognizes not only her entrepreneurial journey and dedication to education, but also the educational philosophy that has guided YouGuang’s growth from the very beginning.

Established more than 30 years ago, the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards celebrate women who have made meaningful contributions through entrepreneurship, innovation, business leadership, social impact, and community involvement.

YouGuang began as a small Mandarin class. From the start, Yang Guang and her team focused on curriculum development, classroom teaching, and creating their own learning materials. Step by step, they built a comprehensive Mandarin learning system.

As more children and families joined the school, YouGuang gradually grew beyond a traditional language classroom. Today, its educational approach combines a strong foundation in Mandarin with reading, public speaking, drama, and meaningful experiences of Chinese culture.

Throughout this journey, YouGuang has continued to develop its own curriculum and teaching materials while improving its after-class learning system. Drama productions, public-speaking activities, cultural experiences, and the annual Youguang Night give students opportunities to use Mandarin in authentic settings, express themselves, and build confidence.

For YouGuang, this nomination is both an honour and a responsibility.

The true value of education is rarely measured in a short period of time. It is built through every carefully taught lesson and through a school’s long-term commitment to curriculum, teachers, and educational quality. The steady progress of our students and the continued trust of our families are what inspire Youguang to keep moving forward.

We sincerely thank every family who has placed their trust in Youguang, every child who continues to learn and grow with courage, and every teacher and staff member whose professionalism and dedication make this journey possible.

Looking ahead, YouGuang will remain committed to what matters most: developing strong curriculum, delivering high-quality teaching, and helping more children learn Mandarin, understand Chinese culture, express themselves with confidence, and discover more of who they can become.

Where growth happens.