12 Facts About Wayson Choy

Choy, whose birth name was Choy Way Sun, was born in Vancouver on April 20,1939 and was adopted by parents Toy and Lilly.

Wayson Choy graduated from Gladstone Secondary School and went on to attend the University of British Columbia, where he studied creative writing.

Wayson Choy was the first Chinese-Canadian student accepted into the program.

Wayson Choy learned later in life that he had been adopted, which formed part of the basis for his memoir Paper Shadows.

In 2001, Wayson Choy suffered an asthma attack, which led to him being placed in a medically induced coma for 11 days during which he suffered cardiac arrest.

Wayson Choy remained in hospital for four months to recuperate and recover with physiotherapy.

Wayson Choy published a number of short stories while studying creative writing at the University of British Columbia, with one of his stories appearing in the annual Best American Short Stories anthology, but after graduating he devoted himself primarily to teaching, resuming writing only later in life.

Wayson Choy moved to Toronto in 1962, where he taught English at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate, then at Humber College from 1967 to 2004.

Wayson Choy continued to teach at the Humber School for Writers, and served as president of the Cahoots Theatre Company.

Wayson Choy published his first novel, The Jade Peony in 1995.

In 2009 Wayson Choy published Not Yet: A Memoir of Living and Almost Dying, his second and final memoir about dealing with the life-threatening health challenges.

Wayson Choy was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2005.