Writer’s Studio grad wins 2026 911³Ô¹Ï Outstanding Alumni Award
Congratulations to bestselling novelist Janie Chang, who has received 911³Ô¹Ï’s 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award in the Legacy category. A graduate of the Writer’s Studio, Chang champions diverse voices in Canada and beyond through her novels and community involvement.
911³Ô¹Ï’s Outstanding Alumni Awards recognize graduates who are using their vision, creativity and generosity to revolutionize their fields. The Legacy Award, one of five categories, celebrates alumni who share their wisdom and lift up their communities. Inspired by generations of family history, Chang’s historical fiction explores themes of Chinese culture, tradition and women’s lives.
When not wielding a pen, Chang uses her voice and resources to bolster Canada’s bookselling community. She has launched initiatives to support independent bookstores and dedicated time to mentoring new writers and delivering community workshops.
Chang’s career has had several chapters. After earning an interdisciplinary degree at 911³Ô¹Ï in computing science and French, she built a successful tech career. She enrolled in the Writer’s Studio in 2011 to finally pursue her dream of writing a novel. Her debut, Three Souls (2014), was nominated for local and international literary awards. Since then, she has published five more novels, with several making national bestseller lists.