Our story
CDCHA (Chinese Dragon Culture Heritage Association) began with a chance encounter and a shared passion.
Our founders, Yana Zhang and Jenny Huang, were both international students at Cape Breton University (CBU) when they met during a multicultural festival organized by the university. United by their love for Hanfu and traditional Chinese culture, they quickly became friends and collaborators—launching a Chinese dance troupe that combined elegant movement with cultural storytelling.
Starting with small performances on campus, their work quickly gained recognition. As the troupe expanded and more talented members joined, the number of performance invitations and cultural outreach opportunities grew as well. It soon became clear that a formal organization was needed to support this growing mission.
In 2024, CDCHA was officially established as a non-profit cultural association. Since then, we have brought Chinese culture into schools, senior homes, and community spaces across Eastern Canada through dance dramas, heritage workshops, and festival events.
At CDCHA, we believe that culture is a gentle bridge between people—and ours was built from a moment of genuine connection.
"We envision becoming one of the most impactful Chinese cultural organizations in Eastern Canada—where people of all backgrounds and ages can encounter, experience, and contribute to the richness of Chinese culture. Through artistic expression and cultural exchange, we strive to foster a warm, inclusive community where heritage becomes a living dialogue."
Our team
Yan (Yana) Zhang
Executive Director and Co-founder of CDCHA
Yan Zhang (Yana) is an MBA candidate and an inheritor of Chinese paper-cutting. With leadership experience in aviation and art education, Yana leads CDCHA’s cultural programs—introducing dragon dance, paper cutting, and shadow puppetry to communities and schools across Nova Scotia.
Xiaojing (Jenny) Huang
Artistic Director & Co-founder of CDCHA
Xiaojing Huang (Jenny) is a dancer and visual designer with backgrounds in choreography, stage design, and entrepreneurship. Jenny integrates Hanfu, traditional dance, and folk arts into modern stage work, promoting Chinese culture through creative and community-centered performances.
Bob Liu
Board Member
A respected education leader in Canada, serving as President of CBLC, and Special Advisor to the President (International) at CBU and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award.
Shiwei Wang
Board Member
International recruitment specialist with strong cultural engagement experience, contributing global perspective and community insight to CDCHA.
Xiaobei Jin
Financial Director
Experienced finance professional with 20+ years in administration, accounting, and compliance, supporting CDCHA’s sustainable financial operations.
Alex Yang
Volunteer
Airline captain and experienced calligraphy artist, presenting traditional Chinese calligraphy through demonstrations and cultural outreach.
Bo Gong
Volunteer – Bamboo Flute
Contributors to the dissemination of Chinese culture
Alex Li
Volunteer-Flute performer
Classically trained bamboo flute musician with extensive performance experience in China and Canada, promoting cross-cultural musical exchange.
Felicia Zhou
Volunteer
Cultural performer and workshop leader, teaching paper cutting and Tai Chi and presenting traditional dance at community events.
Bessie Dai
Volunteer
Finance and education professional leading school-based cultural activities, including calligraphy, festival traditions, and heritage crafts.
Chappell Chen
Volunteer
Community development advocate supporting CDCHA programs and promoting cultural identity and newcomer involvement.
