Welcome to We Book Club, founded by Ms Michele Xu together with seven members in April 2024, where a vibrant community of Chinese immigrants, entrepreneurs, and highly educated individuals come together to delve into the intricate tapestry of Canada’s economics, politics, and multiculturalism. With open minds and a deep curiosity, we explore the pages of literature as a lens to understand and navigate the diverse landscape of our adopted home. Each meeting is an enriching journey, where diverse perspectives converge, sparking insightful discussions and fostering a deeper appreciation for the rich complexities of the society we are living in. Together, we embark on a literary exploration that not only broadens our understanding but also strengthens our bonds as a community united by a shared thirst for knowledge and understanding.
Directors：
Michele Xu/President
Michele Xu is an economist by training and holds both a law degree and a Master’s degree. She previously served with the Government of Canada as an economist specializing in international affairs, with a particular focus on Canada–China bilateral relations and regulatory policy.
Drawing on more than two decades of real estate investment experience, Michele founded I-Property Group and currently serves clients across the Ottawa and Gatineau residential and commercial real estate markets as a real estate broker.
As one of the founders of We Book Club and a newly elected member of its Board of Directors, Michele is committed to fostering intellectual engagement, community connection, and lifelong learning. She looks forward to continuing to serve the Club’s members and contributing to the growth of a vibrant, informed, and engaged community.
Haiyan Wang/Chief Administration Officer
PhD, DipACLM
With 20 years of experience at Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Haiyan had served as a postdoctoral fellow, research scientist, health product reviewer, unit head, and division manager. Drawing on her strong foundation in science and public health, she translates emerging research into practical guidance that empowers healthier choices and supports long-term well-being.
She is now a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional dedicated to helping individuals improve their health through practical, evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle strategies.
As a newly elected Board Director of We Book Club, Haiyan is excited to support a community that celebrates the joy of reading, lifelong learning, and meaningful connections among seniors and non-seniors.
Hanhong Dan/Chief Operation Officer
A familiar face to many, Hanhong (Duke) has been an active member and passionate volunteer of our book club since day one.
Professionally, Duke devoted over 25 years serving as a genomics and molecular biologist for the Canadian federal government.
Beyond his scientific career, he channels his creativity as a professional wedding/portrait photographer, videographer, and film director. When he isn’t behind a lens, Duke loves diving into books—especially Chinese history and classic literature.
As the newly elected Director, Duke is incredibly grateful for the trust and support of our members. He looks forward to devoting his time and heart to making our club more prosperous and engaging than ever.
《读书会成立宣言》
执笔：叶虻
1847,出版商艾洛特-琼斯公司的办公桌上放着作者分别署名为柯·贝尔、埃·贝尔和阿·贝尔三部小说作品，它们由三篇截然不同、毫无联系的故事组成，他们没有想到是这三位当时在英国文坛名不经传的作者日后出版的作品为十九世纪的世界文学留下了浓墨重彩的一笔，这三部小说的作品就是勃朗特三姐妹的代表作《简爱》、《呼啸山庄》和《艾格妮丝·格雷》。
当初春的渥太华河带着上游劳伦琴高地的融雪和腐殖质穿越加拿大马蹄形地盾上浩瀚的林莽进入安大略东南部的沃野田畴时，一个由十几个华人读书爱好者的小众结社的筹备工作正紧锣密鼓地悄然运行，笔者不由想起那片常年被阴雨笼罩着的、长满了石楠和越橘的霍沃斯小镇的荒原，在一个经济拮据的教区牧师家中，四个兄弟姐妹唯一的乐趣就是共同的阅读和写作，莎士比亚、拜伦、司各特、华兹华斯、坎贝尔、骚塞… …, 这些文坛巨擘的作品为他们日后的创作打下坚实的基础和预备，这无疑是迄今为止世界上最有成效的读书会，因为勃朗特牧师的三个女儿和她们三部以同样的姓氏的代表作品创造世界文坛至今未能打破的奇迹。
2022年10月12日，意大利女宇航员萨曼塔·克里斯托福雷蒂于国际空间站从距离地球420公里的高空，以每小时28000公里的速度飞越北京市上空时，在自己的Twitter账号上引用了《兰亭序》中的“仰观宇宙之大，俯察品类之盛。所以游目骋怀，足以极视听之娱，信可乐也”，公元353年那场为了修禊在会稽郡山阴县举办的文人聚会历尽千年依然在人类文明的上空散发着悠远的光芒。从魏末晋初的竹林七贤到孕育近60名诺贝尔奖的英国剑桥大学的下午茶，从玻尔与海森堡创立的哥本哈根学派到科技群英荟萃的加利福尼亚硅谷，人类历史上每一次知识精英的聚集无疑是文明发展和进步的福祉。2024央视春晚，阿来海木坐在钢琴边自弹自唱的那首《不如见一面》是在过去的一年里最能引起共鸣的一首歌曲，科技的日新月异和社交软件的诞生似乎让今天的人类看上去更孤独，那末我们今天这个以书为名的结社似乎有点灵魂抱团取暖的味道。
当亚历山大大帝拜访坐在木桶的第欧根尼时，问他需要什么，并保证会兑现他的愿望，哲学家回答道：“我希望你闪到一边去，不要遮住我的阳光。”这句被中外躺平青年视为语录的话语在Facebook、微信等社交平台上广为流传。但他们似乎忽略了亚历山大大帝后来的那句意味深长感慨：“我若不是亚历山大，我愿是第欧根尼。” 据说，兰亭的真迹在昭陵的墓葬中，这个开疆扩土、纵横捭阖的君王的品位似乎预示着一个民族文化最璀璨时期的到来并非只是天道巧合，而1989年在极度孤独和绝望的诗人海子迈向山海关铁轨时，他身边只携带《汪洋孤筏》等四部一生钟爱的书籍，而如今社交平台上的那句“面向大海 春暖花开”让我们这个自古以诗文传家的民族的情趣似乎还没有被数字时代的快餐文化所淹没。即将收笔的这一刻，不觉冷雨敲窗，让笔者不由联想起远在数百里的那片春草初生的小湖瓦尔登，我似乎看到一个孤独身影依然在他亲手搭建的小屋边徘徊，还有他那句在二百年后似乎更具哲理的名言“城市是一个几百万人一起孤独地生活的地方。”但有时，梭罗并不那么孤独，他会走进好友爱默生位于波士顿的居所，我们也不孤独，就在一个多月前我们还一起被一个瑞士籍韩国作家的故事所感染，我们依然记得那本书中诗意隽永的结尾：“ I close my eyes like you blow out a candle. Everything fades before the confused spiral of memory , When I reopen them and look in the mirror overhead, my reflection has disappeared”