On Dec. 19, 2025, Dr. Philip Laird (TWU senior vice president) was given the Ambassador Award by Ambassador Wang Di, the Chinese ambassador to Canada. The ceremony brought together leaders from government, education, and community sectors to recognize Canadians who have contributed meaningfully to the ongoing relationship between China and Canada.
For Laird, the moment marked more than a professional milestone. It reflected decades of quiet, sustained work centred on education, trust, and cross-cultural understanding. “As senior vice president of Trinity Western University in Greater Vancouver, Canada, it is a great honour to receive the Ambassador Award,” Laird said in his remarks. He expressed gratitude to the Chinese government, the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa, and colleagues who have worked alongside him over many years.
A career shaped by global engagement
Laird’s involvement in Canada-China educational cooperation spans more than 30 years. Over that time, he has travelled to China more than 100 times, working closely with universities, educators, and regional partners in areas such as Tianjin and Hubei. His work has focused on English teacher training, talent development, and creating pathways for long-term academic exchange.
“For decades, students, scholars, and educators have travelled between our two nations, learning from one another and building bridges of understanding,” Laird said. He noted that thousands of teachers, students, researchers, business leaders, and retirees have participated in these exchanges, strengthening relationships that extend far beyond individual programs.
Through these experiences, Laird has observed significant change. He has witnessed China’s education and research landscape evolve rapidly, with growing global influence in fields ranging from engineering and health sciences to digital commerce and artificial intelligence.
“These achievements inspire educational institutions around the world, including right here in Canada,” he said.
Trinity Western University’s global presence
At Trinity Western University, Laird has been instrumental in shaping the institution’s global engagement strategy. His work has helped position the University as a trusted partner in international education, committed to academic excellence, cultural respect, and ethical leadership.
TWU President Todd Martin emphasized this legacy in his congratulations, stating that Laird has represented Trinity Western “with integrity and distinction” and has built “enduring educational partnerships between the Chinese and Canadian people.” He also highlighted how Laird’s leadership reflects TWU’s mission as a global Christian university serving the world through education.
While diplomatic relationships between nations can fluctuate, Laird believes universities play a unique and stabilizing role.
“What I do know is that diplomatic relationships will go up and down,” he said, “but the person-to-person, human-to-human relationships are the cord that holds us together through those ups and downs.”
Looking ahead with hope
Laird’s commitment to cross-cultural understanding continues beyond institutional partnerships. His forthcoming book, The China I Know, draws on decades of firsthand experience to explore similarities and differences between Eastern and Western ways of thinking, as well as the importance of curiosity, humility, and listening in global engagement.
“I am hopeful and confident that the relationship between Canada and China will continue to grow,” he said, pointing to education as one of the most enduring bridges between the two countries. Add: Subsequent developments, including Prime Minister Carney’s visit to China on January 16, 2026, aligned with Laird’s emphasis on the value of continued dialogue and engagement between the two nations. As the ceremony concluded, the significance of the Ambassador Award became clear. It recognized not only a distinguished career but a way of working rooted in patience, respect, and service. For Laird, and for Trinity Western University, it served as a reminder that lasting impact is often built quietly, one relationship at a time, through the steady work of bringing people together.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students for life. Uniting faith and reason through Christian teaching and scholarship, TWU is a research institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the humanities and sciences as well as in several professional schools. It has campuses in Canada in Langley, Richmond, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca.