Honouring the Memory of Anjulia Wong

To honour the memory of his late wife Anjulia, Kam Wong walked an incredible 1200 km from Lausanne, Switzerland to Rome, Italy from September 3 to November 11 this year. This remarkable gesture raised a pledged amount over $5400 for the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming offered by Let’s Talk Science Outreach at no cost to educators and students in the Ottawa and surrounding area.

Unexpectedly, Anjulia Wong passed away in the spring of 2018. The news was devastating to everyone who knew her including the Let's Talk Science community.

Kam and Anjulia enjoyed completing a similar walk each year, making this a fitting way to remember her life. Kam was joined by their daughters Bonnie and Anice, who walked the first and last 150 km, scattering her ashes in Lake Geneva and Lake Bolsena as if she was travelling with them.

Anjulia Wong was a volunteer with a generous spirit and a deep passion for science outreach. As a volunteer with Let’s Talk Science Outreach in Ottawa (University of Ottawa and Carleton University) and a retired scientist, she eagerly dedicated her time to educating the next generation of young Canadians, sharing her knowledge and supporting the development of her fellow volunteers.

“I love volunteering because I love science. I love watching kids learning new things in everyday life around them, enjoying hands-on activities and showing their curiosity. At the same time, I’m learning too." - Anjulia Wong

“Anjulia was a very active volunteer at our site - so generous, fun and warm. We were so fortunate to have her volunteer with us and we miss her dearly. The generosity of this family is honestly beyond any I have ever seen,” said Sue McKee, Director, Let’s Talk Science Outreach in Ottawa (University of Ottawa and Carleton University).

Kam’s graduating class also donated money that was used to create the Anjulia Wong Volunteer of the Year Award, eligible to volunteers from Let’s Talk Science Outreach in Ottawa. Past recipients include volunteers Priyam Maini (2018) and Braydon Hall (2019). Kam, Bonnie, Anice and their family attend the celebration every year to give out the award and speak about Anjulia’s love of life and volunteering.

In addition to the money raised through the walk and the annual award, the Wong family asked that any donations go to supporting the Outreach site.

Let’s Talk Science would like to sincerely thank the Wong family for their generosity and continued dedication to STEM outreach in the Ottawa area.

If you are looking to share your passion for STEM with Canadian youth please consider becoming a volunteer!