For Jessie Li, winner of the ISSofBC art contest, drawing has never just been a hobby—it has been a compass for navigating identity, settlement, and belonging.
Finding a voice between two worlds
Although Jessie was born in Canada, she spent her early childhood moving back and forth between Canada and China before officially settling in British Columbia around Grade 5. Stepping into a new classroom and adjusting to life in a different country was overwhelming at first.
“It was honestly pretty terrifying until I finally made friends and found my footing,” Jessie recalls. “Living in Richmond made things a lot easier because the community felt so familiar, and moving between two places kind of taught me to be an observer—drawing just became my go-to way of figuring out who I am and making sense of everything around me.”
For as long as she can remember, sketching has been second nature. Fuelled by a deep curiosity about the world—especially history, social studies, and learning new languages—Jessie discovered that visual art was the thread that connected all of her passions together. Seeing people resonate with her visual stories inspired her to pursue art as her future career path.
Carrying cultural roots into the future
That love for history and cultural continuity is at the heart of Jessie’s winning piece, Foundations of Tomorrow. Rather than viewing tradition and modern innovation as opposites, her artwork celebrates how our roots shape where we are going.
“Through my interest in history, I’ve come to realize that the future isn’t just something made from scratch; it’s deeply rooted in the stories and traditions that came before us,” Jessie explains. “With Foundations of Tomorrow, I wanted to show that technology shouldn’t erase our cultural roots, but rather support preserving and carrying them forward, which feels really natural given how much we balance our past with where we’re going every day.”
Building belonging without language barriers
Looking back on her own experience as the quiet new student in Grade 5, Jessie understands how isolating the early days of settlement can feel when language gets in the way. Through her work, she hopes to create a space of warmth and connection for others navigating similar transitions.
“In a multicultural space where so many of us share these cross-cultural, moving-around stories, visual art gives us a place to connect without any language barriers,” she says. “It shows us how much common ground we actually share, supporting everyone in feeling like they belong.”
Owning your unique story
Today, Jessie hopes her artwork offers viewers a comforting sense of warmth—like stepping into a familiar story they can immediately relate to. For other young artists and newcomer youth finding their voice in a new community, her message is simple: embrace every part of your journey.
“My biggest advice for other young artists is to just own your unique story,” Jessie shares. “Even the scary, uncomfortable parts of growing up end up becoming your strongest creative asset!”
When we celebrate young voices like Jessie’s and support youth in sharing their heritage, we nurture community well-being and build a stronger Canada for everyone.
