About The Founder

Born in Northeast China, Zuo Zhuang grew up under strict parental control, where laughter was discouraged and his love for art and sports dismissed as “unrealistic.” Those early denials left a lasting mark but also planted the seed of his future mission: to create spaces where children’s curiosity and dreams could flourish freely.

By his early thirties, Zuo was a journalist and writer in China, holding a Master’s degree and advancing toward a PhD. Yet, at the height of his career, he chose to leave the doctoral path behind and immigrate to Canada, determined to reinvent his life.

In his fifties, he completed a program in Early Childhood Education at Champlain College. This milestone marked not only the fulfillment of a personal dream but also the beginning of a new journey.

Soon after, with close friends who shared his vision, Zuo founded CTS — Children’s Third Space, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to giving children the freedom, creativity, and joy he once longed for.