Celebration Team

 

Honorary Celebration Cabinet

  • Denise Chong

Denise Chong is a Canadian writer and economist. She worked as an economist with the Department of Finance . From 1980 to 1984, she served in the Prime Minister's Office as an economics advisor to late Pierre Trudeau .

Her career in writing began with the discovery of her family's roots in China , which led to her memoir, The Concubine's Children: Portrait of a Family Divided, which won the City of Vancouver Book Award in 1994, the Edna Staebler Award , and the VanCity Book Prize, and was for 93 weeks on the bestseller list of The Globe and Mail . Her adaptation of her memoir for the stage premiered at Nanaimo 's Port Theatre in 2004. Her second book is The Girl in the Picture: The Story of Kim Phuc, the Photograph, and the Vietnam War. Both books were finalists for the Governor-General's Literary Non-Fiction Award , have been translated into several languages.

  • Mel Cooper, C.M., O.B.C.

  Mel Cooper, an outstanding business and community leader, was born in St. John's, Newfoundland. Mel Cooper was President and General Manager of three radio stations: C-FAX Victoria and CKOV-AM and CKLZ-FM in Kelowna, and has served four years as President of the British Columbia Association of Broadcasters. From 1967 to 1973 he was also a vice-president of Western Broadcasting Co. Ltd. which owned CKNW and president of Western Broadcast Sales. In addition, he was president from 1970 to 1973 of Western Productions Ltd. His reputation for innovation and creativity brought him a number of board seats, including chair of AirBC and director of Telus Corporation and the Royal Bank of Canada.

For many British Columbians, Mel Cooper will be remembered as the vice president of Expo 86, the person who developed its hugely successful corporate sales plan. In addition to his considerable business flair, Mel Cooper has contributed his time, expertise and inspirational enthusiasm to local, regional and national charities, non-profit boards, foundations and community groups. He has been given awards too numerous to mention from business and industry and as a community leader and humanitarian, awards which include the Order of Canada.

  • Dr. David Lai, C.M., Ph.D.

Dr. David Lai is a retired cultural geographer and professor emeritus with the University of Victoria as well as adjunct professor (Asian studies) and associate researcher (gerontology) with the University of Victoria Centre on Aging. Dr. Lai has also worked for numerous educational and charitable causes, for unity within the Chinese community and for understanding between it and other groups. He has organized Chinese archives for the University, acquired a herbalist's shop for the Provincial Museum, helped to restore historic buildings in Chinatown and opened a care centre for the aged. Dr. Lai is a member of the Order of Canada and has been the recipient of many other national and local awards.

  • Graham S. Lee, CEO, R.G. Properties

Graham Lee is the CEO of RG Porperties Ltd., a privately owned Vancouver-based company employing over 1,000 people specializing in the development, construction, ownership and management of industrial, residential, commercial, and recreational/entertainment properties.

  • Jack W. Y. Lee, C.M., B. Comm.

Founder and Chairman of the Chinese Village Restaurant in Victoria, he has been actively involved in numerous business, educational, cultural and charitable organizations. He has contributed to the battle against racial injustice by greatly improving the relations between the Chinese and non-Chinese communities of South Vancouver Island.

  • Senator Vivienne Poy

  An entrepreneur, author, historian and fashion designer, Senator Vivienne Poy is the first Canadian of Asian descent to be appointed to the Senate of Canada. She served as Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 2003 until 2006. Ms. Poy is currently Chairwoman of Lee Tak Wai Holdings Ltd., and a member of the Board of the Bank of East Asia (Canada). Ms. Poy has been recognized for her contributions to intercultural understanding by many community organizations, receiving a Gold Medal Award of Excellence in Race Relations, an Outstanding Asian Canadian Award from the Canadian Multicultural Council, Asians in Ontario and an Eid-ul-Fitr Award from the Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada.

  • Bing Thom, C.M., M. Arch., F.R.A.I.C.

  Bing Thom, one of Canada's most admired and accomplished architects, is the principal of Bing Thom Architects (BTA), a Vancouver-based firm he founded in 1980. A dedicated and artful city builder, Thom has established a global reputation through his efforts to promote and improve the city of Vancouver. Thom's work includes academic facilities, both stand-alone and as part of larger urban developments, including the legacy buildings at Expo '86 (NWT Pavilion) and Expo '92 (Canada Pavilion). Bing Thom's distinguished career includes being awarded Canada's highest honour, the Order of Canada, for his contribution to architecture, as well as the Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to his country. Mr. Thom is a founding member of the Chinese Cultural Centre that rejuvenated Vancouver's Chinatown and a founding member of Builders Without Borders, a non-profit organization that constructs shelter and teaches building industry skills worldwide to those most in need, without prejudice regarding race, religion, gender, or political affiliations.

  • Don Yuen, President, Fairway Market

  Don Yuen, founder and president of the company, is one of generations of Yuens who have earned their livelihood in the grocery trade, first in China and now in Canada. At the age of nine, Don began working in one of three supermarkets owned by his family in China. After the Yuen family lost their stores to the communists in 1949, he came to Duncan at age 16, to find a better future.

Don began working at an uncle's store, and when his uncle sold the store, began working in a sawmill in Honeymoon Bay.  In 1961, Don moved to Victoria and bought his first grocery store, a corner store in Esquimalt.  This lef to the opening of the first Fairway Market outlet in Victoria in 1963, at Gorge Road, and Don chose a name that is a reflection of his core philosophy: offering "more than fair" prices to customers.

Twent years later, Don expanded into Victoria's Town and Country Shopping Centre.  This was followed by a store in Can West Mall, Colwood Plaza, Shelbourne Plaza and in Athlone Court in Oak Bay.  Stores in Brooks Landing, Nanaimo and in the Port Alberni Plaza round off the chain.

Mel Cooper, C.M., O.B.C.