FACL BC Journal: Launch Party

FACL BC is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural issue of the FACL BC Journal, a space for contributors and readers to engage with and share content about the legal issues and topics relevant to the pan-Asian Canadian community in British Columbia. Issue I brings together a collection of articles from a diverse group of community contributors and a number of articles written by FACL BC’s committees. At a time when representation, equity, and inclusion remain critical in the legal profession and beyond, we hope this Journal contributes meaningfully to the ongoing dialogue. We are deeply grateful for your continued support in championing diverse voices and helping us bring this vision to life.

Learn more about the FACL BC Journal at faclbc.ca/journal.

Read the beautifully designed PDF edition of the FACL BC Journal, published in April 2025, here.

Join us on Thursday, April 24 from 5:30PM to 9:00PM at the illustrious Shangri-La Hotel to celebrate the official unveiling of FACL BC Journal Issue I at our Launch Party! Come hear from a panel of our contributors on their articles, the importance of creating spaces for and highlighting the perspectives of diverse voices within legal publications, and their experience in submitting to the FACL Journal and the publication process.

Afterwards, mix and mingle with the authors and members of the pan-Asian Canadian legal community during our reception. Drinks and canapés will be provided to keep the conversation going well into the night.

Print copies of Issue I will be available at the Launch Party and we will be hosting a contest to name the FACL BC Journal, with a 1-night stay at the Shangri-La for the winning entry.

Agenda:

• 5:30PM - Doors Open/Registration
• 6:00PM - Opening Remarks / Moderated Panel Discussion
• 7:30PM - Closing Remarks and Reception

Registration is open for FACL BC Members and will close at 5:00PM on Friday, April 18. We encourage you to register early as spaces are limited. The dress code for the event is business formal.

Panelist Biographies

As part of the FACL BC Journal Launch Party, we will host a panel of our contributors who will speak on their articles, the importance of creating spaces for and highlighting the perspectives of diverse voices within legal publications, and their experience in submitting to the FACL BC Journal and the publication process. The panel will be moderated by David How, Marketing Team lead for the FACL BC Journal Subcommittee.

David How (Moderator)

David How is an Associate in the Aboriginal Law Group at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. David attended McGill Law where he completed the joint JD/BCL common and civil law degree prior to returning to his hometown of Vancouver where he joined the Board of Directors of FACL BC and served as the Advocacy Committee Chair for two years. David moved to Ontario in 2024, where he joined FACL ON as a Director and Co-Chair of the Communications Committee. Outside of the law, David is an avid frisbee and volleyball player and lover of travel, having been to all seven continents.

Dr. Carol Liao (Author)

Reflections on Equity and Asian Canadians in the Legal Profession

Dr. Carol Liao is an Associate Professor of the Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia (UBC). She is also the UBC Sauder Distinguished Fellow of the Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics, UBC Sauder School of Business, Chair and Principal Co-Investigator of the Canada Climate Law Initiative, and Co-Director (Academic) of the UBC Centre for Climate Justice.

Simirin Lally (Author)

Gatekeepers to Diversity in the Legal Profession 

(*this piece was jointly authored by Anita Bal, Harveer Garcha, Neelam Jassal, and Simirin Lally)

Simirin Lally is a second-year law student at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and an engaged member of her school and the broader legal community. She sits on the Equity Committee with TRU’s Society of Law Students (SLS) and is an Executive on the TRU SLS annual conference team. She is also currently a Student Director for FACL BC. As a first-generation law student, she is committed to fostering community, supporting her peers, and working toward a more equitable, diverse, and accessible legal profession. Simirin will be joining McMillan LLP as a summer student.

Victor Tai (Author)

A Line Crossed: How Racism Turned Mischief Into a Hate-Motivated Crime Against Chinese Canadians in Bethune and Secreve

Victor Tai is an Articled Student at Martland & Saulnier, a leading Vancouver criminal law firm. Prior to joining the firm, Victor worked as a Paralegal at the BC Prosecution Service. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Victor is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.

Final Notes:

The volunteer-run Journal is published by FACL BC, with funding from the Law Foundation of British Columbia. We are grateful for their support in making this publication possible.

While this event is complimentary, we kindly request that you inform us of any changes to your RSVP as a courtesy to both our panelists and other potential attendees. Timely notification of any changes ensures efficient planning and helps us maintain the quality of our events. Please note that unexplained absences or repeated no-shows to FACL BC events may affect your ability to attend future complimentary events.

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By attending this event, you agree to abide by the FACL BC Event Code of Conduct.

If you have any questions about the Code of Conduct, please email info@faclbc.ca.