History

August 29, 2011: Founding Date. After being contacted by Judge Maryka Omatsu, who co-founded the Ontario chapter of Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, FACL BC's first president, Serene Chow, organizes a meeting with representatives of Asian-Canadian legal groups to form the BC chapter of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers. 

October 11, 2011: First Official Meeting. The first official meeting of FACL BC is held at Allard Hall, where the inaugural board of directors was elected.

November 22, 2012: Inaugural Gala. FACL BC's first gala is held at Kirin Restaurant on Alberni Street. Approximately 130 attendees were in attendance.

March 26, 2018: Incorporation Date. The Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (British Columbia) Society ("FACL BC") is incorporated under British Columbia's Societies Act

November 28, 2020: FACL BC receives funding from the Law Foundation of BC to create its documentary, But I Look Like a Lawyer.

November 5, 2021: FACL BC premieres its documentary to over 1,000 people worldwide online, supported by 36 community organizations.

December 31, 2021: FACL BC's documentary receives a Clawbies Award for Best Innovative Project.

November 5, 2022: FACL BC's documentary screens at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival.

December 31, 2022: FACL BC's podcast receives a Clawbies Award for Best Podcast.

October 23, 2023: FACL BC receives funding from the Law Foundation of BC to launch a journal and hire its first Associate Director, paid part-time staff position.

November 17, 2023: FACL BC hosts its largest Gala in history, with 767 people in attendance at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, making it one of the largest legal events of the year in BC.

January 15, 2024: FACL BC meets with the Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Justice, the Honourable Arif Virani regarding federal and provincial judicial vacancies and the need to appoint more diverse lawyers to the Bench.

April 9, 2024: FACL BC meets with the Attorney General of British Columbia, the Honourable Niki Sharma, KC, to discuss the proposed single legal regulator regime, later tabled as Bill 21 - Legal Professions Act.

April 22, 2024: FACL BC meets with Erika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the US President and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Senior Liaison to discuss cross-border advocacy for the Asian legal community in Canada and the US.

May 1, 2024: FACL BC's Associate Director joins.

June 5, 2024: FACL BC receives the Canadian Bar Association's Touchstone Award.

June 20, 2024: FACL BC publishes its Follow Up Position Paper on Bill 21 - Legal Professions Act.

June 26, 2024: FACL BC publishes the first edition of its Annual Report.

Past Boards of Directors

FACL BC thanks and recognizes the tireless efforts and dedication of our past board members, all of whom were instrumental to the development and growth of FACL BC today:

2011-2012 Board of Directors

President: Serene S.Y. Chow 

VP Fundraising: David Namkung 

VP Communications & Membership: Jennifer Lau 

Treasurer: Philip C.M. Huynh

Secretary: Lori H. Lam 

Members-at-Large: Honourable Madam Justice Maryka Omatsu, Jim M.J. AlamCandace ChoAgnes HuangKevin NakanishiMary Salaysay 

Student Directors: May Au, Maria Kim-Bautista

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2012-2013 Board of Directors

President: Serene S.Y. Chow 

VP Fundraising: David Namkung 

VP Communications & Membership: Jennifer Lau 

Treasurer: Philip C.M. Huynh

Secretary: Lori H. Lam 

Conference & Gala Committee Co-Chair: Harpreet Dosanjh

Members-at-Large: Honourable Madam Justice Maryka Omatsu, Jim M.J. AlamCandace ChoAgnes HuangKevin NakanishiMary Salaysay, Vincent K.S. Yip

Student Committee Chair: Chen Zhao

Student Directors: May Au, Maria Kim-Bautista

2013-2014 Board of Directors

President: Serene S.Y. Chow 

VP Fundraising: Jeetesh Rup

VP Communications & Membership: David Namkung

VP Operations: Janis Ko

Treasurer: Philip C.M. Huynh

Secretary: Julia Lin

Conference & Gala Committee Co-Chair: Enoch Chang 

Members-at-Large: Honourable Madam Justice Maryka Omatsu, Jim M.J. AlamCandace ChoAgnes HuangKevin NakanishiMary Salaysay, Jennifer Lau, Lori H. Lam

Student Committee Chair: Chen Zhao

Student Directors: May Au, Maria Kim-Bautista

2014-2015 Board of Directors

President: Serene S.Y. Chow 

VP Fundraising: Jeetesh Rup

VP Operations: Janis Ko

Treasurer: Philip C.M. Huynh

Secretary: Julia Lin

Members-at-Large: Honourable Madam Justice Maryka Omatsu, Jim M.J. Alam Agnes Huang, Maria Kim-Bautista, Kevin Nakanishi, Lori H. Lam, Jennifer Lau, Karla Mukai, Mary Salaysay

Student Director: May Au


2015-2016 Board of Directors

President: Jennifer Lau

Vice-PresidentDavid Namkung

Secretary-Treasurer: Maria Kim-Bautista

Past-PresidentSerene S.Y. Chow 

Advisor-LiaisonHonourable Madam Justice Maryka Omatsu

Director of Communications & Membership: Janis Ko

Members-at-Large: Jim M.J. AlamAgnes HuangKevin NakanishiLori H. LamJulia Lin, Karla Mukai, Mary SalaysayWill TaoPablo Tseng, Louisa Winn, K.C.

Student Director: Samson Chan

2016-2017 Board of Directors

President: David Namkung

Vice-PresidentMaria Kim-Bautista 

Secretary-Treasurer: Louisa Winn, K.C.

Past-PresidentJennifer Lau 

Full Member Directors: Kristian Arciaga, Sena Byun, Samson ChanStephen HsiaVania Kim, Mark LeungJessica LoRoland LuoKarla MukaiMary SalaysayWill TaoPablo TsengChris YanLinda Yang 

Student DirectorsDavid Fung (UVic)Alyssa Leung (UBC)Oliver Leung (TRU)

2017-2018 Board of Directors

President: Maria Kim-Bautista

Vice-President: Chris Yan

Secretary: Roland Luo

Treasurer: Oliver Leung

Past-President: David Namkung

Directors-at-LargeHasan AlamKristian ArciagaSena ByunSamson ChanVania ChoiJulian HoStephen HsiaJessica LoKarla Mukai

Student Directors: David Fung (UVic), Aylmer Wang (UBC)

2018-2019 Board of Directors

President: Chris Yan

VP External: Samson Chan

VP Internal: Jessica Lo

Secretary: Abigail Cheung

Treasurer: Oliver Leung

Advisory Director: Maria Kim-Bautista

Gala Chair: Jayde Wood

Directors-at-LargeJeff HernaezAlex ChangHasan AlamSena ByunJulius Ho, Louisa Winn, K.C.Khalil JessaVictoria Wu

Student DirectorsRasmeet Mohar (UBC)Michelle Wong (UVic)Taiyo Hasegawa (TRU)

2019-2020 Board of Directors

President: Samson Chan

VP External: Abigail Cheung

VP Internal: Oliver Leung

Secretary: Steven Ngo

Treasurer: Jia Guo

Advisory Director: Chris Yan

Gala Chair: Jayde Wood

Directors-at-Large: Victoria WuAudrey JunSara PedlowJames HsuKhalil JessaAlex ChangJeff Hernaez, Hasan Alam

Student DirectorsKayla Siu (UBC)Fiona Wong (UVic)Angelina Sung (TRU)

Area Representatives: Victor Ramraj (Victoria), Ruby Dhand (Kamloops) 

National Representative: Jessica Lo

2020-2021 Board of Directors

President: Abigail Cheung

VP External: Hasan Alam

VP Internal: Oliver Leung

VP Marketing: Steven Ngo

Treasurer: Jia Guo

Advisory Director: Samson Chan

Secretary: Brian Cheng

Gala Chair: Karen Chow

Directors-at-Large: Alex Chang, Audrey Jun, James Hsu, Afifa Hashimi, Khalil Jessa, Rasmeet Mohar, Sara Pedlow, Fiona Wong

Student Directors: Lily Le (UBC), Jacqueline Louie (UVic), Sandy Lun (TRU)

Area Representatives: Sarah Sohn (Victoria), Ruby Dhand (Kamloops)

National Representative: Chris Yan

2021-2022 Board of Directors

President: Hasan Alam

VP External: Afifa Hashim

VP Internal: Alex Chang

VP Marketing: Steven Ngo

Advisory Director: Abigail Cheung

Treasurer: Kayla Siu

Secretary: Brian Cheng

Gala Chair: Karen Chow

Directors-at-LargeFiona WongKhalil JessaRasmeet MoharJessica ChungJim WuMark IyangarJenny Huang, Shane Ching

Student Directors: Diana Wang (UBC), Russell Chiong (UVic)Chanel Pabla (TRU)

Area Representatives: Sarah Reid (Victoria), Ruby Dhand (Kamloops)

2022-2023 Board of Directors

President: Steven Ngo

VP External: Mark Iyengar

VP Internal: Jim Wu

VP Marketing: Fiona Wong

Advisory Director: Hasan Alam

Treasurer: Kayla Siu

Secretary: Lily Zhang

Gala Chair: Paige Mueller

Directors-at-Large: Jessica Chung, Jenny Huang, Sandy Lun, Charlene Tsai, Jennine Punzalan, Sebastian Chern, David How, Holly Wong

Student Directors: Catherine Wong (UBC), Janice Jia Fujikawa (UVic), Talia Gukert (TRU)

Area Representatives: Sarah Reid (Victoria), Hardeep Chahal (Kamloops)

2023-2024 Board of Directors

President: Fiona Wong

VP External: Sebastian Chern

VP Internal: Jim Wu

VP Marketing: Jenny Huang

Advisory Director: Steven Ngo

Treasurer: Daniel Szeto

Secretary: Lily Zhang

Gala Chair: Paige Mueller

Directors-at-Large: Charlene Tsai, David How, Jennine Punzalan, Sandy Lun, Cen Yang, Catherine Wong, Shanna Gu, Zheng-Yi Ong

Student Directors: Miguel Oreta (UBC), Jaspreet Mann (UVic), Sharon Malhi (TRU)

Area Representatives: Wen He (Victoria), Shazia Housenbocus (Kamloops)



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