FACL BC - 2025 Gala

Each year, we host our signature Gala to bring members of the legal profession together, celebrate the achievements of our community, and fundraise for our year-round initiatives. The Gala is attended by current and former judges of the courts in BC, members of the legal profession, law students, politicians, and our allies in the community, among others. It is now one of the largest legal events in BC and has consistently been a sold-out event, with 780 attendees in 2024 and 760 in 2023.

This year’s 14th Annual Gala will be held on November 14, 2025 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The Gala will include a reception, dinner, and after-party, and will feature a keynote speaker and remarks from our Board of Directors.

The theme of the Gala this year is “Leading with Purpose”. This theme reflects a commitment to intentional, values-driven leadership in our personal journeys, our professional careers, and our communities. During the afternoon of November 14, 2025, we will also host a complimentary conference to promote and facilitate discussion in connection with the theme of the Gala.

We hope to build on the momentum of last year’s success, and planning of this year’s Gala is well underway. We anticipate sponsorships and tickets to be in high demand so be sure to mark your calendars and secure your seat at the Gala early!

Following the tremendous success of last year's sold out Gala, we anticipate sponsorships and tickets to be in high demand. Be sure to mark your calendars and secure your seat at the Gala:

On sale now: Sponsorships available for purchase by contacting gala@faclbc.ca.
September 8: Single ticket sale starts for FACL BC members.
September 15: Single ticket sale starts for the general public.
September 22: Limited student ticket sale starts for students.

Sponsoring and/or attending the Gala is one way to support the pan-Asian Canadian legal community. We look forwarding to hosting you at our most anticipated event of the year.

We will continue to update the information on this website as details of the event are confirmed.

Please contact Lily Zhang, gala chair, at gala@faclbc.ca if you have any questions about the Gala.

When: Friday, November 14, 2025 from 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

5:30 PM: Check-in opens
5:30 PM to 6:45 PM: Cocktail reception with cash bar
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM: Dinner and Speeches

Opening remarks
President's address
Keynote speech
Scholarship presentation
Door prizes
Closing remarks

9:30 pm to 12:00 AM: After-Gala party

Where: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - 900 W Georgia Street

Dress Code: Business formal or formal cultural attire - We encourage attendees to showcase formal attire that reflects your cultural heritage!

Menu: To be announced

We offer alternative options for guests with allergies or dietary restrictions. If you are attending the Gala with a single ticket or student ticket, please indicate any allergies or dietary restrictions when you purchase your ticket. If you are attending the Gala with a sponsor, please advise the sponsor of any allergies or dietary restrictions and we will obtain this information from the sponsor.

Please check back on September 8, 2025 to purchase your ticket to the Gala.

Please inquire with your firm, organization, or law school prior to purchasing a single or student ticket. Many employers and law schools are generous sponsors of the FACL BC Gala, so you may be able to secure a seat through them rather than purchasing an individual ticket.

Two types of tickets are available for purchase:

Single Tickets (Non-Refundable):
- Single tickets can be purchased individually or in groups.
- Single ticket holders will be assigned seating at a table of 10 closer to the date of the Gala.
Student Tickets (Non-Refundable):
- Students currently enrolled at a Canadian law school, articling students, judicial law clerks, and NCA candidates are eligible to purchase a student ticket.
- Guests of individuals who purchase students tickets must also be eligible for students tickets in order to attend the Gala using student tickets.
- A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase starting October 1.

Seating Requests

Single or student ticket holders will be assigned seating at a table of 10 closer to the date of the Gala. If you would like to request to sit together with one or more other attendee(s) at the Gala, please complete this form. Only one attendee in the group needs to complete the form after all attendees in the group have purchased their tickets. Please read the instructions on the form carefully before completing the form.

Please submit seating requests by October 24, 2025. We will do our best to accommodate seating requests but are unable to guarantee these requests.

We are grateful to our sponsors for their generous support. Sponsoring the Gala brings your organization enhanced brand exposure, invaluable networking opportunities, and a unique chance to highlight your commitment to advancing equity and diversity. All Gala sponsorship proceeds go towards furthering FACL BC's mission of promoting equity, justice, and opportunity.

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Lily Zhang, gala chair, at gala@faclbc.ca.

FACL BC, as an equity-seeking organization, recognizes that there can be financial barriers to our members attending the 15th Annual Gala. In order to help reduce this barrier, FACL BC is pleased to present two types of bursaries aimed to make attending the 15th Annual Gala more accessible for law students and lawyers practicing outside of large firms.

These bursaries are awarded on a rolling basis and are subject to the availability of the bursaries and single tickets or student tickets, as applicable. If you have any questions about your eligibility for the bursaries, please do not hesitate to contact Lily Zhang, gala chair, at gala@faclbc.ca.

The bursaries will be paid to recipients following the 14th Annual Gala.

FACL BC reserves the right to exercise sole discretion over the eligibility, recipients, and amount of bursaries provided.

Solo/Small Firm/Non-profit Lawyer Bursary

A bursary of $100 towards a single ticket to the 15th Annual Gala to lawyers who practice as a solo practitioner, in a small firm with 10 or fewer lawyers, or for a non-profit organization. There are limited bursaries available.

An applicant is not required to purchase a single ticket before applying for this bursary, but must purchase a single ticket within 7 days of being notified that they have been selected for the bursary.

Interested applicants should fill out the application form as soon as possible as applications are considered on a rolling basis and subject to the availability of the bursaries and single tickets. FACL BC is aiming to notify successful applicants as early as September 19, 2025. Applications will close on October 12, 2025, when all bursaries are awarded, or when single tickets are sold out, whichever is earliest.

More details of this bursary and eligibility can be found in the application form.

Student Travel Bursary

A bursary of up to $100 CAD to current law students from the University of Victoria and Thompson Rivers University to help offset incurred travel expenses to Vancouver for the purpose of attending the 13th Annual Gala. There are limited bursaries available.

Interested applicants should fill out the application form as soon as possible as applications are considered on a rolling basis and subject to the availability of the bursaries and student tickets. FACL BC is aiming to notify successful applicants as early as October 17, 2025. Applications will close on October 31, 2025 or when all bursaries are awarded, whichever is earlier.

More details of this bursary and eligibility can be found in the application form.

Q: Who is FACL BC?

A: FACL BC is a diverse coalition dedicated to promoting equity, justice, and opportunity for pan-Asian Canadian legal professionals and the wider community.

Q: Is the Gala at the same venue as last year?

A: Yes, this year's Gala will be held at the same location as last year at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (900 W Georgia Street).

Q: Do I have to identify as Asian to attend the Gala, or any FACL BC event?

A: No, as the largest equity-seeking bar organization in BC, FACL BC is dedicated to promoting equality, justice, and opportunity not only for Asian-Canadian legal professionals, but also the wider community. As an inclusive organization, we welcome all allies to attend our event and support the FACL BC community. Individuals who wish to support our mission but do not self-identify as Asian are also welcome to purchase a Supporting Membership at faclbc.ca/join.

Q: What should I wear to the 14th Annual Gala?

A: The recommended style of dress is business formal or formal cultural attire. Examples of business formal include a suit and blouse, a suit and tie, a business dress, etc. If you feel comfortable, we encourage you to showcase formal attire that reflects your cultural heritage such as a saree and a Qi Pao dress.

Q: What if I have allergies or dietary restrictions and cannot eat the food on the set menu?

A: No fear, our venue is committed to accommodating a large range of allergies and dietary restrictions. If you are attending the Gala with a Single Ticket or Student Ticket, please indicate any allergies or dietary restrictions when you purchase your ticket. If you are attending the Gala with a sponsor, please advise the sponsor of any allergies or dietary restrictions and we will obtain this information from the sponsor.

Q: If I purchased a single ticket, can I request to be seated with other single ticket holders?

A: Single or student ticket holders will be assigned seating at a table of 10 closer to the date of the Gala. If you would like to request to sit together with one or more other attendee(s) at the Gala, please complete this form by October 24, 2025. Only one attendee in the group needs to complete the form after all attendees in the group have purchased their tickets. Please read the instructions on the form carefully before completing the form.

Please submit seating requests by October 24, 2025. We will do our best to accommodate seating requests but are unable to guarantee these requests.

Q: Will the event sell out before I am able to buy a ticket?

A: We are working diligently to accommodate all interest in the 13th Annual Gala. We have implemented a gradual roll-out of tickets so that potential attendees can first explore options to sit at sponsored tables before purchasing single tickets which are non-refundable. If you would like to purchase a Single Ticket or a Student Ticket, please purchase the ticket as early as possible to secure your seat at the Gala.

Please check back in September for more details about scholarships to be awarded at the Gala. In the interim, to learn more about FACL BC scholarships, please visit our website here.