About | Tickets | Sponsorship | Bursaries | Scholarship | Conference | FAQ | Sponsors

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 790 attendees in 2025.

This year’s 15th Annual Gala will be held on November 6, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency 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 "Cultivating the Future." This theme reflects our commitment to investing in the next generation of pan-Asian Canadian legal professionals while ensuring the sustainable growth of FACL BC. As we mark our 15th anniversary, we celebrate how far we have come while looking ahead to the future. By nurturing people, ideas, and relationships, we are strengthening FACL BC so that it can continue to be a trusted resource, advocate, and catalyst for connection, professional development, and positive change within our community.

Following the tremendous success of last year's sold-out Gala, we anticipate sponsorships and tickets to be in high demand once again. Tickets will be released in stages beginning September 8, 2026, and we encourage you to secure your seat early. Be sure to mark your calendars:

• September 8, 2026 - Member tickets released
• September 14, 2026 - General public tickets released
• September 21, 2026 - Student tickets released

Sponsoring and/or attending the Gala is a meaningful way to support the pan-Asian Canadian legal community. We look forward to hosting you at our most anticipated event of the year for an unforgettable evening of recognition and celebration of our community's achievements, shared values, and impactful leadership. 

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

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

When: Friday, November 6, 2026 from 5:30 PM - 12:00 AM

Where: Hyatt Regency Vancouver — 655 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC

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

Menu:

The full menu for this year's Gala is being finalized and will be posted here once confirmed. All dinners will include artisanal bread service, as well as a coffee and tea selection with dessert.

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.

Accomodation

The Hyatt Regency Vancouver is offering preferred rates for guests who wish to stay at the hotel on November 6, 2026. You can book your reservations here. 

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.

Tickets will be released in stages:

• FACL BC member tickets: available beginning September 8, 2026
• General public tickets: available beginning September 14, 2026
• Student tickets: available beginning September 21, 2026

Two types of tickets are available for purchase:

Single Tickets (Non-Refundable): $190 per ticket

• 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): $90 per ticket

• 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 student tickets must also be eligible for student tickets in order to attend the Gala using student tickets.
• A limited number of student tickets will be available for purchase starting September 21, 2026.
• If you have any questions about your eligibility to purchase student tickets, please contact Rachel Cerilli, gala chair, at gala@faclbc.ca.

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 9, 2026. We will do our best to accommodate seating requests but are unable to guarantee these requests. Requests received after October 9 may not be able to be accommodated.

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 at making attendance at the 15th Annual Gala more accessible for law students and lawyers practising 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 Rachel Cerilli, gala chair, at gala@faclbc.ca.

The bursaries will be paid to recipients following the 15th 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 is available to lawyers who practise 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.

Applications open soon. Interested applicants should fill out the application form as soon as possible, as applications are considered on a rolling basis and are subject to the availability of the bursaries and single tickets. Applications open on September 8, 2026, and close September 25, 2026, or earlier if all bursaries have been awarded or general tickets have sold out, whichever occurs first.

More details of this bursary and eligibility can be found in the application form, which will be made available on September 8, 2026.

Student Travel Bursary

A bursary of up to $100 CAD is available to current law students from the University of Victoria and Thompson Rivers University to help offset travel expenses incurred to attend the 15th Annual Gala in Vancouver. There are limited bursaries available.

Applications open soon. Interested applicants should fill out the application form as soon as possible, as applications are considered on a rolling basis and are subject to the availability of the bursaries and student tickets. Applications open on September 21, 2026 and close October 16, 2026, or earlier if all bursaries have been awarded.

More details of this bursary and eligibility can be found in the application form, which will be made available on September 21, 2026.

FACL BC Gala Student Scholarship

FACL BC is pleased to offer one FACL BC Gala Student Scholarship of $1,000!

The 2026 FACL BC Gala Student Scholarship recognizes a law student who demonstrates a keen interest in and willingness to contribute to the pan-Asian Canadian legal community in BC, and a commitment to purposeful leadership in their academic, professional, and/or community experiences.

The scholarship will be awarded to the successful applicant during the 15th Annual Gala on November 6, 2026.

Law students currently enrolled in the JD and LLM programs at a law school in BC who self-identify as persons of pan-Asian descent are eligible to apply. A resume is required as part of the application. Financial need will be taken into consideration. Additional application requirements and information about the selection process are set out in the application form.

Current and former student directors and executive coordinators, and past scholarship recipients, are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Only the successful applicant will be contacted. We thank all applicants for applying.

More information on the application process will be available soon. 

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: No. This year's Gala will be held at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver (655 Burrard Street), a change from last year's venue at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

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 15th 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 [seating request deadline]. 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.

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 15th 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.

Q: Will there be a complimentary conference again this year?

A: No. This year we are focusing our efforts on the Gala itself.

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.

We are currently sold out of all sponsorship opportunities. If you would like to be added to our outreach list for further sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rachel Cerilli, gala chair, at gala@faclbc.ca.