Fred Lee's Social Community: Chinatown Basis Gala pays tribute to Robert Lee

Fred Lee’s weekly have a look at the movers and shakers round Metro Vancouver

Revealed Nov 16, 2019 • Final up to date Nov 16, 2019 • 4 minute learn

Becoming a member of Carol Lee on Vancouver Journal’s Energy 50 listing have been B.C. Premier John Horgan and Metropolis of Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart. They joined dignitaries, enterprise titans and energy brokers who got here collectively to assist Lee’s efforts to revitalize the historic neighbourhood. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

POWER GIVING: A staple on Vancouver Journal’s Energy 50 listing, Carol Lee made the celebrated listing as soon as once more becoming a member of a formidable group of changemakers, enterprise leaders, activists and politicians shaping town and province. An influence dealer — described by the journal as those that can nonetheless get individuals to take a telephone name or assembly — Lee not too long ago had 800 individuals reply the decision and attend her fourth Chinatown Basis Gala.

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Held on the Lodge Vancouver Ballroom, the province’s who’s who packed the principle ballroom for the annual fundraising gala dinner devoted to revitalizing the as soon as thriving Chinatown neighbourhood and serving to its residents. Produced by Soha Lavin’s Countdown Occasions, the room was fantastically remodeled right into a golden get together palace for the evening of storytelling and giving. The starry occasion additionally paid tribute to Lee’s mentor, her father — famend Vancouver developer, group builder and philanthropist Robert Lee — who’s unwell and unable to attend.

Virtually single-handedly, Lee has been bringing the historic cultural district again from close to extinction. In 2018, the UBC and Harvard grad satisfied town to reverse its coverage and banned tall and vast buildings in Chinatown. Lee additionally bought a number of buildings, together with the Could Wah lodge, for low-income residential redevelopment; opened the volunteer-driven Chinatown Classic retailer and Chinatown barbecue Restaurant on East Pender Road and based the soon-to-be-opened Chinatown Story Centre.

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This yr’s fundraising focus although can be 58 West Hastings, an built-in well being facility with 230 social-housing items. With funding from B.C. Housing, Canada Mortgage and Housing Company and all ranges of presidency, Lee set her sights on the ultimate $30-million wanted to get the Downtown Eastside undertaking began. Lee signed up equally influential of us Phil Lind of Rogers Communications, Canadian businessman Jake Kerr and former UBC president Martha Piper to steer the cost.

Greater than able to assist the trigger, attendees confirmed their love for Chinatown and the Lee Household. 4 $1 million presents led the way in which; from Ben Yeung and the Peterson Group; Michael Audain of Polygon; Amin Lalji’s Larco Investments, and Lee household matriarch Lily Lee. Others would shortly comply with swimsuit and earlier than the memorable night concluded, gala MC Gloria Macarenko and get together chairs Sam Feldman and Darlene Poole introduced greater than $5.5 million was raised — making the occasion the most important B.C. fundraiser to this point.

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Business leaders Jake Kerr and Phil Lind along with Martha Piper will head the $30 million 58 West Hastings campaign, an integrated health facility with 230 social-housing units in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Photo: Fred Lee. — Enterprise leaders Jake Kerr and Phil Lind together with Martha Piper will head the $30 million 58 West Hastings marketing campaign, an built-in well being facility with 230 social-housing items in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

Occasion emcee Gloria Macarenko and gala co-chair Sam Feldman noticed a formidable $5.5 million raised on the fourth Chinatown Basis Gala dinner. Photograph: Fred Lee.

Gala committee members Tiffany Lam and Adele Chan welcomed 800 of the city’s most powerful and influential people to the Hotel Vancouver for the Chinatown Foundation’s annual benefit. Photo: Fred Lee. — Gala committee members Tiffany Lam and Adele Chan welcomed 800 of town’s strongest and influential individuals to the Lodge Vancouver for the Chinatown Basis’s annual profit. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

Comedian imaginative and prescient

FAR SIGHTED: After studying her five-year-old son Gavin was identified with a degenerative eye illness and that there was little that might be carried out, Burlington, Ont., mother Ann Morrison made it her life’s work to boost consciousness and fundraise for imaginative and prescient analysis. Enlisting her comedian pal Meg Soper they hosted their first Comedian Imaginative and prescient profit in 1999 to boost cash for Basis Preventing Blindness in hopes of discovering a remedy for Retinitis Pigmentosa. The inaugural comedy evening with household and buddies raised $7,500.

Morrison took the concept on the street, and ultimately Comedian Imaginative and prescient turned a nationwide initiative. Travelling coast to coast with the nation’s funniest individuals, Morrison has invited 1000’s to share the laughter and see the hope. Since its humble beginnings, greater than $9 million has been raised to assist the 1.5 million Canadians who’re blind or partially sighted and the greater than 6.5 million Canadians who’ve an eye fixed illness that places them liable to imaginative and prescient loss.

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Morrison has traversed the nation and attended each single occasion, spreading the phrase and championing sight saving analysis. She not too long ago landed in Vancouver for her a hundredth Comedian Imaginative and prescient. As soon as once more supporters packed the Imperial Lounge for the evening of comedy and philanthropy.

Earlier than funnymen Charlie Demers and Graham Clark took to the stage, yours really served as grasp of ceremonies and referred to as the public sale of one-of-a-kind gadgets and experiences. A Lazy Gourmand catered dinner fetched the evening’s prime bid, offered twice. The prized cocktail get together would contribute to a $100,000 haul for the not too long ago renamed charity Preventing Blindness Canada.

Laughing it up at Fighting Blindness Canada’s Comic Vision were Kendle Rowlands, Paralympian Donovan Tildesley and Connor Jones. Photo: Fred Lee. — Laughing it up at Preventing Blindness Canada’s Comedian Imaginative and prescient have been Kendle Rowlands, Paralympian Donovan Tildesley and Connor Jones. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

Ophthalmologist Dr. Briar Sexton and The Lazy Gourmet’s Shannon Boudreau were among the major donors who helped realize $100,000 for sight saving research. Photo: Fred Lee. — Ophthalmologist Dr. Briar Sexton and The Lazy Gourmand’s Shannon Boudreau have been among the many main donors who helped notice $100,000 for sight saving analysis. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

Vancouver comics Graham Clark and Charlie Demers headlined the 2019 Comic Vision benefit staged at the Imperial Lounge. Photo: Fred Lee. — Vancouver comics Graham Clark and Charlie Demers headlined the 2019 Comedian Imaginative and prescient profit staged on the Imperial Lounge. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

VISION QUEST: Event chair Rob Simmons, Comic Vision founder Ann Morrison and Fighting Blindness Canada chair Doug Earle were all smiles following the successful night of laughs and fundraising. Photo: Fred Lee. — VISION QUEST: Occasion chair Rob Simmons, Comedian Imaginative and prescient founder Ann Morrison and Preventing Blindness Canada chair Doug Earle have been all smiles following the profitable evening of guffaws and fundraising. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

Escorted by her husband Allen Challmie, Heather Challmie, the evening’s special guest shared her journey living Retinitis Pigmentosa, which spurred giving to provide hope for millions at risk of vision loss. Photo: Fred Lee. — Escorted by her husband Allen Challmie, Heather Challmie, the night’s particular visitor shared her journey dwelling Retinitis Pigmentosa, which spurred giving to offer hope for thousands and thousands liable to imaginative and prescient loss. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

The Webster Awards

FIRSTS FOR WEBSTERS: Fronted by Bridgitte Anderson and Ernest Yee, greater than 800 company packed the Lodge Vancouver for the thirty third annual Jack Webster Awards, B.C. journalism’s greatest evening. Celebrating the business’s greatest and brightest throughout all platforms, awards have been handed out in 12 classes. For the primary time within the award’s historical past, all of B.C.’s main broadcasters shared the stage and hosted the occasion. As an alternative of battling for tales, scoops and viewers share, they got here collectively to have fun their craft at a time when the free press and the pursuit of fact is beneath assault.

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Just like the internet hosting duties, trophies have been shared equally among the many province’s prime broadcasters and newspapers. World B.C. swept the 2 tv classes for his or her reporting of the 2018 wildfires and on line casino cash laundering. CBC Radio earned three Websters for his or her work in radio, podcasts and the online. The Globe and Mail tied CBC with probably the most {hardware} for the night. Tales of exploited immigrant staff, municipal marketing campaign funds and blockade of a pure fuel pipeline earned the newspaper prime marks from judges.

Two contributors for Postmedia — publishers of The Vancouver Solar and Province newspapers — have been additionally celebrated. Vancouver Solar columnist Daphne Bramham was named Commentator of the 12 months. Bramham was cited for her professionalism, clever work and impactful commentary. Former Province deputy editor-in chief Fabian Dawson was introduced the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award. A journalism profession that spans over 4 a long time, Dawson was lauded for his breadth of labor, and his efforts to chop a path for these under-represented within the newsroom to pursue a profession in journalism. Dawson was the primary journalist of color to obtain ‘The Hutch’ in 28 years.

STAR REPORTER: For his four decades of journalistic excellence, former Province Newspaper reporter and deputy editor-in-chief Fabian Dawson received the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award from the Angus Reid Institute’s Shachi Kurl. Photo: Fred Lee. — STAR REPORTER: For his 4 a long time of journalistic excellence, former Province Newspaper reporter and deputy editor-in-chief Fabian Dawson obtained the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award from the Angus Reid Institute’s Shachi Kurl. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

Globe news anchors and Webster Awards co-hosts Sophie Lui and Neetu Garcha flanked foundation trustee Ernest Yee, who fronted the 33rd Jack Webster Awards. Photo: Fred Lee. — Globe information anchors and Webster Awards co-hosts Sophie Lui and Neetu Garcha flanked basis trustee Ernest Yee, who fronted the thirty third Jack Webster Awards. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

CBC Radio’s Geoff Walter, Jason Proctor, and Theresa Duvall picked up a Webster for the team’s podcast series Sanctioned: The Arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou that placed Canada in the middle of a global trade war. Photo: Fred Lee. — CBC Radio’s Geoff Walter, Jason Proctor, and Theresa Duvall picked up a Webster for the group’s podcast sequence Sanctioned: The Arrest of Huawei government Meng Wanzhou that positioned Canada in the midst of a worldwide commerce struggle. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

Bridgette Anderson welcomed author, and CBC foreign correspondent Nahlah Ayed, this year’s featured guest sat the annual Jack Webster Awards Dinner held at the Hotel Vancouver. Photo: Fred Lee. — Bridgette Anderson welcomed creator, and CBC international correspondent Nahlah Ayed, this yr’s featured visitor sat the annual Jack Webster Awards Dinner held on the Lodge Vancouver. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

Globe and Mail investigative reporter Kathy Tomlinson earned a Webster for her story of exploited immigrant workers. Photo: Fred Lee. — Globe and Mail investigative reporter Kathy Tomlinson earned a Webster for her story of exploited immigrant staff. Photograph: Fred Lee. Photograph by Fred Lee /PNG

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Originally posted 2019-11-16 18:00:50.

Fred Lee's Social Community: Chinatown Basis Gala pays tribute to Robert Lee

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