Fairchild Group founder Thomas Fung

Prominent Chinese-Canadian businessman Thomas Fung, chairman and CEO of the Fairchild Group, will be honoured with the first Spirit of Vancouver Leadership Award.

The presentation will take place at Spirit of Vancouver’s annual Chinese New Year Gala Dinner and Celebration on February 2, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver.

After immigrating to Canada from Hong Kong in 1967, Fung founded the Fairchild Group in 1984 and under his leadership, its investment portfolio has grown to over US$400 million.
It owns and operates two national TV stations, five multicultural radio stations, a Chinese-language magazine and an e-commerce IT company.

Fairchild’s pioneer project, Aberdeen Centre, commenced in 1990 as the first and largest Asian theme shopping mall in North America and captured international media coverage throughout the years.

Recently, the City of Richmond named the area Aberdeen District, in recognition of Aberdeen Centre’s contributions to the community.

On top of his business endeavours, Fung provides significant support to non-profit organizations such as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Royal Conservatory of Music, Children’s Hospital, United Way, World Vision, and the Vancouver Art Gallery, among others.

Time magazine has named Fung as one of the most influential people in Canada.

Business in Vancouver has chosen Fung as one of the top ten business people of the decade. In October 2006, the Vancouver Sun labeled Fung as one of the 100 Influential Chinese Canadians in British Columbia.

Fung will be honoured with his Spirit of Vancouver Leadership Award beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 2,at the annual Chinese New Year Gala Dinner and Celebration, when Spirit of Vancouver and The Vancouver Board of Trade usher in a prosperous Lunar New Year with special guests Mr. Yang Qiang, Consul General, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Vancouver and Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan.