Briefing Package
January 2010
4150 Finch Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario. M1S 3T9
www.chineseprofessionals.ca
Chinese Professionals Association of Canada
The Chinese Professionals Association of Canada (CPAC) was founded in 1992 with the
objective of serving and representing the interests of immigrant professionals of mainly Chinese
descent. The Association has a national membership of 25,000 and is the largest of its kind in
Canada. It plays an increasingly important role in the multicultural Canadian society, particularly
in the Greater Toronto Area.
Our Mission: To represent and assist professionals of Chinese descent in gaining recognition,
cultural integration, career advancement, and civic engagement in Canadian society through
quality service and advocacy.
Our Vision: A recognized leader in serving Chinese professionals, a respected partner in
Chinese community building, and a caring organization for its members.
Our Core Values: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism and Volunteerism.
Key Objectives:
o To provide opportunities for interaction and networking among Chinese Canadian
Professionals;
o To help members integrate into and contribute to Canadian society;
o To facilitate member’s career and professional development;
o To provide training, employment, settlement, education, culture and recreational
services to internationally trained professionals and families;
o To be a national voice and a representative of the Chinese Canadian community.
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Education Foundation of CPAC
Founded in 1999, the Education Foundation of Chinese Professionals Association of Canada
(CPAC) provides scholarships, awards, and bursaries to secondary and post-secondary
students who have demonstrated exceptional community leadership as well as outstanding
academic achievements. The Foundation also provides assistance to students who have
maintained above average grades and are experiencing financial difficulty.
Over the years, the Foundation has been very active to expand its educational commitments
with a number of initiatives. From the annual Children’s Drawing Contest, to a program which
matches renowned educators with students and parents, to community projects which have
raised $200,000 for a school-rebuilding project to help the unfortunate victims of the Sichuan
earthquake disaster, the Education Foundation continues to grow to meet the needs of the
community.
Education Foundation of CPAC is grateful to the generosity of all donors from both individual
and corporate sectors. The Foundation’s funds are managed by its Finance Committee under
the direction of its Board of Trustees, which consists of members from both within and the
outside of CPAC.
The objectives of Education Foundation
a) To provide scholarships and awards to students of excellence in academic studies,
sports and arts;
b) To provide bursaries to students in financial need;
c) To develop and provide employment training and education programs;
d) To promote information programs on Canadian Culture and life among visible minorities;
e) To promote and provide international culture and educational exchange programs and
activities
f) To build schools and other educational institutions in areas of need, poverty or areas
affected by natural disasters in Canada and elsewhere.
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Fact Sheet
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In 2009, more than 4,000 people, mostly internationally trained professionals used services
provided by CPAC.
The CPAC Professional Day and on-site job fair attracts more than 1,000 immigrant
professionals in search of opportunities for employment and career advancement.
CPAC’s operation is led by the General Manager with a team of eleven full-time and four
part-time staff members.
Since 2000, the Education Foundation of CPAC has given out total 131 monetary awards to
students of Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. In 2009, the Foundation also created a
new Professional Achievement Award to recognize outstanding contributions to Canada by
immigrant professionals.
The CPAC Education Day is to create awareness and provide information on the Canadian
education systems and other available service to families of newcomers. It attracts more
than 1,200 participants every year since 2008.
Services Provided by CPAC
1. Learning for employment through English classes, job search workshops, and career
advancement programs.
2. Professional development for licensure by regulated professional bodies.
3. Mentoring for career advancement. In particular, internationally trained engineers.
4. Support for entrepreneurs through business forums, success stories sharing, networking,
Canadian business environment seminars, and taxation & corporate law seminars.
5. Social integration and professional networking events such as networking parties, festival
celebrations, and newcomers’ orientation programs.
Current CPAC Funders, Supporters and Alliances
CPAC has received funding and support from the following generous partners:
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Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
City of Toronto
TD Meloche Monnex
HSBC Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
TD Canada Trust
Western Union
Bank of Montreal
Scotiabank
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CPAC works closely with the partners listed below in service to our community.
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Canada Revenue Agency
University of Toronto
YMCA of Greater Toronto
Centre for Information and Community Services (CICS)
Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs (ACCE)
Skills for Change
Accreditation Assistance Access Centre
ACCESS Employment Services
Markham Board of Trade
Mississauga Board of Chinese Professionals & Businesses
Professional Engineers of Ontario
Certified General Accountants of Ontario
The CPAC Career Service Centre
In order to provide services to internationally trained professionals in a single location, CPAC
established the CPAC Career Service Centre within the CPAC Head Office in Scarborough.
Opened in 2007 the Centre has been very successful and plans for a new building and
education centre are underway to meet the demand for these services. The following programs
are provided by the Career Service Centre:
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Employment Readiness Program (English language training, job search workshop,
employment workshop and skills assessment).
Employment Counselling Service (One-on-one assistance for setting and achieving
career goals).
Job Development Program (Professional group, academic program, workplace culture
program, mentoring support, professional day, professional networking, licensing
support and job shadowing).
Professional Advancement Program (Industry specific training, professional
networking, professional day, academic program, mentoring support, licensing support,
job posting, leadership and management training)
Supportive Services (Resources centre, mentoring support, job fair, licensing support
and volunteer opportunities).
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Some of Our Footprints
 2008.06 - EF of CPAC raised $200K for school rebuild project for the victims of Sichuan Earthquake in China
2008
 2007.03 - Received funding from Government of Ontario for Career Service Centre project and Professional
Engineer Licensure Program
2007
 2006.10 - Working with external consultant, completed the first ever Strategic Planning in the history of CPAC
 2005.07 - Organized Cross Culture Exchange trip for youths to mainland China.
 2005.01 - Introduced the Career Training Program
2006
 2004.09 - CPAC membership reached 20,000
 2004.02 - Formed Toastmasters Club for CPAC members
2005
 2003.07 - Built a partnership with Scouts Canada and organized a youth boot camp
 2003.04 - Held an Anti-SARS event in China Town to restore its liveliness. –“Love Toronto Restore
China Town”
2004
 2002.05 - First annual ‘Professional Day’ at Delta Hotel, Toronto East.
 2001.12 - CPAC raised over $40K for elementary students in remote areas of China
2003
 2001.08 - First conference on Overseas Chinese Language Teaching
 2001.07 - CPAC membership reached 10,000
 2001.01 - Launched a publicly circulated monthly newspaper- New Horizon, in place of
2002
internal newsletter.
 2000.09 - EF of CPAC Scholarships, Award & Bursaries Program approved for the very
first year
 2000.07 - Mentoring Programs established to help newer immigrants in employment
2001
search and social integration.
 1999.12 - Education Foundation of CPAC (EF of CPAC) was established.
2000
 1998.08 - Raised $19K at a fundraising barbecue for flood victims in China.
 1998.02 - First CPAC office space in downtown Toronto
1999
 1997.10 - CPAC’s Elite Chinese Schools officially open.
 1994.02 - Merger of MCPAC & CPAC, adopted name as CPAC
 1993.06 - First Board of Director and Executive
1998
Committee elected
1997
 1992.10 - Official founding of Mainland
Chinese Professionals Association
Of Canada
1996
1995
1992
1993
1994
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CPAC Executives
CPAC is governed on a daily basis by an Executive Committee made up largely of volunteers. Their
biographies are below.
H. Howard Shen
President
H. Howard Shen is the President of the Chinese Professionals Association of Canada where he is
responsible for the overall operations and functions of the Board and staff.
During his tenure Howard has implemented a strategic plan that has moved the organization into a
direction that today better serves its members and the Chinese community.
As President, Howard leads an association that represents 23,000 members, the largest organization of
internationally trained professionals of its kind in Canada. He is also a strong advocate for the Chinese
community and has rallied support for Bill 124 Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act. Howard has
been involved with CPAC since 2004 serving as a board director and Treasurer.
Howard immigrated to Canada in 1989 and has a background in accounting. In the past, Howard has led
the finance and accounting team as Controller at the Drake Hotel. He is currently a successful and wellknown entrepreneur in the community as Partner, ChiShenTurnerMoore, LLP, a member of the Turner
Moore Group.
Howard lives in Unionville, Ontario.
Hugh Zhao, Ph.D
Vice President
Dr. Zhao has served as a director of Chinese Professionals Association of Canada (CPAC) since 1999.
Since then, he has held various positions, including Advisor to the President, Vice Chair of the Board of
Directors, and Vice President (3 terms).
Hugh is also credited for the founding and registration of Education Foundation of CPAC which is now a
charitable organization. He has served in the Education Foundation as President, and now as a trustee.
Professionally, he has worked in the University of Toronto since 1996 as a Computing Coordinator and
Computing Manager. During his graduate studies at the University of Toronto he was the chief editor of a
student journal, and later founded TNHB Pen Society in Toronto which evolved into the Chinese Pen
Society of Canada. In 1993, he participated as a co-founder of the on-line electronic magazine “Feng Hua
Yuan,” and served as the deputy chief editor. He was the President of University of Toronto Association
of Chinese Students and Scholars (UTACSS) in 1994-1995.
Hugh Zhao graduated from the University of Toronto with M.Sc and Ph.D.
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Eric Xiao
Vice President
Eric Xiao has been a director of CPAC since 2000. Eric is a partner in the Transaction Advisory Services
group of Ernst & Young LLP and has been with the firm since 1994. As a professional accountant, Eric
has been instrumental in CPAC’s career service centre, effective financial management and operations.
Eric holds an MBA degree from the University of Toronto and a bachelor degree from South-China
University of Technology. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation.
Eric was a member of the Board of Directors, Treasurer of the Board, Chair of the Finance Committee of
Canadian Mental Health Association - Ontario division from 1996 to 1999.
Margaret Yang
Vice President
Margaret Yang has been a director of CPAC since 2006 and was appointed as the vice President in
2008.
Margaret is a Financial Adviser and Limited Partner with Edward Jones. In addition to managing a multimillion book of assets and being one of the firm’s top producers, she represents Edward Jones on CP24
Money News and is interviewed live at the TSX each week. She also serves as a senior member of the
firm’s Leadership Team in the GTA Region.
Before joining Edward Jones, Ms. Yang was the Director of Business Development of a Sino-foreign
joint-venture consulting firm, helping multinational corporations to identify business partners/projects,
joint-venture negotiations and establishment and government relations in China. She also worked as a
Public Relations Director in one of Beijing’s five-star hotels. Ms. Yang is also a Board Director of
Bridgepoint Health Foundation.
Longhuan Kim, Ph.D
Executive Advisor
Dr. Kim is a current board member and one of the founders of Chinese Professionals Association of
Canada (CPAC). He is the one of the original founders still keenly involves with the organization after it
was formed 17 years ago.
Dr. Kim is an active advocate for Chinese Immigrants. In addition to his roles in CPAC, he also serves in
the three other organizations
• Co-Chair (Ontario Region), National Congress of Chinese Canadians (NCCC)
• Vice Chairman, Confederation of Toronto Chinese-Canadian Organizations (CTCCO)
• Council member, Toronto Region Immigration Employment Council (TRIEC)
In his past career, Dr. Kim was a Research Scientist and a Software Engineer. He holds a Bachelor of
Science in Physics from Beijing University, and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Pittsburgh in the
U.S. Dr. Kim was born in China and immigrated to Canada in 1989 from the U.S. Currently he lives in
Toronto.
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4150 Finch Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario. M1S 3T9
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Stan Yu
Executive Advisor
Mr. Stan Yu is a current board member of Chinese Professionals Association of Canada (CPAC). Mr. Yu
joined CPAC in early 90's, and became a board of director in 1998. He was elected as the Chairman of
the board of the directors in 1999, served in that position for three years. He was appointed as senior vice
president of CPAC for the 2002-2004 term.
Stan Yu has two master’s degrees, received respectively from China and Ireland. He immigrated to
Canada in 1992 and has since worked in computing development for the provincial government, IBM,
Nortel and bank. He was a senior computer engineer.
Richard Lim, B.Comm., FCGA
Executive Vice President, CPAC Education Foundation
Richard Lim retired from TD Meloche Monnex as Vice President, Affinity Market Group in 2006 having
spent almost 25 years with the organization. The last ten years of his career was focused on developing
and managing strategic partnerships with all the universities and many of the colleges in Ontario, as well
as some of the largest professional associations in the province. The success of these partnerships led
many of them to sign unprecedented long-term agreements with the organization.
Richard has been an active volunteer with CGA-Ontario and undertook many significant roles. He is
member of the CGA-Ontario Public Practice Licensing Review Committee. Richard sat as a member of a
strategic planning committee and was also member of a task force struck to recruit a new chief executive
officer for CGA Ontario in 2002. In recognition of his contributions to CGA-Ontario, he was presented with
the Ontario Distinguished Services Award, was made a Fellow (FCGA) by CGA-Canada and was
recognized by the CGA as one of 100 individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to their
communities and the lives of others.
Richard had also been active in the educational sector supporting the fundraising activities of many
universities and as a trustee with the Educational Foundation of CPAC. In January 2007, York University
presented Richard with the inaugural York Partnership Award for “outstanding leadership in the
development and growth of York University’s affinity program”.
Richard sits on the Toronto board of the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals, the Board of
Governors of The Michener Institute of Applied Health Science, and also to the Board of Governors of the
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology.
Richard graduated with a commerce degree from Concordia University in Montreal.
He attended and successfully completed the Queen’s Executive Program in 1994.
Richard is a Certified General Accountant; a member since 1980.
Yolanda P. Yao
General Manager
Yolanda Yao is the General Manger of the Chinese Professionals Association of Canada (CPAC) where
she oversees the entire day-to-day operations of the agency.
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Prior to be appointed as the chief-of-staff for CPAC, Yolanda held several management positions and has
successfully implemented many key projects for the agency. In the summer of 2007, she launched the
Career Service Centre bringing a one-stop employment support service to the internationally-trained
professionals of GTA.
As the General Manager of a non-profit organization, Yolanda has established strong ties with a variety
government agencies, corporate businesses and community service providers. She also developed a
strong working relationship with local media groups and has built a strong and cohesive team with staff
and volunteers to support the mission of CPAC.
Before immigrating to Canada in 2003, Yolanda worked for a national insurance company in China. She
was responsible for market management and executive training. She earned her MBA degree in Finance
and Marketing from Hunan University, China.
Other CPAC Board Members
Bang-Gu Jiang
Secretary
Lawyer, Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public
Lynda M. R. Xu
Treasurer
Estate Agent
Tradeworld Realty Inc
Haiyun Wang
Ombudsman
Lawyer, Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public
Daniel H. Gao
Financial Security Advisor
Freedom 55 Financial
Christine Q. Xu
Mortgage Agent
Atlantic (HS) Financial Corporation
Andrew Z. Xu
President of Global Technology NA Limited
Executive Assistant of Imperial College of Toronto
Education Foundation of CPAC
Trustees
H. Howard Shen
President
Partner, ChiShenTurnerMoore, LLP
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Richard Lim, B.Comm., FCGA
Executive Vice President
Darryl Chow
Manager, Corporate Partnerships, University of Toronto
Longhuan Kim, Ph.D
Senior Software Engineer
Christine Q. Xu
Mortgage Agent
Atlantic (HS) Financial Corporation
Hugh Zhao, Ph.D
Computing Manager
University of Toronto
Eric Xiao
Partner, Ernest & Young LLP
Honorary Patron
Senator Vivienne Poy
The Senate of Canada
Honorary Advisors
John Man
Vice President, Commercial Financial Services/Managing Director, Asian Banking, Ontario
David Kuo
Vice President Retail Branch Network, Ontario East
Kam Lo
District Vice President of Markham District
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