Chinese- Canadian National
Culture Centre
Board of Directors
Chair - Sinclair Mar
Sinclair Mar by profession is a lawyer and strategic counsel to numerous clients and organizations. In addition to managing various ventures and projects, his community service spans over 25 years. With his consummate community spirit he is or has been a member, a chair, a director, executive, counsel or advisor to over 20 non-profit organizations so far during his career. Most recently he has had various positions on the boards of Knowledge Network Corporation, Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society, Gorge Fairway Paddling Club Society, Victoria Chinese Commerce Association, Victoria Chinatown Care Foundation, and Orbus Business Networks.
In 1994, he along with others brought to Victoria dragon boat races as a demonstration sport in the Commonwealth Games. During the following year, as one of the founders, he was instrumental in starting Victoria’s own dragon boat festival and races. In 2008 for the Chinese Canadian sesquicentennial he chaired the “150 Years In Golden Mountain” pageant and the “Golden Mountain Achievement Awards” recognizing the achievements over the 150 years of both the Chinese in Canada and individuals who were outstanding in their lives.
He has also chaired, managed or volunteered for many charitable and non-profit events to raise funds for music programs, youth sport teams, elite athletes and other charitable organizations. He is also the publisher of the “Victoria Chinese Messenger” a free publication to support and promote local non-profit and charitable events. He received the C-Fax Community Leader of the Year Award 2009 and has received civic and many service awards from other organizations. He brings a wealth of governance and management background to the board of the CCNCC.
Vice-Chair - Irene Tiampo
Irene owns and manages a residential and commercial propertry management company, Itziar Management Ltd. She has been in the business for many years, working in both Victoria and Vancouver areas, and is the treasurer for LandlordBC.
Irene is also an avid member of the community through membership in various Chinese associations including sitting as the secretary of the Victoria Chinese Commerce Association and belonging as a member of the Victoria Chinatown Lioness Club. She also has interests in beekeeping and honey production, belonging to the Capital Region Beekeepers Association and the BC Honey Producers Association.
Secretary - Lyon Chang
Lyon Chang is a Branch Manager with RBC Royal Bank in Victoria, BC. He has been in the Banking Industry working with International clients in cities across Canada from Coast to Coast since the Millennium. Lyon has held positions in Personal, Commercial and Private Banking throughout his career; he is a liaison to China on behalf of RBC and is actively engaged in the Chinese Canadian community. Lyon speaks Mandarin, Taiwanese and Cantonese amongst the six languages he speaks. Lyon volunteers by sitting on the Board of Directors on a number of local non-profit charities. He is currently the Vice President of Victoria Chinese Commerce Association, Vice President of Victoria Chinatown Care Society, Director at Victoria Chinatown Care Foundation, and Director at Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.
Treasurer - Teresa Lin
Teresa Lin is the Treasurer of the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society and a Senior Acountant at Hayes Stewart Little & Co. She graduated from the University of Alberta with First Class Honors in her Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) degree in Accounting. During her collegiate years, Teresa's involvements and governance roles included two student group presidencies, representing the Students' Union of over 30,000 undergraduate students, and active attendance in case competitions, conferences, and community events.
Currently, Teresa is articling at Hayes Stewart Little & Co., which is the largest independent accounting firm on Vancouver Island. She continues to be engaged in her hometown community in Victoria as the Co-Director of the Victoria chapter of Young Women Entrepreneurs Club (YWEC), a Program Facilitator with Junior Achievement BC, a member of The Prodigy Group, and a member of the Victoria Chinese Commerce Association. Teresa is excited to work with the CCNCC board in connecting Chinese-Canadians across the country.
Director - Wayne Lee
Wayne Lee has been practicing as an accountant in Victoria for over 20 years and provides practical advice to his clients. His firm, Lee & Company, can assist with auditing and taxes for small businesses and personal tax advice. As well, they can provide accounting and bookkeeping support as required for all businesses. As a trusted professional, Wayne has a broad range of clients and would like to add you to his list.
Director At Large -
Alan Lowe
Alan Lowe received his Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Manitoba and his Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon. He has been practicing architecture in British Columbia since 1988. As a professional architect with 15 years of experience and as an elected official in local government (nine years as the Mayor of Victoria), Alan uses his unique insight to find areas of commonality between community groups, municipal government, and those investing in local development.
In 2003, Alan Lowe was presented with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for Community Service and in 2006 was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Chinese Canadians. In 2009, he was awarded the Georgie Award for Best Single Family Detached Home.