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FACL BC is thrilled to be hosting our 12th Annual Gala on Friday, November 17, 2023 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver starting at 5:30 pm. Join us for an evening of community, celebration, and empowerment at our most anticipated event of the year! 

Last year’s 11th Annual Gala brought together a record-breaking 475 attendees (our largest FACL BC event ever) for an evening of Belonging. 

This year, our theme is “Champions: Within, Among & Beyond”. Our theme is meant to celebrate the accomplishments of FACL BC members, as well as to encourage our attendees to be champions for themselves (within), their networks (among), and our community (beyond).

Due to overwhelming demand, we have secured a larger venue, but anticipate tickets selling fast! Sponsorships and tickets will be available on the following schedule: 

August 23, 2023:  Sponsorships available for purchase 

September 12, 2023:  Single Tickets pre-sale exclusively for FACL BC Members

(Members will receive an email on the day of with instructions for purchasing tickets). 

September 14, 2023: Single Tickets on sale to the general public

October 4, 2023:  Student Tickets available for purchase

Click here to purchase 

Please inquire with your firm, organization, or law school prior to purchasing a single or student ticket above. Oftentimes we find that your employer or school is already supporting the FACL BC Gala so you may be able to secure a seat with them, as opposed to purchasing an individual ticket.

Tickets will be sold in the following tiers: 

• Single Tickets (Non-Refundable)

• • Single tickets can be purchased together in groups. 

  • Single ticket holders will be assigned seating at a table of 10 closer to the date of the Gala. We will do our best to honour requests to be seated together, but are unable to guarantee these requests. If you would like to request to be seated with other attendees, please complete this form. Attendees who wish to be seated together on a guaranteed basis should request a Table Sponsorship from our sponsorship package, a copy of which can be found above/below.  

• Student Tickets (Non-Refundable)

• • Eligible individuals for student tickets are students currently enrolled at a Canadian law school, articling students, judicial law clerks, and NCA candidates. 

  • A limited number of tickets will be available. 

We are grateful to our sponsors for their continued support.  All gala sponsorship proceeds go towards furthering FACL BC's mission of promoting equity, justice, and opportunity. Sponsorship of the 12th Annual Gala offers numerous benefits for your organization, including brand visibility, networking opportunities, and by showcasing your commitment to equity and diversity initiatives.  Our sponsorship package can be found here.

Please contact gala@faclbc.ca to purchase a sponsorship.  Sponsorships are allocated on a first come first serve basis and FACL BC reserves the right to modify or cancel any sponsorships at any time.

When: Friday, November 17, 2023 from 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Where: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - 900 W Georgia Street

(Please note that we have changed our venue from the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in order to accommodate more guests this year.)

Agenda:  

• 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM: Registration and Cocktail Reception with cash bar 
  
• 6:45 PM - 10:00 PM: Dinner featuring presentations and keynote speaker
  

Menu: The plated 3-course dinner will consist of:

• Caprese Salad: buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomato, basil puree, balsamic pearls (vegetarian)

• Sesame Glazed Ling Cod: prawn fried rice, bok choy, scallion ginger sauce
  Note: Vegetarian and vegan entree option available upon request 

• Tofu Chocolate Cake: fresh fruit, passion pearls (vegetarian, gluten free) 

Please email gala@faclbc.ca promptly to advise of any dietary restrictions or food allergies. The venue requires us to provide dietary restrictions by November 7, 2023, following which accommodation may not be guaranteed. As such, please endeavour to provide this information as soon as possible upon purchasing your ticket.

Dress Code: Business Formal

FACL BC, as an equity-seeking organization, realizes that there can be financial barriers to our members attending the 12th Annual Gala. In order to help reduce this barrier, FACL BC is pleased to present two bursaries, for the first time, designed to make attending the 12th Annual Gala more accessible for law students and lawyers practicing outside of large firms. 

The bursaries will be provided to recipients following the 12th Annual Gala and FACL BC reserves the right to exercise sole discretion over the eligibility, recipients, and amount of bursaries awarded.

Solo/Small Firm/Non-profit Lawyer Bursary 

FACL BC is pleased to offer a bursary of $80 CAD towards a single ticket to the 12th Annual Gala to lawyers who practice as a solo practitioner, in a small firm setting (defined as 10 or less lawyers), or for a non-profit organization (full details of qualification can be found in the application form linked below). There are limited bursaries available. 

A recipient is not required to purchase a single ticket prior to applying for the bursary, but must purchase a single ticket within 7 days of being notified that they have been selected for the bursary. 

Interested applicants must fill out the application form by 6:00 PM on Monday, September 18th. Recipients of the bursary will be informed starting on Wednesday, September 20th. After that time, applications will be considered on a rolling basis. 

Student Travel Bursary

FACL BC is pleased to offer a bursary of up to $100 CAD to current law students from the University of Victoria and Thompson Rivers University to help offset incurred travel expenses to Vancouver for the purpose of attending the 12th Annual Gala. There are limited bursaries available. 

Interested applications must fill out the application form by 6:00 PM on Friday, September 29th. Recipients of the bursary will be informed starting on Tuesday, October 3rd. After that time, applications will be considered on a rolling basis.Further details of the bursary and qualified applicants can be found in the application form.

Learn more about the Conference and register here. 

We are excited to welcome the Honourable Judge Gurmail Gill of the British Columbia Provincial Court for a moderated discussion on his journey to the Bench. Termed the “Renaissance Man”, Judge Gill was the first judge of South Asian descent appointed to the British Columbia Provincial Court. Judge Gill is also a 5th degree Black Belt in Karate-Do, a martial art instructor, a licensed pilot, and an avid astronomer and astro-photographer.

This discussion will be moderated by FACL BC President, Fiona Wong.

Following the chat with Judge Gill, tune in to our very own Advocacy and Mentorship Committees on their programming in discovering the spirit of championship, from learning advocacy skills and affecting social change, to gaining valuable insights on personal and professional victories. Attendees are welcome to select their program of choice.  

Conference attendees are eligible to earn CPD and ethics* credits with the Law Society of British Columbia. More info coming 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 12th Annual Gala will be held at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (900 W Georgia Street). We moved venues in order to meet the high demand for the event. 

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 12th Annual Gala?

A: The recommended style of dress is business formal. Examples of this attire include, a suit and blouse, a suit and tie, a business dress, etc. 

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. Please fill out this form to inform us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions by November 7, 2023 or as soon as possible upon purchasing your ticket. 

Q: If I purchased a single ticket, can I request to be seated with other single ticket holders?

A: Single ticket holders will be assigned seating at a table of 10 closer to the date of the Gala. We will do our best to honour requests to be seated together, but are unable to guarantee these requests. If you would like to request to be seated with other attendees, please complete this form. 

Q: If I am travelling from outside of Vancouver to attend the Gala, where should I stay?  

Q: Will the event sell out before I am able to buy a ticket? 

A: Our Gala Committee is working diligently to accommodate all interest in the 12th Annual Gala. We have upgraded to a venue with significantly more capacity. 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. 

Additionally, we will be reserving the same number of student tickets as were purchased last year to accommodate the existing level of interest.