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SENATOR VIVIENNE POY
VIVIENNE
POY | An entrepreneur, author, historian and fashion designer,
Senator Vivienne Poy is the first Canadian of Asian descent to
be appointed to the Senate of Canada. She is Chancellor Emerita
of the University of Toronto and a Senior Fellow at Massey College.
Vivienne was educated in Hong
Kong, England and Canada. She has earned an Honours BA from McGill
University, a Diploma in Fashion Arts from Seneca College and
an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Toronto.
She founded Vivienne Poy Mode
in 1981 and over the following 14 years enjoyed great success
in fashion design, manufacturing and retail. She is currently
Chairperson of Lee Tak Wai Holdings Ltd..
Vivienne is the author of four
books: A River Named Lee; Building Bridges: The Life and Times
of Richard Charles Lee, Hong Kong, 1905- 1983; Citizenship and
Immigration: the Chinese-Canadian Experience - The Nortel Networks'
Canadian Studies Address No. 1., and Profit, Victory & Sharpness
- The Lees of Hong Kong.
As the first Canadian of Asian
descent to be appointed to the Senate of Canada, Vivienne was
instrumental in having May recognized as Asian Heritage Month
in Canada. In December 2001, the Senate of Canada unanimously
recognized May as Asian Heritage Month, following the passage
of a motion introduced by Vivienne. In May 2002, the Government
of Canada declared May as Asian Heritage Month in a formal signing
ceremony. Vivienne now works closely with Asian Heritage Month
Societies across Canada, serving as Honourary Patron of the Ottawa
Asian Heritage Month Society, Toronto's Asian Heritage Month
- Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture Inc., and Vancouver's
Asian Heritage Month Society, as well as Honourary Advisor to
Montreal's Accés Asie Festival, and Honourary Co-Chair
of the Asian Heritage Foundation (Southern Alberta). She also
is supportive of activities in Victoria, Winnipeg, Fredericton,
and P.E.I.
Among her many voluntary positions,
she is an Honourary Patron of the Chinese Cultural Centres of
Greater Toronto and Greater Vancouver, as well as the International
Centre of Winnipeg. She is Honourary Advisor to the Buddhist
Education Foundation for Canada, and the Japanese Canadian Legacy
Project. Vivienne is the Patron of the Hong Kong Canada Business
Association (Ottawa Chapter), a Member of the Canadian Museum
for Human Rights National Advisory Council, Honorary Chair of
ORBIS Canada's Chinese Advisory Council, and Honourary Co-Chair,
Campaign for Diversity, Canadian Centre for Diversity.
As the Chancellor Emerita of
the University of Toronto, Vivienne remains committed to inspiring
young people to excel by serving as Founding Patron of Helping
for a United Good (HUG), a peace and education initiative, Honourary
Patron, Education Foundation of the Chinese Professionals Association
of Canada (CPAC), Honourary Patron, Canadian Future Achievers
Awards, and the Patron of the Era 21 Networking Breakfast for
Young Canadians on Parliament Hill
Vivienne has been recognized
for her contributions to intercultural understanding by many
community organizations, receiving the Inaugural Golden Mountain
Achievements Award for a Lifetime of Public and Community Service
at the 150 Years in Golden Mountain celebration, a Gold Medal
Award of Excellence in Race Relations, an Outstanding Asian Canadian
Award from the Canadian Multicultural Council, Asians in Ontario,
and an Eid-ul-Fitr Award from the Association of Progressive
Muslims of Canada. She received an International Women's Day
Award, and also was named one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful
Women, by the Women's Executive Network, in the 'Trailblazer'
category.
In recognition of her national
and international contributions, she has received honourary degrees
from around the world.
Vivienne is married to Dr.
Neville Poy, a retired plastic surgeon and avid photographer.
They have three sons, Ashley, Justin and Carter, and three grandchildren.
Parliamentary Address:
The Senate of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A4.
poyv@sen.parl.gc.ca
| http://sen.parl.gc.ca/vpoy
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