The Honourable Dr. Vivienne Poy
Summary
Vivienne Poy is an author, historian, fashion designer, entrepreneur & community volunteer. She founded Vivienne Poy Mode in 1981, and over the following fourteen years enjoyed great success in fashion design, manufacturing, wholesale and retail. In 1998, she was the first Canadian of Asian descent to be appointed to the Senate of Canada, where she focused on gender issues, multiculturalism, immigration, and human rights, and was instrumental in having May recognised as Asian Heritage Month across Canada.
Vivienne is Chancellor Emerita of the University of Toronto. After her retirement from the Senate of Canada on 17 September 2012, she continues to be actively involved with academia and with communities across Canada.
Professional Activities
• Chairwoman of Lee Tak Wai Holdings Limited
• Member of the Senate of Canada (1998 - 2012)
• Chancellor, University of Toronto (2003-2006)
• President of Calyan Publishing Limited
Education
• Ph.D. (History), University of Toronto
• M.A. (History), University of Toronto
• Honours B.A. (History), McGill University
• Diploma (Fashion Arts), Seneca College
• Primary and middle school in Hong Kong and England
Social/Cultural Community
• Honorary Patron of the Victorian Chinatown Museum Society
• Honorary Chair of the Advisory Committee of "Hong Kong-Canada
Crosscurrents Project, 1962-2012”
• Honorary Advisor to the Buddhist Education Foundation for Canada
• Honorary Patron of explorASIAN, Vancouver
• Advisor to the Pacific Canada Heritage Centre -
Museum of Migration Society, Vancouver
• Honorary Patron, Chinese Canadian Legend Award
• Member of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights National Advisory Council
• Member of the Canadian Asian Studies Association (CASA)
• Honorary Co-Chair, Campaign for All Canadians, Canadian Blood Services
• Honorary Patron of the Simon Fraser University David Lam Centre's
Chinese Canadian History Project
• Senior Fellow, Massey College
• One of the five Canadian women funders of the Famous 5 statues on Parliament Hill and in Olympic Park in Calgary
Publications - Books and Papers
• Precious Moments, Calyan Publishing Ltd. Toronto, 2021 (Co-author)
• Heroes & Gamblers: Tales of Survival and Good Fortune of the Poy Family
英雄與賭徒Calyan Publishing Limited, Toronto, 2015.
• Book review. The Remarkable Chester Ronning: Proud Son of China.
University of Toronto Quarterly, Letters in Canada, Vol. 84, No. 3,
Summer 2015.
• Contributed a chapter to the Modern Life-Writing Studies Journal,
Shanghai Jiaotong University, China, The Commercial Press, July 2014 issue.
• Passage to Promise Land, McGill/Queen's University Press,
Montreal & Kingston, London, Ithaca, 2013.
• The China Challenge: Sino-Canadian Relations in the 21st Century,
University of Ottawa Press, 2011(Co-editor).
• 香港利氏家族Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press, 2011.
• Citizenship and Immigration: the Chinese-Canadian Experience,
The Nortel Networks' Canadian Studies Address No. 1.
University of Wollongong Press and the Centre for Canadian-Australian
Studies, Wollongong, Australia, 2002.
• Building Bridges: The Life and Times of Richard Charles Lee,
Hong Kong 1905 - 1983, 築橋,Calyan Publishing Limited, Toronto, 1998.
• A River Named Lee, 利氏長流,Calyan Publishing Limited, Toronto, 1995.
Languages
Fluent: Chinese (Cantonese), English
Some knowledge of Chinese (Mandarin), German, and French
Academic Community
McGill University
• Former Governor
• Established entrance scholarships
• Established the Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Chair in Chinese Culture Studies
University of Toronto
• Chancellor Emerita
• Established the Richard Charles Lee Chinese Canadian Archive in Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
• Established the Richard Charles Lee Directorship, Asian Institute,
Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
• Established the Richard Charles Lee Chair of Chinese Canadian Studies
• Member of the President's Circle
• Member of the Religion in the Public Sphere Advisory Board,
Centre for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto
• Chair, Canadian Studies Advisory Board, University College
• Established the Vivienne Poy Endowment in Asian Canadian Cultural Studies
• Established the Richard Charles Lee Canada Hong Kong Library
• Established the Lee Chair in Chinese Thought and Culture
• Established post-graduate Chancellor's Fellowship
York University
• Established the Vivienne Poy Asian Research Award
• Established the Bernard Luk Memorial Lecture in Hong Kong Studies at the York Centre for Asian Research
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Centre for Life Writing
• Member of the Advisory Board for the Journal of Modern Life Writing
Studies (2013-2016)
Simon Fraser University - David Lam Centre
• Honorary Patron, Chinese Canadian Historical Chart (2001 - )
Seneca College
• Member (Hon) of the Seneca College Fashion Resource Centre
Honorary Degrees and Professorship
• Doctor of Laws, Simon Fraser University (2016)
• Doctor of Laws, York University (2014)
• Doctor of Laws, McGill University (2011)
• Doctor of Laws, University of Toronto (2009)
• Doctor of Laws, University of Manitoba (2006)
• Doctor of Laws, University of Hong Kong (2006)
• Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa), Old Dominion University,
Virginia, USA (2005)
• Honorary Ph.D. in Political Science, Soongsil University, Seoul,
South Korea (2003)
• Honorary Professor, Yanbian University of Science and Technology,
Yanji, Jilin, China (2003)
Awards and Honours
• Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education, Friend of Education Award, May 2022. https://youtu.be/9vHGEjVrLlE
• G. Raymond Chang Award, The University of the West Indies (2016)
• Heritage Award, Transformation Awards, Diversity Expo (2014)
• The Lifetime Achievement Award,
Association of Chinese Canadian Entrepreneurs (2014)
• The Most Successful Women Award, Jessica Magazine,
Hong Kong & China (2013)
• NAAAP 100 Award, The National Association of Asian American
Professionals (2012)
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
• Top 25 Canadian Immigrants, Canadian Immigrant Magazine (2010)
• Chinese Canadian Legend (2009)
• Inaugural Golden Mountain Achievements Award,
at the 150 Years in Golden Mountain celebration, Victoria, BC ( 2008)
• Cambridge Lifetime Achievement Award (2006)
• Eid-ul-Fitr Award, The Association of Progressive Muslims of Ontario. (2005)
• Seneca College Distinguished Alumni Award (2005)
• Women's Executive Network - Canada's Most Powerful Women:
Top 100 Trailblazer Award (2003)
• Bestowed Mohawk name of "Ka Tsi Tsa Ken Reh" -
"a rare and beautiful flower" (2003)
• Officer of the Order of St. John (2003)
• Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Award (2002)
• Gold Medal Award of Excellence in Race Relations (2002)
• Nominated as Woman of the Year by the American Biographical Institute (1998)
• Arbor Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the University of Toronto (1997)
• International Women's Day Award (1996)
Inclusions
In Print
• eliteGen Spring issue, 2026
• 2nd Annual Last Spike Tribute book, 2025
• Canada's Most Inspiring Women by Marquee Magazine, Fall Issue 2021
• Ryerson University Alumni and Friends, May 2021
• The Unconventional Nancy Ruth, Ramona Lumpkin, 2021
• Canadian Women Now and Then: More than 100 Stories of Fearless Trailblazers, 2020
• The Transcultural Streams of Chinese Canadian Identities, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2019
• Three Decades of Cultural Legacy, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, 2019
• Canada 150 Women, Paulina Cameron, 2017
• 《見字如見人》2017
• Seneca Resource Centre, 2016
• Dolce - Summer 2016 issue
• New Leaf Weekly, BC, Oct. 18-24, 2014
• Diversity. Transformation awards special edition, June 2014.
• Jessica Magazine, Hong Kong & China, July 2013, Jan. 2014, Nov. 2015
• The Chinese Community in Toronto, Then and Now, Arlene Chan, 2013
• Red, Publication for the Seneca College Community. Fall 2013
• In the Web, new edition 2012
• Chinese Canadian Historical Chart, Simon Fraser University,
David See-Chai Lam Centre for International Communication, 2011
• The Multicultural Leader: Life Stories of Influence and Achievement,
Soosan Daghighi Latham, Backalong Books/Northwest Cove Productions, 2010
• Canadian Legal Studies Series: Women, Law, and Social Change -
Core Readings and Current Issues, 5th Edition, T. Brettel Dawson,
Captus Press Inc., 2009
• Canadian Sources: Investigated 1914 to the Present,
Elizabeth Freeman-Shaw & Jan Haskings-Winner,
Emond Montgomery Publications Limited, Toronto, 2008
• University College, University College, U of T, Spring 2007
• Canadian Immigrant, Star Media Group, Canada, August 2007
• Public Speaking in Canada: Building Competency in Stages,
Sherry Devereaux Ferguson, Oxford University Press, 2006
• The Last Goodbye, 2006
• Canada's Immigrants, Heroes and Countrymen, Robin Arthur, Sam Bayat,
Authorhouse, 2004
• The Bulletin, ACP, Australia, November 2003
• Tasting Diversity: a celebration of immigrant women and their cooking.
Foreword by Rosemary Brown, Working Women Community Centre,
Whitecap Books, 2002
• Five Hundred Leaders of Influence The International Directory of Distinguished
Leadership, 8th edition
• Life Fellow of the International Biographical Association
• International Who's Who of Intellectuals, 13th edition
• Who's Who of Canadian Women
• Who's Who in Canada
• The Outstanding Immigrants in the New Millennium, Hasanat Ahmad Syed,
The Human Rights and Race Relations Centre in collaboration with
Canada Flag and Unity Centre & New Canada, 2001
• Fifty Plus, CARP News, Canada, June 2000
• Canada at the Millennium, Heirloom Publishing Inc, 2000
• Chinese World Canadian Magazine, 21st Century International
Cultural Communication Co., Ltd. Toronto, January 2000
• Alumni, Seneca Alumni, Toronto, Winter, 1999
• Modesty Magazine, Modesty Group, Ontario, April 1994
• World Monitor, The Christian Science Monitor, USA, May 1989
Television/Digitisation/Documentary/Website
• KPE celebrates Asian Danadians' contributions to sport, physical activity and the study of movement with special event, UofT, May 2025.
• 10 Incredible Asian-Canadians You Didn't Learn About in History Class, April 22, 2021, https://www.readersdigest.ca/culture/asian-canadians-in-history/
• OMNI News, Oct. 21, 2021
• Famous 5 Foundation Virtual Pink Tea Conversation, Aug. 13, 2021
• Official Asian Heritage Month Virtual Celebration, by Canadian Heritage, May 2021
• Interview for the 2021 Asian Heritage Month, YouTube, May 2021
• Ontario MPP, Vincent KE, Proposed Bill, Anti-Asian Racism Education Month, May 2021
• Eyes Open: An Anti-Asian Racism PSA, Facebook Watch, May 2021
• Ancestors in our Attics by Catherine Clement, May 2021
• Stand Together: The Asian North American Experience, May 2021
• Standing together: Honouring Asian heritage and identity through solidarity, May 2021
• North America Headline's 加拿大首位亚裔参议员利德蕙：亚裔应理直气壮为自己的文化传统而自豪 WeChat public account, May 18, 2021
• CTV’s Your Morning show, on-air celebrations of Asian Heritage Month, May 7, 2021
• CBC’s Canada Tonight TV interview, May 3, 2021
• 利德蕙(Vivienne Poy)的時裝和她的成功之道 - 加中在线, May, 2018
•"Vivienne Poy’s Fashion Design & Her Way to Success" Chinese Canadian Times, May 2018
• The Canadian Race Relations Foundation digitized interviews for their
2014 Symposium & Awards, 17-19 Nov. 2014, Ottawa
• Canadian Museum for Human Rights digitized interview for the Gala on
Sept. 18, 2014, Winnipeg
• "Tradition in Felicities: Celebrating 155 Years of Victoria's Chinatown"
Exhibition Digitization Project, Victoria, 2014
• Fairchild TV interview, Leisure Talk, December 2013
• Operation Oblivion. Documentary. Producer Micol Marotti, 2013
• Rogers Daytime interview, May 15, 2013
• Fairchild TV. "26 Magazine", (Historic Tour of the Fraser Canyon). May 2012
• Internationally Trained Lawyers Program (ITLP) UofT Faculty of Law
2nd annual conference, "Success and Serendipity 2012:
The Multicultural Leader." February 2012
• Radio Television Hong Kong TV,"Hong Kong Stories Series 18". Dec. 12, 2011
• ATV, Hong Kong "The Hong Kong Nobles", Fall, 2008
• 10 Episodes Cultural and TV Series across Canada,
Shanghai Oriental Television. October 2004
• Asian Heritage Month, Chinese in Canada Fairchild TV. May 2004
• TV Ontario – "More to Life – the X-Factor" (Mary Ito). January 2004
• TV Ontario – Person 2 Person (Paula Todd). November 2003
• Hakka Conference video, Toronto. December 2002
• OMNI II – "Face to Face with Stanley So". 2 parts, December 1 and 8, 2002
• Rogers "Fireside Chat" – Extraordinary Canadians Who Are Not Born
in Canada, July 2002
• CBC Canada's first Chinese-Canadian senator discusses her work on
Asian Heritage Month. May 2002
• CCTV (China) "Half the Sky". Spring 2002
• Interview on "Newsline" ATV World, Hong Kong. (Frank Ching).
September 2001
• Fairchild TV "Timeline Magazine". June 27, 2001
• Women's Channel "Take 3." Producer Jennifer Harkness. 1996
Highlights of Past Experience & Community Service
Member of The Senate of Canada
• the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
• the Standing Committee on Human Rights
• the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
• the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
• the MP/Senator Zimbabwe Twinning Initiative
• Numerous Parliamentary Associations and Friendship Groups
• the National Liberal Task Force on Youth Entrepreneurship
Professional
• Proprietor of Vivienne Poy Beauty Products (1990-2001)
• President and Designer of Vivienne Poy Mode (1981-1995)
University of Toronto
• Member of the Governing Council
• Member of the Advisory Board of the Canada-Hong Kong Resource Centre,
Joint Centre for Asia Pacific Studies (JCAPS)
• Member of the Nominating Committee for Honorary Degrees
• Member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Arts and Science
• Convener of the Committee for the Support of Higher Education
McGill University
• Governor
• Member of the Board of Visitors, Faculty of Arts
• Member of the Advisory Board of the Tianyige Library Project (Ningbo, China)
• Member of the McGill Ontario Region Advisory Board
University of Victoria
• Former member of the Advisory Council of the Centre for Studies in
Religion and Society
ORBIS (Canada)
Board member (2009 - 2019)
Community
• Honorary Patron, Multi Voices One Heart: Celebrating Canada 150 in Cantonese Opera, Toronto and Vancouver, 2017
• Patron of the Fifth Toronto Hakka Conference, July 2016
• Member of the Advisory Board for Journal of Modern Life
Writing Studies (2013- 2016), Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
Center for Life Writing
• National Chair of Chinese Canadian support of Breaking the Silence Gallery
in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, 2014.
• Patron of the Toronto Hakka Conference since inception in 2001
• Honorary Co-Chair to the 100 Years of Buddhism in Canada Celebration, 2005
• Member of the Friends of Margaret McCain Hall, St. Thomas University, 2005
• Honorary Chair, Jews in Shanghai Exhibition, 2002
• Honorary Co-Chair, Symposium "Leaps and Bounds", Bata Shoe Museum, 2002
• Honorary Chair, National Campaign for the Natural Partnership Campaign of the
Canadian Museum of Nature, 2002
• Honorary Patron of the Hong Kong Tourist Association
Dragon 2000 Design Contest
• Honorary Patron of the Iron Road Opera, 2000
• Honorary Patron of the Millennium Toronto Chinese Photographic Exhibition,
1999
• Honorary Chair of the Board of Advisors
Virtual Museum of Asian Canadian Cultural Heritage (VMACCH)
• Co-Chair for the Scarborough General Hospital Foundation's
World's Worst Painting and Art Auction
• Member of the Honorary Celebration Cabinet for 150 Years in
Golden Mountain Celebrations
• Member of the Advisory Board, Canada-DPR Korea Association
• Honorary Advisor to Sedai, the Japanese Canadian Legacy Project
• Honorary Board Member of the Kidney Foundation (Ontario Region)
• Honorary Advisor Montreal Accès Asie Festival
• Honorary Co-Chair of the Asian Heritage Foundation (Southern Alberta)
• Co-Chair for the Kidney Foundation Luncheon and Fashion Show
• Honorary Memorial Committee for the Jewish War Veterans Memorial (Toronto)
• Honorary Advisor to the 2004 Toronto Hakka Conference
• Member of the Women Entrepreneurs of Canada (1994-1999)
• Trustee and Member of the Nominating Committee of the Art Gallery of Ontario
• Trustee of the National Gallery of Canada
• Director of the Canadian Stage Company
• Member of the Fashion Group International, Toronto Chapter
• Honorary Board Member, Canadian Sinfionetta Chamber Orchestra
• Founding Member of the Governor's Circle of the Art Gallery of Ontario
• Member of the City of Scarborough's Image Committee
• One Woman Fashion Show for the Kidney Foundation Fundraising dinner
• Founder and Chair of the Cathay Ball (92-93) for Mon Sheong Foundation
• Major contributor and member of Scarborough General Hospital's
Capita Campaign
• Honorary Patron, Association of Chinese Canadian Professionals (ACCP)
• Honorary Patron, Taiwan Entrepreneurs Society Taipei/Toronto
• Honorary Patron, Ontario Genealogical Society
• Honorary Patron, Education Foundation of the Chinese Professionals
Association of Canada (CPAC)
• Honorary Patron, Chinese Canadian Heritage Fund
• Honorary Patron, Canadian Future Achievers Awards
• Honorary Patron, Ottawa Chinatown Gateway Project
• Honorary Patron, The Immigrant Centre of Manitoba
• Founding Patron, Helping for a United Good (HUG)
• Patron of the annual Era 21 Networking Breakfast for Young
Canadians on Parliament Hill
• Honorary Patron, Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture, Toronto
• Honorary Patron of the Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society
• Honorary Patron of the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society
• Honorary Patron, Jobs Vision Success (JVS), Toronto
• Patron of the Canadian Chinese Congress of St. John Ambulance, Toronto
• Honorary Patron of the Canada-Hong Kong Business Association
(Ottawa Chapter)
• Honorary Patron of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto
• Patron of the Centre for Information and Community Services, Toronto
• Honorary Patron of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver
• Honorary Patron, Carefirst Seniors and Community Services Association
• Honorary Patron, Vision Youth Leadership Program
