Local environmentalist and social activist Claudia Li has been elected as an Ashoka Canada fellow for her community and culturallyrooted efforts to raise awareness on issues such as sustainability, food security and the environment.
"I'm honoured to be named an Ashoka Fellow and be a part of this network. Having support from one of the leading authorities on social change strengthens my work in building bridges across my communities to honour our cultural heritage as well as protect the planet," said Li.
The founder of the nonprofit group Hua Foundation is now working on a new Intercultural Food Literacy program as part of The Choi Project, which aims to close the knowledge gap of Asian vegetables in the Metro Vancouver market.
The Hua Foundation aims to encourage Chinese-Canadians to participate in local food issues. It was the subject of an award-winning Richmond News feature story on agriculture in the city last December.
A Chinese-Canadian born in Richmond, Li also founded Shark Truth to raise awareness in the Chinese-Canadian community about the problems caused by killing sharks. She worked with youth to promote environmental sustainability on the issue and enacted change in many Chinese restaurants.
Cranberry king Prominent Richmond businessman Peter Dhillon has been named chair of the Ocean Spray board of directors.
Having served on the board for 11 years, Dhillon - who farms just under 800 acres of cranberry bogs locally, as well as 450 acres in Quebec - made the step up from vice chair two weeks ago to the leading role in Ocean Spray, which is a cooperative, owned by more than 700 cranberry and grapefruit growers in the U.S., Canada and Chile.
"I am very honored to be assuming the chairmanship," said Dhillon, whose family has farmed cranberries in Richmond for more than 35 years.
"The board plays a critical role in delivering a premium to our grower-owners and in advancing the cranberry and Ocean Spray brand throughout North America and the world."
Dhillon has just finished his second term on the Vancouver Airport Authority board.
. See both stories in full at richmond-news.com
