The Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 1984 marked the first time an Olympic gold medal was awarded to a Chinese Canadian athlete. Lori Fung’s gold in the newly debuted sport of rhythmic gymnastics not only made history as the first Chinese Canadian and Japanese Canadian gold medalist, but also as the first ever rhythmic gymnastics gold medalist. On th…

Tune in to Coastal Front as we welcome The Honourable Mike Harcourt, former Mayor of Vancouver and Premier of British Columbia. We discuss urban planning, housing density, economic policies, and the international workforce in Canada. Discover Mike's insights on sustainable development and his advice for today's leaders. PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast webs…

Chun Hon Chan was the first Chinese Canadian to compete in the Olympic Games, participating in the weightlifting competitions at the Mexico City 1968 and Munich 1972 Summer Games. Standing at just 5'2" and weighing in at 120 pounds, his appearance and strength defied expectations during a time when Chinese men were stereotyped as physically weak. O…

Join us on Coastal Front with Stan Fuller, CEO of Earls Restaurants, as he discusses the founding of Earls, the evolution of the restaurant industry, and the future of dining. Gain insights into the challenges and successes from a true industry pioneer. PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/…

Shelley Niro (Mohawk) is a multidisciplinary contemporary artist, best known for her work in photography, painting, sculpting, beadwork, multimedia, and independent film. On this special episode celebrating National Indigenous History Month, host Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee and Shelley discuss the challenges surrounding representations of Indigenous peo…

Charlayne Thornton-Joe is perhaps best known for her stint as a city councilor in Victoria, where she tirelessly advocated for diverse cultural groups, including that of her own Chinese heritage. Today she serves as the Visitor Experience and Facilities Coordinator for the Chinese Canadian Museum’s Victoria exhibition in Fan Tan Alley, working toge…

Join us on as we welcome back Sam Sullivan, former Mayor of Vancouver, to discuss BC's new housing legislation, homelessness, and the ongoing drug crisis. Sam reflects on his tenure, sharing insights on urban planning, homelessness, and public safety. From his resilience after a life-changing accident to his impactful policies, Sam's journey is ins…

For many, Newfoundland is not usually the first place that comes to mind when thinking of the Chinese Canadian diaspora. While Canada and the United States closed their doors to Chinese immigration until the 1940s, Newfoundland, still a British colony, was the last place in North America to remain open to Chinese, albeit immigration came with a hef…

Join UBC's Dr. Werner Antweiler as he examines the feasibility and impact of achieving 100% Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) sales by 2035 in British Columbia, the complexities of EV charging and the challenges and opportunities with the electric grid. PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH…

What does it mean to serve your community? On this International Women’s Day special episode, host Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee sits down with Arlene Chan, author, historian, activist, and daughter of Jean Lumb – the first Chinese Canadian woman to be inducted into the Order of Canada for her own community activism. Tune in to learn about the work these …

What do a photo album restaurant directory, steamed broccoli, and an autofiction novel have in common? All three were used by William Ping in reconnecting with his late grandfather, William Ping Sr, who was one of about 300 Chinese men to settle in Newfoundland when the Newfoundland Chinese head tax was in effect. On this month’s episode, William P…

Chinese Canadian magician Tony Eng (1946-2008) was a beloved fixture in the Victoria, B.C. bar, restaurant, and entertainment scene for more than thirty years. His long list of accomplishments include running his own magic shop that was frequented by locals and tourists alike, establishing his unique magic show that drew inspiration from his Chines…

Join us as we dive into Keith's extraordinary journey in the world of finance, business development, and mining since 1984. Discover how he founded First Quantum Minerals Ltd and his bold decision to start First Majestic Silver Corp in 2002, a move that catapulted the company to a staggering $1.4 billion market cap. PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website:…

Though museums typically house pieces of history, rarely are museums themselves housed within historic buildings. The Chinese Canadian Museum is a unique exception to this with its location inside the Wing Sang Building, the oldest brick building in Vancouver Chinatown and a heritage building listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. On t…

John Rustad, leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, joins Coastal Front to explore a variety of issues. We’ll discuss climate change, crime, and his perspectives on the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) topics in BC schools. Plus, hear John’s insights on why BC might be heading towards an earlier-than-expected…

Join us on Coastal Front as we dive into an inspiring conversation with Carol Lee, a renowned philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. Discover Carol’s remarkable journey in revitalizing Vancouver’s historic Chinatown, her groundbreaking social initiatives, and her vision for sustainable community development. …

Join us as David Long, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, shares his insights on combating food insecurity. A former chef with an international career, now an influential leader, David discusses the challenges of food distribution and waste. PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1…

During World War II, thirteen Chinese Canadian men were hand-picked to serve as the first recruits of Force 136, a British Special Operations Executive unit whose mission was to blend in and infiltrate enemy lines in Japanese-occupied Southeast Asia. On this Remembrance Day special episode, host Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee is joined by Rick Wong, whose …

In this inaugural episode of The School Room, the podcast of the Chinese Canadian Museum, host Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee sits down with curator Catherine Clement to discuss her exhibition, The Paper Trail to the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act. To learn more about the Chinese Canadian Museum and book tickets, visit https://www.chinesecanadianmuseum.ca/.…

Tune in as we chat with Tim Grant from PCI Developments about transit-oriented and rental housing solutions and the intricacies of cultivating thriving, sustainable communities. PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LyTOgC 🔹 Other Podcast sites: https://l…

Today, we spotlight Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee, CEO of the Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver. From the Vancouver Art Gallery to UNESCO's Tai Kwun Centre, her journey is a mix of academic excellence and pure passion. PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Ly…

Join us on Coastal Front as we welcome Steve Saretsky, an influential voice in Vancouver's real estate market. From analyzing housing stats to advising policymakers and developers, Steve's expertise is unparalleled. PODCAST INFO: 🔹 Podcast website: https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3HhcsH1 🔹 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3L…

Dr. Julian Somers, a clinical psychologist and a Distinguished Professor from SFU stops by the studio to discuss ways to improve clinical practices and policies related to addiction and mental health. Prior to his current roles, Dr. Somers was the Director of the Psychology Clinic at UBC and the President of the BC Psychological Association. With J…

Having recently been named the Canadian Business Leader of the Year, Beedie CEO, Ryan Beedie sits down with our host, Andrew Johns, to tackle housing in Vancouver, the importance of having a thriving industrial real estate sector and his deep involvement in philanthropy.By Andrew Johns

Some may know him as the “Condo King,” Bob Rennie is the founder and executive director of rennie. Born and raised in East Vancouver, Bob has been in real estate over the course of 4 decades. We discuss the reality of real estate development, expansion, affordability and the politics associated with it in Vancouver.…

With over 20 years of law enforcement experience, Kal Dosanjh has worked in one of the most challenging environments in North America in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside. Kal’s continued service led him to focus on providing youth with constructive outlets through sports with the KidsPlay Foundation. Under his leadership, KidsPlay has over 500 volun…

Fresh off his hit new documentary “Vancouver is Dying,” host Aaron Gunn gives us the behind-the-scenes look of the film and how his views evolved while exploring the surge in violent crime, homelessness and drug addiction in the heart of Vancouver. Aaron is an independent journalist and filmmaker hailing from Victoria, BC. He is an advocate for tax…

With an evolving political landscape in Vancouver, Victoria and Ottawa, Kirk LaPointe, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Business in Vancouver, sits down to discuss what we should expect with new leaders at the helm. We explore how the shifting landscape may affect business activity in #Vancouver and we get Kirk’s take on the massive disruption in m…

What is engineering’s role for the City of Vancouver? Where do we get our drinking water? What are the biggest risks facing #vancouver today? Earthquakes, purple lights, model cities. We touch on just about everything with Lon LaClaire, General Manager of Engineering Services at the #cityofvancouver .…

The Non-Partisan Association (NPA) was established in 1937 by Vancouver’s business leaders and has drawn its strongest support from Vancouver’s business community. In total, there have been eleven NPA mayors of Vancouver with the most recent being Sam Sullivan who served from 2005 to 2008. Mayoral candidate Fred Harding, and Councillor candidates C…

TEAM for a Livable Vancouver was formed in August 2021 by people of diverse political backgrounds who aim to create a more neighbourhood-friendly City Hall. TEAM stands for The Electors’ Action Movement. Joining Coastal Front on the show today are city council candidates Stephen Roberts and Grace Quan. With a focus on finances and creating business…

With the ongoing concern of the city of Vancouver's divide, OneCity Vancouver joins us on Coastal Front to discuss several topics, and ideas pertaining to their advocacy. City Council leaders Christine Boyle, and Iona Bonamis highlight the work they are doing for their community as dedicated Vancouverites. Listen to the podcast: 🔹 https://linktr.ee…

What are your 2022 Vancouver election predictions? We sat down with guests Mo Amir, Frances Bula and George Affleck to debate and discuss everything from candidates approaches to core issues in our city, who has stood out so far and much more. Listen to the podcast: 🔹 https://linktr.ee/coastalfrontbc Follow Coastal Front — 🔹 https://www.coastalfron…

On this episode of Coastal Front, we sit down with Sam Lee, president & CEO of Northisle Copper & Gold Inc. Sam Lee has advised on some of the most prominent transactions in both the International & Canadian Global industry. The company strives to act as one of the top resource companies, committed to it's North Island Project on Vancouver Island. …

This week on Coastal Front we spoke with council candidates, Michael Wiebe and Pete Fry from the Green Party of Vancouver. Michael and Pete have spent their careers advocating for climate action within our city and greener future for the next generations. With a focus on affordable housing, climate action and connected communities, the Green Party …

Formed in 1968, The Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) has been traditionally associated with tenants, environmentalists, and the labour movement. Candidates Jean Swanson and Breen Ouellette have spent their careers advocating for social justice issues. This fall they are asking Vancouver to vote for more COPE representation to make a big cha…

This week we welcome back Bart Jaworski, CEO and Director of Group Eleven Resources, to discuss all things zinc. Incorporated in 2015, Group Eleven is a mineral exploration company focused on advanced stage zinc exploration projects in Ireland. Two of their main ventures include the Ballinalack project located in north-east Ireland and the Stonepar…

From 2008 till 2018 Vancouver was very familiar with Vision Vancouver. Yet, for the last four years, the party has kept a low profile- until now. Candidates Leslie Boldt and Stuart Mackinnon fill us in on how Vision has been rebuilding, what their goals are as candidates, and how they are willing to work with just about anyone.…

Joe Lowry, or as industry players have dubbed him, “Mr. Lithium” has been involved in supplying raw materials to the lithium-ion battery space since the beginning of the industry in Japan. As the president and founder of Global lithium, Joe provides advisory services, custom studies, expert consultations, and online resources to clients on five con…

CEO Trevor Koot and Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson from the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) join us on this week’s episode. The BCREA is the professional association for over 24,000 commercial and residential realtors in BC. The organization supports the province’s eight real estate boards by providing professional development o…

She’ll soon complete her first term as a Vancouver City Councillor, but Colleen Hardwick has no intention of slowing down or leaving 453 W. 12th Avenue behind. Inspired by the insights and legacies of The Electors’ Action Movement, TEAM for a Livable Vancouver was formed in August 2021. Soon after Colleen was acclaimed as the mayoral candidate for …

Known as a public affairs strategist and entrepreneur who founded Burrard Strategy in 1998, Mark Marissen first started his career in Ottawa as the National Youth Director of the Liberal Party of Canada. Over the years, Mark has worked with several familiar names and achieved success on a number of high-level projects. With a strong track record, M…

We are thrilled to have one of Canada's greatest entrepreneurs, Chip Wilson, on this week's episode. Chip showcases his highly regarded expertise on brand development in Canada, and the relationship all levels of government have with current and aspiring business owners. Follow Coastal Front — 🔹 https://www.coastalfront.ca 🔹 https://twitter.com/coa…

The rise in window and store front damage has been plaguing local business owners as they try to make repairs and recover from the economic affects of the pandemic. On today’s show, we are joined by John Clerides, owner of Marquis Wine Cellars, to discuss an issue that is affecting many Vancouver business owners. Follow Coastal Front — 🔹 https://ww…

This week’s episode features one of Vancouver’s youngest and brightest CEOs, Ilya Brotzky of VanHack. We explore how he started VanHack, the dire need for more tech talent in the world, as well as the future within the tech space. Enjoy this week’s fascinating discussion.By Andrew Johns

According to a UNICEF report, Canada has one of the best educational systems in the world... for kids over five. For kids under five, we have one of the worst systems in the developed world in terms of quality and availability. But the childcare crisis is nothing new. Early childhood education has been unaffordable and inaccessible for decades. It'…

As the President of the Cambie Surgeries Corporation, Dr. Brian Day has worked with some of the top surgeons in the world. In this week’s episode Dr. Day brings a wealth of knowledge on the medical field to Coastal Front to explore the current state of Canada’s healthcare system and how it is unlike any other in the world.…

On today’s episode, we are joined by the MLA for Kelowna Mission and candidate for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party, Renee Merrifield. Renee is an accomplished businesswoman whose migration into politics has gone quite smoothly. Now she looks to further her political career by running for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party. Join us as we …

You’ve probably seen their delivery bags outside your neighbours’ doors. Fresh Prep is a Vancouver based service that is thriving in the meal-kit industry. Today we welcome Fresh Prep Co-CEO, Dhruv Sood. We discuss the emergence of the meal-kit industry, sustainability, and what separates Fresh Prep from its competitors. Tune in so you never have t…

We’re very excited to have President and CEO of Lithium Americas, Jon Evans on the show today. Jon shares his in-depth knowledge on how lithium is embedded in our everyday lives. We tackle topics on the increased demand for lithium, the environmental aspects, and concerns, as well as what the future has in store for the lithium industry. Tune in to…