Board of Directors

Current Board of Directors

Kuo Wong, Chair

Kuo Wong grew up in Vancouver and has over 30 years experience as a successful entrepreneur in the residential construction industry. He designed and built residential projects across Greater Vancouver.

He was introduced to the Villa Cathay Care Home community when his mother was admitted as a resident in 2015. Since then, Kuo has continued to be a tremendously active and committed volunteer. He has been a strong community advocate in Vancouver and Richmond.

Kuo brings a wealth of contemporary governance and accountability skills to Villa Cathay.

Dr. Vivian Lo, Secretary

Dr. Vivian Lo earned her Ph.D., MA and BA from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver and holds her MBA from University of Leicester and MA from University of Gloucestershire in the UK. She also obtained the Final Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Linguists in the UK and becomes a linguist. Passionate about education, publishing, and community services, Dr. Lo has authored and presented research articles in universities across Canada, France, Australia, China and the USA, and published five books on education and counseling in Vancouver. After acquiring the Teacher’s Certificate in Mandarin in HK, she has also authored and compiled a series of Mandarin textbooks titled “Dinosaur Mandarin” for children. Having earned the Advanced Diploma in Art Therapist in Vancouver, Dr. Lo becomes a certified art therapist in British Columbia. In recent years, she continues to make a meaningful impact on the local community by running an education and counseling center in Richmond, dedicated to supporting individuals and families through educational and therapeutic services. In July 2024, Dr. Lo had successfully established a charitable foundation with friends in Vancouver and becomes the charter president of this foundation which has the mandate of promoting the mental well-being of the elderly and children with disability.

Mabel Tung, Treasurer

Eva Ho, Director

With 38 years of experience in social services and community mental health, Eva has dedicated her career to supporting individuals in need.

Born in Hong Kong, Eva moved to Vancouver, where she completed high school before earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sociology, Social Work, and Counseling from Washington State University. Upon returning to Vancouver, she began her career serving the Downtown Eastside and Chinatown communities. She later spent 33 years in community mental health with Vancouver Coastal Health before retiring.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Eva cared for her elderly father, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges faced by seniors in housing and care facilities. Inspired by this experience, she is committed to using her expertise to enhance the quality of care for the residents of Villa Cathay.

Baldwin Wong, Director

After 30 years of service with the City of Vancouver, Baldwin recently retired from his role as Senior Social Planner from the City.

Over the years, Baldwin’s work focused on strengthening civic inclusion and equity, especially in the areas of multiculturalism, anti-racism, and immigrant integration in the City. Highlights included convening the groundbreaking ‘Vancouver Dialogues Project’ fostering stronger relationships between Indigenous and Immigrant communities, and the ‘Vancouver Local Immigration Partnership’ which engaged a broad range of local organizations to improve the wellbeing of immigrants and refugees.

In 2017, Baldwin led the civic initiative researching on historical discrimination by the City government towards people of Chinese descent’. The final report adopted by Council led to the historic public apology in 2018 by Vancouver City Council to the Chinese Canadian community in Vancouver. As a follow-up to the City apology, Baldwin co-led the Chinatown revitalization initiative with the goal of having Chinatown designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For volunteer work, Baldwin is a former chair of the BC Provincial Multiculturalism Advisory Council and has served on the boards of Leadership Vancouver, Coast Mental Health Society, and the Vancouver Recital Society, among others.

Gordon Yu, Director

I have been a family lawyer for over 30 years. I was born in Hong Kong but grew up in the Strathcona/Chinatown neighborhood of Vancouver. I am married with two adult children and a granddaughter. Both my parents have lived in care homes; my father was in assisted living when he passed away in March 2021, and my mother was in long-term care until she passed away in January 2024. I am familiar with the concerns and challenges faced by seniors and their families, and I hope to make a positive contribution to the Villa Cathay Care Home as a board member.

Dr. Gilbert Chow, Director

Dr. Gilbert Chow is a distinguished social activist and former lecturer at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University who relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia in 2022. Throughout his career, Dr. Chow has collaborated extensively with prominent social service organizations, including the Hong Kong Council of Social Services, Saint James Settlement, and the Chow Tai Fook Foundation. His work has spanned critical areas such as policy research, community development, and project evaluation.

An accomplished author, Dr. Chow has published several influential works, including The Deadlock and Lifeline of Hong Kong Healthcare Reform (2006) and A Retrospect and Foresight for Healthcare Reform in Hong Kong (2010). More recently, his “Smart Revolution Trilogy,” consisting of The Coming of Post-employment Society (2018), Dystopia: From Smart Revolution to Post-human Future (2022), and Catastrophe and Reconstruction: Human Future under the Impact of ChatGPT (2023), explores the profound societal impacts of technological advancements.

The Founding Board Members

Villa Cathay Care Home Society was incorporated under the BC Society Act as a non-profit organization in 1975. A group of dedicated volunteers, comprising of Chinese professionals and entrepreneurs, formed the Society and acted as the founding board that led the development of the Villa Cathay Care home to provide residential care to serve the community.

Dr. Fan’s heart was in serving the Chinese community, especially new immigrants, the marginalized, and seniors housing.  In addition to Villa Cathay, he served on the board of several community associations, including the Chinatown Merchants and Property Owner’s Association, the Christ Church of China in Vancouver, the World Lotus Light Charity Society, the Chinese Benevolent Association of Canada, the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver, and many other social, educational and religious associations.

Dr. Fan passed away in 2018. We are forever in his debt; he will be forever in our hearts.

Dr. Shou Hsin Hsu

Dr. Hsu was a retired anaesthetist, who practised in the Greater Vancouver area for 25 years.  As a long serving Board member at Villa Cathay, he was a tireless advocate for high quality, affordable care for seniors. He established the Hsu & Hsieh Foundation which provides annual grants to support charitable agencies and non-profit organizations across the province.

Dr. Hsu passed away in 2018. Our residents and their families are truly grateful for the enduring community he created over forty years ago.

Mr. Henry Loh

Henry Loh had a business degree from Columbia University, a diploma from the Wharton School of Business, and many years of experience running an import and distribution business with his wife Josie. He was delighted to contribute his expertise and to serve on the board with many of his special friends.

Board Alumni