Osgoode Interim Dean Jinyan Li receives CPAC Professional Achievement Award

Osgoode Hall Law School Interim Dean Jinyan Li has received a top award from the Education Foundation of the Chinese Professionals Association of Canada (CPAC) for Distinguished Professional Achievement.

The CPAC award was presented to Li by Ontario Citizenship & Immigration Minister Michael Chan on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the CPAC Education Foundation’s annual gala at the Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham Conference Centre & Spa in Markham. More than 500 guests attended the gala. 

Right: From left, David Kuo, vice-president HSBC Bank of Canada’s Ontario East retail branch network, Osgoode Interim Dean Jinyan Li and Michael Chan, provincial minister of citizenship & immigration, at the award presentation

Li was one of four people to receive this year’s CPAC Professional Achievement Awards, which honour immigrants who have successfully transitioned into new careers in Canada and become successful professionals in their fields. The 2009 Canadian Figure Skating Champion and World Silver Medallist Patrick Chan received the Outstanding Achievement Award; Benjamin Deng, senior thermal process specialist of Hatch Canada, received the Success Award; and Yiyong Wang, a structural engineer, received the Special Contribution Award.

This is the second award Li has received this fall. On Oct. 25, the Federation of Chinese Canadian Professionals (Ontario) Education Foundation awarded her its 2009 Award of Merit. The award recognizes distinguished Chinese Canadians with outstanding achievements in their fields.

Founded in 1992, CPAC is a not-for-profit organization serving immigrant professionals of Chinese descent. The CPAC Education Foundation is a registered charity that provides scholarships, awards and bursaries to secondary and postsecondary students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements as well as exceptional community leadership. Fifteen Canadian students received CPAC scholarships, awards and bursaries this year.

The foundation also provides assistance to CPAC members and their children, who experience financial difficulties, in order for them to further their education.