Fred Mah Receives Vancouver's Civic Merit Award

In a ceremony yesterday (February 26) at Vancouver City Hall, Mayor Gregor Robertson presented Vancouver's Civic Merit Award to Fred Mah, founding member of the Chinatown Society Heritage Buildings Association. 

Mr. Mah's work assisted with the rehabilitation of historic buildings in Chinatown and led to its designation as a national heritage site. As part of the Chinese Benevolent Association, Mr. Mah played a key role in the installation of Shanghai Alley and the memorial statue at Keefer Plaza.

In his role as president of the Vancouver-Guangzhou Friendship Society and as a founding member of the Society and the BC Guangdong Business Council, Mr. Mah has been instrumental in establishing successful business, cultural and educational relationships with Vancouver’s sister-city of Guangzhou, China.

He started well-known local organizations such as the Chinese Cultural Centre, Vancouver International Dragon Boat Festival Society, Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC, and Friends of False Creek, and his volunteer work includes organizing the Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival parades. 

The City of Vancouver began awarding the Civic Merit Award in 1942. The award recognizes individuals for outstanding achivement in a particular field of endeavour—in sports, science, arts or culture—within the city and the province, or in recognition of a specific service.