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About Us

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About Us

About Us

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About Us

Our Mission

The Federation of Asian Canadians Toronto (FACT), a registered non-profit organization, aims to celebrate, empower, and promote the diverse Asian Canadian community in Toronto by creating platforms for vibrant cultural exchange and business networking. Through our initiatives, such as the Asialicious Carnival, AsialiciousTO, and the Asian Business and Trade Expo, FACT aims to strengthen bonds within the community while showcasing the richness of Asian heritage. Through collaboration, advocacy, and innovation, FACT aspires to be a catalyst for positive change, driving the advancement and representation of Asian Canadians in Toronto’s dynamic social and economic landscape.

Uniting Diversity for Prosperity: FACT's Vision for a Harmonious and Thriving Community

FACT envisions a community where differences are not only celebrated but also harnessed as strengths, creating a harmonious blend that extends from cultural festivities to thriving businesses and interconnected society. Through the Asian Business and Trade Expo, we aim to unite global Asian businesses, technology and cultures, fostering connections among multicultural groups. We seek to promote economic development, facilitate international trade, and empower Canadian small businesses through collaboration and growth opportunities.

Board of Directors

Benny Cheung

President & Treasurer

Nicole Leung

Director & Corporate Secretary

Ivan Wan

Director

Benny Cheung

President & Treasurer

Nicole Leung

Director & Corporate Secretary

Ivan Wan

Director

Jack Xu

Director

Jack Xu

Director

Ryan Lau

Director

Melvin Mariathas

Director

Business Committee

Benny Cheung

Member

Maggie Han

Chair

Ryan Lau

Vice Chair

HyunJoo Chae

Member

Mila Nabor Cuachon

Member

David Gunawan

Member

Jenny Lam

Member

Larry Lau

Member

Young Lee

Member

Nicole Leung

Member

Maria Onilla

Member

Dolly Shao

Member

Closs Tong

Member

Ivan Wan

Member

Jack Xu

Member

April Yick

Member

The Federation of Asian Canadians Toronto (FACT), a registered non-profit organization, aims to celebrate, empower, and promote the diverse Asian Canadian community in Toronto by creating platforms for vibrant cultural exchange and business networking.

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Benny Cheung

Benny is the President of Elegant Financial Inc., a life insurance MGA. She is also a registered mutual fund branch manager. She holds a premier financial planning designation, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), managing over 50 agents and over 5000 clients providing the full range of financial services to help clients meet and achieve their financial goals, including but not limited to estate planning and preservation, wealth transfer, income protection, income replacement, family protection, debt consolidation and tax-efficient strategies.

For over 20 years, she has been an active volunteer working for the community. She is a founding member of the Toronto Elegant Lions Club and was the President of the association during its 9th term. She volunteered with Toronto Chinese Business Association for 14 years. During her tenure at the Toronto Chinese Business Association, she has held the position of Festival Chair 3 times for their signature event, the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival. In addition, she was also the first board director to hold 3 consecutive terms as President within the association.

Benny has co-led 2 China Trade Missions, one in 2010 and one in 2012, with a delegation including Municipal officials, Mayors and Councillors and community members. The China Trade Missions were a networking bridge to link China, Hong Kong and Canadian business owners together.

Benny is currently an active Chinese Cabinet member for SickKids Foundation and a co-chair of the annual SickKids Foundation Glitter event in support of raising funds for the new children’s hospital.

In late 2017, Benny founded the Federation of Transoceanic Chinese Canadian Association (FTCCA) with the intent to cultivate a harmonious relationship between Chinese Canadians by creating a platform for members to strengthen economic relations between Canada and China.

Nicole Leung

Nicole Leung is the General Manager and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SmartRay Inc., a growing LED lighting company in Markham, Canada’s High-Tech Capital. She is instrumental in developing new customers and maintaining key accounts, she has taken on a leadership role in implementing sales and marketing strategy by increasing company sales dramatically, Oakville Hospital, Roy Thomson Hall and Hilton Hotel are some of her new clients. In June 2018, Nicole worked with
the City of Markham to facilitate a donation of 300 light bulbs to a northern indigenous community in Ontario to reduce their 6 times high electricity cost.

Aside from her day-to-day operation, Nicole is the Special Assistant to the Honourary Consul to the Kingdom of Cambodia in Ontario, administering special projects and public relations. Since the reinstatement of her role, Nicole has received delegations from Cambodia and the Philippines, bridging the unification of the ASEAN countries in Canada, promoting cross-cultural understanding and mutual support. She is also involved in organizing community events, international business opportunities, hosting foreign missions, Cambodian New Year parliamentary reception at the Ontario Legislature, the Asian Heritage Month Parliament Hill Reception and the opening of the Honorary Consulate.

Prior to her current positions, Nicole was a Business Development Manager at a property development company. Her strong commitment, positive work ethic and exceptional client service make her the perfect Client Relations Manager for the company’s clients, partners and business associates. Nicole Leung has acquired her mortgage agent licensed by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario in July 2014, she has gained knowledge in a full range of unique financial products, including mortgages, syndications, overseas investments, and financial planning, her personal investment philosophies have successfully helped local and foreign clients grow their investments and achieve their financial goals.

In November 2015, Nicole was an active participant in the 14-day Markham-China Trade Mission led by his Worship Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Markham Council, Economic Development Department and the Confederation of Greater Toronto Chinese Business Association, along with entrepreneurs, business owners, organizations and communities leaders. The delegation visited major industrial and economic zones in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan, Huadu and Hong Kong. The mission further strengthened and promoted economic, business and cultural relationships between Canada and China. The experience has deepened her insights of China and its cultural differences between cities.
Nicole Leung is actively involved in many social, community and charitable activities in Canada and devotes herself to the development of the Asian-Canadian community. She is a founding director in the Cambodian Canadian Arts and Cultural Association (CCACC), Corporate Secretary in the Federation of Transoceanic Chinese Canadian Association (FTCCA) and the Federation of Asian Canadians Toronto (FACT). She is also involved in Lobster Fest, National Pasta Month, National Soup Month, Diversity Job Fair and Multicultural Film Festival.

Nicole Leung was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada in August 2002. Her mother was born in Vietnam and fled the country with her entire family, with 12 siblings and her grandmother to Hong Kong in 1977. Her mother worked at the United Nations refugee camp in Hong Kong and with the Police as an interpreter, reading, writing and communicating fluently in Vietnamese, Cantonese and Mandarin. Her mother’s family started a small family luggage business in Hong Kong as they tried to make a living and support the whole family. Nicole has learned at a very young age that she needs to work very hard to be successful. She started working at a young age at 16, a year after she arrived in Canada, to support her family and education when her mother fell very ill. She continued working throughout her school years and graduated from the University of Toronto in 2013 with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Biology and Anthropology, she was the first in her family to obtain a university degree.

Jack Xu

Jack Xu is a highly passionate and detail-focused senior commercial banker
with over 10 years banking experience. With extensive experience in the
industry, Jack possesses a deep understanding of various banking sectors,
including Small Business Banking, Commercial Banking, Corporate Banking, and
Capital Market. He is a strategic advisor to business owner.

Jack is known for his exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to work
collaboratively with colleagues at all levels within an organization. He thrives in
a team environment and is committed to achieving business goals through an
innovative and result-oriented approach.

One of Jack’s key strengths is his professional written and verbal
communication skills in English and Mandarin. This language proficiency
enables him to effectively engage with diverse clients and build strong
Relationships.

With a strong foundation in quantitative analytics, financial risk assessment,
and credit analysis, Jack demonstrates advanced knowledge of commercial
credit lending structure, business risk monitoring and control, and
financial/industry analysis. He is adept at assessing credit risks, evaluating
financial statements, and providing comprehensive financing solutions.

Throughout his career, Jack has successfully developed and managed
relationships with mid-market and senior market commercial clients. He excels
in new business development and has a proven track record of delivering
exceptional customer service and maintaining client portfolios.

In addition to his professional achievements, Jack holds a Master of
International Business degree from Queen’s University, specializing in
Management and Financial Accounting. He also completed a Bachelor of
Management and Organizational Studies with a specialization in Finance from
Western University.. His excellent credit acumen, problem-solving skills, and
commitment to delivering legendary customer experiences set him apart in the
commercial banking industry.

Ryan Lau

Embarking on my journey from Malaysia to Canada in 2013, I’ve cultivated a
professional narrative centered on cultural connectivity and global business
integration. Settlement in Halifax and later Toronto in 2018 enriched my role as
a Commercial Banker at RBC, leveraging fluency in English, Malay, and Chinese
(Cantonese and Mandarin).
Key Roles:
• Empowering local businesses to expand their reach, both domestically and
internationally, through strategic financial guidance and support.
• Tailoring bespoke financial solutions for enterprises, locally and globally, to
optimize growth and navigate complex financial landscapes.
• Serving as a trusted strategic advisor to entrepreneurs, offering expert
guidance to fulfill their aspirations through sound financial planning and
execution.
• Facilitating foreign investment initiatives including and cultivating strategic
partnerships with esteemed institutions including Export Development Canada
(EDC).

Outside of work, I hold multiple key volunteer positions, including Director at
the Malaysian Association in Canada and Director at the Federation of Asian
Canadians Toronto (FACT), contributing to community development and
cultural integration efforts.

Recognizing the critical role of supply chain management and foreign
investments in facilitating seamless cross-border transactions, I’m steering my
professional trajectory towards the dynamic supply chain and foreign
investment sector, with a special emphasis on the ASEAN region. This strategic
shift aligns with the economic dynamism and growth potential within the
Supply Chain & Foreign Investment Industry and ASEAN business landscape.

By integrating financial expertise with supply chain understanding, I strive to
enhance success in both the Supply Chain & Foreign Investment Industry and
the ASEAN Community. This endeavor represents more than career
advancement; it’s a dedication to fostering cultural exchange, economic
collaboration, and leveraging the supply chain as a conduit for business
growth.

Mila Nabor Cuachon

Mila Nabor Cuachon wears multiple hats at Casa Manila, serving as its CEO, Executive Chef, and Creative Director right here in Toronto. Since it first opened its doors in 2010, Casa Manila has been a culinary beacon in our city, recently expanding its reach with a second location on the Danforth in 2022. Renowned for pioneering the “KAMAYAN” style dining experience, Casa Manila offers a unique taste of Filipino culture.

Mila’s journey to Casa Manila is a testament to her deep connection to her Filipino roots. Having immigrated to Canada in 1966 at the age of 6, she carried with her a deep longing for the vibrant culture, sumptuous cuisine, and heartfelt warmth of the Philippines she left behind. Before venturing into the culinary world with Casa Manila, Mila became Miss Philippines for Miss World 1980 and stayed for 3 years, based in her motherland where her title offered the opportunity to reclaim her roots and her quest for world travel. At age 23, Mila bought Palma Brava, a furniture business which grew into 3 locations in GTA to Boca Raton Florida specializing in Filipino wicker, wrought iron , rattan products and interior accessories from Bali, Mexico and Indonesia exporting across North America and Europe. At 40, studied at University of Toronto, Toronto School of Theology and graduated with a Masters in Ministry and Spirituality and acdiploma in Spiritual Direction and eventually facilitated youth and adult retreats. With the growing restaurant business, she decided to focus on her passion for her homeland products this time wholesome Filipino food driven by faith which moves her forward to the mission of sharing the beauty of the Philippine Islands with people of all cultures. She is a mother of 3 daughters and has one granddaughter and many four legged family members. She is married to Rizalde Cuachon and together they own and operate Casa Manila and continue to enjoy travelling to the Philippines and wherever the Spirit moves them.