Meet Metro Vancouver's inspiring Asian-Canadians

May is Asian Heritage Month, a time to acknowledge and celebrate the rich history, contributions and achievements of Asian-Canadians in the community. 

To commemorate the occasion, CBC Vancouver is sharing profiles of amazing local Asian-Canadians throughout the month to highlight those who are making meaningful contributions, both professionally and personally, in the community. 

Check out Vineeta Kumar's story below, and keep scrolling for more inspiring profiles! And for more Asian Heritage Month content, visit CBC Gem for a new collection of series, documentaries and films that honour the rich culture and talent of Asian-Canadians and follow the hashtag #ProudlyAsianCanadian on social media for more inspiring stories.

Vineeta and Ajay Kumar, Surrey 

Owners: Indo-Fiji Supermarket

When opportunity knocked in 1991, Vineeta and Ajay Kumar took it – and then some. 

Today, more than 30 years later, Indo-Fiji Supermarket carries 2,000+ curated Fijian, Indian and Canadian products and is a staple in communities in Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey, where its flagship store resides. 

Learn the story behind the culturally diverse destination below! 

What is your business' origin story?

Both myself and my husband have business backgrounds from Fiji. When we arrived here, my mother-in-law encouraged us to start our own business and, after a few years of working in retail, we learned that an elderly couple with a store on Victoria drive were retiring. We bought their store and rejuvenated the business to suit customer needs in that area. Through word of mouth, we grew increasingly busier and expanded to other locations. 

Are any of your family members involved in your business? 

Yes! My sister-in-law Aruna, my boys, my nephew and my daughter-in-law. They all help my husband and I whenever there is a festival or if it's a busy season. And with the help of the younger generation, we've also been able to expand our business to online. 

Has the community ever rallied around you to support your business? 

Our customers have supported us throughout the entire pandemic, and it is because of them that Indo-Fiji Supermarket survived while many businesses struggled. I'm very thankful to all our customers and to the community for being there for us and for supporting our growth. 

What does being Asian-Canadian mean to you?

I'm proud to be an Asian-Canadian. To me it means we're able to celebrate our heritage, and yet participate in other cultures. It's so nice that we can all come together to celebrate each other's festivals like Vaisakhi and Eid al-Fitr and so many other occasions. We have the freedom to do that here in Canada.

Lisa Seriosa, Vancouver 

Owner: Periwinkle Designs

Lisa Seriosa, along with her daughter Madison, are the creative forces and entrepreneurial masterminds behind Periwinkle Designs; an eco-friendly product line out of Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood. 

But success doesn't happen without support. Learn about how the Seriosa family have come together to grow their sustainable business while protecting the environment – one beeswax wrap at a time! 

What is your business' origin story?

When I started Periwinkle Designs four years ago, the focus was creating custom stationery and wedding invitations. But when my young daughter Madison developed a passion for the business and environmentally friendly products, it evolved to include beeswax food wraps and other handmade eco-friendly products. 

How is your family involved in the business? 

The entire family is very supportive. Madison, my 8 year old son Cole, husband Allan and my mom Joyce all help support behind the scenes and at community markets, where they are there from set up to tear down. It's fantastic when everyone is involved and it's truly a family affair!

What does being Asian-Canadian mean to you?

This has changed over the course of my life. Growing up in a predominantly white environment, I didn't want to be Chinese. I was accepted, but also knew I was different. I am half 4th generation Canadian, yet I was still put into ESL class in elementary school even though English was my primary and only language at the time.

I would like to think that as a society we have come a long way from the days when I was needlessly put into an ESL class. However, with the recent Asian hate crime, it's clear that there is still a lot to learn and mend.

Today, I am proud to be an Asian-Canadian female business owner. As a parent of kids that are Asian – half Chinese and half Filipino – it's very important to me that we stand tall and be proud of where we come from and our contributions to making Canada the country it is today.

Trixie Ling, Vancouver 

Business: Flavours of Hope

Building bridges between cultures through shared food, stories, and entrepreneurship has always been important to Trixie Ling, a community builder with a Masters in Public Policy. 

A passionate advocate for BIPOC communities, Ling has created a non-profit social enterprise that instills a strong quality of hope and sense of belonging that you can taste and feel. 

Tell us about your non-profit?

Flavours of Hope is a non-profit organization that supports and empowers newcomer refugee women to flourish in the community. Since its inception four years ago, our aim is to support women in building social connections through cooking, culture and storytelling and to facilitate entrepreneurship so they can support themselves and their family.

What is your business' origin story?

It really came from my own experience coming to Canada as an immigrant. I was born in Taiwan and moved a lot growing up before settling in Vancouver. Through the immigration process my parents and I experienced challenges. Navigating through the system was really hard due to language and cultural barriers, and making friends was really difficult. But I learned that what really connects people is food – it really breaks down barriers because you don't have to speak the same language to enjoy food together.  

Can you tell us a story about a proud business moment where you served the community?

Some of my proudest moments are seeing the women who Flavours of Hope had supported now being an inspiration and mentor to other newcomer women in the program. Through rediscovering their purpose and sense of who they are through food and entrepreneurship, they inspire other women to do the same. 

What does being Asian-Canadian mean to you?

I'm still discovering who I am because I hold multiple identities. I'm Taiwanese. I'm also Canadian and also a settler. It's really important for me to recognize all these elements  because it informs how I show up and how I represent Asian communities. 

Asian-Canadians belong here. We contribute and we are very much part of this diverse multicultural society. There's a lot of power in that.

Jojo Kurian, Vancouver 

Owner and Instructor: Golden Star Driving School

Inspired by his own struggles to pass B.C.'s driving test and a desire to offer more comprehensive road training, Jojo Kurian started Golden Star Driving School seven years ago.

Today, the school boasts more than 1,500 student success stories and has offices in Vancouver and Burnaby with a Richmond location in the works.  

Read more from Jojo below! 

What is your business' origin story?

As a driving student I had seen many people struggling to pass the ICBC driving test – myself included. After learning from an examiner how these tests are conducted and evaluated, I felt there was a need for a driving school with a structured curriculum focused on teaching each scenario that can occur on the roads of British Columbia. 

What would you like the rest of Canada to know about the community you're in?

I am originally from Kerala which is in the Southern part of India. The Indian community in Canada is a multicultural community in of itself which truly believes in the motto "Unity in Diversity."

Can you tell us a story about a favourite or memorable student?

An elderly gentleman with no prior driving experience from the Punjabi-Indian community came to me with one request – he wanted to obtain a driving license to take his grandchildren to parks and beaches in Vancouver. He was around 75-years-old and to everyone's surprise he cleared his driving test in the second attempt. This was a proud moment for the Golden Star Driving School and for myself as his instructor.

What does being Asian-Canadian mean to you?

Canada is a highly hospitable country. The country treats every person as its own. Being Asian-Canadian feels just like any other Canadian – being at home.

Aileen Choi, New Westminster

Occupation: Wedding Photographer

Beautifully capturing the most important moments of a person's life on camera is no small feat!

But with innate talent, a strong sense of ambition and the support of the photography community, Aileen Choi has been able to turn her personal passion into a full-time career as a sought-after wedding photographer. 

Hear more about Aileen's journey below. 

What is your business' origin story?

My passion for photography began in high school. I then pursued it in post secondary and discovered wedding photography in university. From that point forward, I worked hard to make connections and build my portfolio to get to where I am now, which is shooting weddings full time and doing other milestone photoshoots like family engagement, maternity and newborn. 

What would you like the rest of Canada to know about the community you're in?

The local photography industry is extremely supportive. I really think we practice community over competition. We're all friends and send each other referrals if we're not available for a project, and we're always sharing knowledge and advice and providing mentorship. We lift each other up. 

Can you tell us about a memorable client?

There is a family friend's daughter who I used to take Mandarin classes with when I was a teen. Aside from following each other on social media, we had not seen each other or spoken for over 10 years. She reached out in 2020 to have me photograph her wedding in 2021! It was really cool to have the privilege of photographing her wedding so many years later. 

What does being Asian-Canadian mean to you?

Being Asian-Canadian is about embracing diversity and celebrating our different cultures. It's important to share our stories with one another so we can support each other, learn and raise each other up. This is strongly present in my personal life with my friends and family and in my business with peers and clients. The wedding industry in Vancouver feels like a safe, supportive space that allows vendors and clients to feel comfortable with expressing themselves and their cultures. By doing so, we are able to educate others on how to be inclusive.

Peter and Cheryl Hsiung, Vancouver  

Owners and Operators: Chili Pepper House

If you live in Metro Vancouver and haven't been to Chili Pepper House on Kingsway, you've probably driven by it and noticed its cheerful bright yellow, green and red sign. 

For nearly 20 years, Chili Pepper House – with its eclectic menu inspired by traditional Chinese food and Indian spices – has been a mainstay in East Vancouver. Its owners, Peter (chef) and Cheryl Hsiung (front of house), have an inspiring story that stems from humble beginnings. 

Read more from the power-duo below. 

What is your business' origin story?

Peter: My father was born in Guangdong, China but immigrated to Calcutta, India, which was where I was born and raised. Growing up, my parents would serve traditional Chinese meals with elements of Indian cuisine. After working as a chef across the globe, I landed in British Columbia and helped build Chili Pepper House, in hopes of introducing and spreading my love for Hakka food within the Vancouver community.

Tell us what it's like to co-run a business with your wife?

Peter: Since the beginning, my wife has been my biggest supporter. Her rigorous work ethic, resiliency, and unyielding determination has greatly contributed to the restaurant's growth.

Why did you choose the location you're in? 

Cheryl: Our community is a very family-oriented area of the city that is rich in culture. You can walk down Kingsway and find a mix of restaurants to suit any taste. We really enjoy it here because we are exposed to people from all different walks of life and we have developed a strong relationship with our community over many years.

What does being Asian-Canadian mean to you?

Peter and Cheryl: Being Asian-Canadian is an extremely important part of our identity. We are proud of our heritage and where we have come from. The act of cooking and eating has the power to bring people together and we want to share our unique stories through food.

Karl Chen, Delta | Founder: Ryse Network

Meet Karl Chen – founder and mastermind behind Ryse Network, a diverse online community of Asian professionals that support, empower and educate each other.

Inspired by a drive to lift-up and connect communities, Karl credits his experience as a first-generation immigrant for teaching him the value of hard work, persistence, and operating with integrity. Read more from Karl below. 

What is your business' origin story?

I enjoy giving back to the community, and during the pandemic when everything slowed down, I looked at the spaces that needed to be filled. I realized there weren't many online groups representing Asian professionals, so I created a professional support network for Asians and those with intersectional and marginalized identities.

What would you like the rest of Canada to know about the community you're in?

So often Asians are grouped together but there's such variety and diversity in Asian culture. We all have our intersectionalities, our own stories and origins, but a lot of the time we are portrayed as a single unit or a couple of stereotypes. I think that's something that really needs to be changed.

What does being Asian-Canadian mean to you?

Being Asian-Canadian is like having a double-edged sword. There is so much joy and pride. I look around in my community and I see a lot of people like me and there's a sense of camaraderie and solidarity. But on the other side, there's a lot of racism. I know that I'm very fortunate being an East Asian person, so I use my privilege to uplift those who don't have a voice or are underrepresented. I look at everything through a lens of decolonization.