Blog

By Anthony Tram Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was one of my favourite movies of 2021. Starring Canada’s very own Simu Liu as the titular character, this is the first Hollywood superhero movie with an Asian lead, and a predominantly Asian cast and creative team. As an Asian growing up in Canada,...

The surge of anti-Asian racism during the COVID-19 pandemic has invigorated conversations around equity, diversity and inclusion in our personal lives and professional spaces. By facilitating open dialogue and deeper understanding about individual differences, organizations can begin to actively dismantle stereotypes and build a stronger community at work. The next step is turning these conversations…

Ascend Together · Humanizing the Homeless Through Photography Disrespected, dehumanized, misunderstood — these are the words that Leah den Bok wants you to see the next time you see someone experiencing homelessness. As a traveling photographer, Leah shines a light on their humanity and their struggles through her work. Join Leah as she talks about...

by Emily Soojung Hwang Samantha wears many hats. Although her engineering and investment banking days are behind her, she continues to fill the roles of marketing and sales director, investor, author and mother. While she has a diverse portfolio, both professional and personal, one thing is certain: she is a go-getter who doesn’t let anything…

What started out as a school project turned into a global initiative for social good for Fahad Tariq, Founder of Shift – a non-profit that turns animal waste into clean energy for communities in need. Join Fahad as he talks about how he conceived the idea for Shift and takes us through his entrepreneurial journey. Tune in to learn from Fahad on how to manage your day job and run a successful side-hustle.

Five ways to positive change through diversity, equity and inclusion with Muriam De Angelis, EY Diversity and Inclusion Leader Muriam De Angelis leads with empathy and inspires change in everyone she meets. Her mission is to help create an environment where everyone feels welcome, and each person is included and free to be themselves. Muriam...

Ascend Canada is pleased to welcome new gold sponsor BDC , the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, whose generous support will help us continue creating programming and initiatives to develop and advance Pan-Asian talent across Canada. Together, Ascend Canada and BDC will collaborate on opportunities to help BDC employees expand their knowledge networks and participate in…

The things we read, watch and listen can deeply influence the way we think and the decisions we make. As part of our Asian Heritage Month spotlight, we asked some our members to share content by an Asian or about being Asian that had an impact on their lives. Jane Lee, Co-Founder, Launch Pop Read:…

It’s Asian Heritage Month – a time when the spotlight is on our vibrant Asian cultures and we celebrate the communities that contribute so much to the fabric of Canada and around the world. Celebrating Asian heritage is at the heart of Ascend Canada and we want to recognize all of our members – the…

By Kelvin Fung I am a son of Chinese immigrant parents from Hong Kong. Though I was born in Toronto, I was raised by my grandparents in Hong Kong until I was school age. When I moved to Canada as a 4 year old, my parents strongly encouraged me to assimilate so I could fit...