Introducing Vancouver Magazine’s 2026 Power 50 List

An organic theme always emerges as we put together our annual list of the people who power this city—and this year, philanthropy and community are the threads holding this group of impressive Vancouverites together, after countless weeks of polling experts around the city and even more deep research.

So, yes, you’ll find entrepreneurs and C-suite leaders among the 50 as always, but in 2026, we’re more likely to be celebrating them for what they do beyond their financial reports.

These are folks putting B.C. onto the global stage, developing world-class sustainability initiatives, creating jobs during a tough economic time or raising record-breaking amounts for the causes closest to home.

And alongside these thought leaders, we’re also honouring artists, athletes and activists who are doing their part to make life in Vancouver the best it can be. Whatever industry they’re coming from: this is people power at its finest.

1. Ryan Beedie
For building communities and giving back in equal measure

President, Beedie

Previously 2025

When Ryan Beedie took the helm of his family’s namesake business in 2001 at the age of 33, he didn’t just expand it—he transformed it into something his late father Keith could hardly have imagined. Today, Beedie stands as one of British Columbia’s largest commercial property managers and one of Canada’s leading real estate developers, with a footprint that extends across Western Canada and into Nevada. Operating through three divisions—Beedie Industrial, Beedie Living and Beedie Capital—the company has completed development on more than 35 million square feet of industrial space and manages a portfolio of more than 200 properties.

The company’s “Built for Good” motto isn’t just marketing language; it’s a guiding principle embedded in both its urban developments and its resource-sector partnerships. The ambitious Fraser Mills master-planned community in Coquitlam—5,500 homes across 96 acres of reclaimed waterfront—demonstrates long-term city-building: environmental remediation of a former mill site, major investments in public infrastructure and the creation of a complete community with parks, jobs and public waterfront access. Likewise, Beedie’s partnerships with six First Nations on the Blackwater Mine project near Prince George reflect a commitment to equitable development. By working with Indigenous governments as genuine partners (not mere stakeholders), the company supports shared economic opportunity, local employment and community-led stewardship.

But Ryan Beedie’s impact extends far beyond construction sites and balance sheets. Together with his wife Cindy (a regular on the Power 50 list herself), he’s committed over $140 million to more than 350 charities, with education emerging as a cornerstone of their giving. Beedie Luminaries, the scholarship program he launched for his 50th birthday with a $50-million investment, has now granted over 1,000 scholarships totalling $6.9 million to students facing financial barriers—so far, the program has seen a 95-percent graduation rate. And then there’s his biennial Stanley Park concerts, which have become legendary fundraisers: 2025’s Def Leppard-headlined event raised $2.5 million for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, surpassing even his previous record.

In 2025, Beedie was inducted into the Business Laureates of British Columbia Hall of Fame—just as his father once was—and was given the Order of British Columbia, too. It’s appropriate acclaim for a local boy who has spent a career building a legacy not just for his family, but also for his home province. For Beedie, building for good means building communities—and investing deeply in the people who live in them.

2. Victor Montagliani
For bringing the world’s biggest sporting event home

Vice President, FIFA; President, Concacaf

NEW

East Vancouver’s own Victor Montagliani has spent his career elevating Canadian soccer from local fields to the global stage—and now he’s bringing the world to his hometown. As vice-president of FIFA and president of Concacaf (the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football), Montagliani was instrumental in securing Canada’s place as a co-host nation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off this summer. Vancouver will host seven matches in what Montagliani calls “a once-in-a-lifetime moment” for the city: a moment he can take much of the credit for.

Though we’re celebrating his work from this past year, the truth is, this achievement represents the culmination of a journey that began at BC Soccer, progressed through his presidency of the Canadian Soccer Association starting in 2012 and led to his election as Concacaf president in 2016. Along the way, he championed Canada’s successful hosting of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and has consistently pushed a strategic, long-term vision for the sport across North and Central America—a vision that will come to life this summer.

To be clear, Montagliani’s influence extends beyond securing the tournament itself. He’s ensured local infrastructure investment, including major upgrades to BC Place—new suites and elevators—and he passionately engaged with Vancouver’s business community to help them prepare for the economic boost (a projected $1.7 billion!) and global spotlight the World Cup will bring. This past September, Mayor Ken Sim even proclaimed “Victor Montagliani Day” in Vancouver, recognizing his lifelong dedication to football and his role in transforming Canada into one of the world’s emerging footballing nations. “My goal has always been to give back by making a positive and measurable impact on our game and our nation in every way possible,” said Montagliani at the proclamation ceremony.

3. Sarah McLachlan
For giving voice to a generation— and giving music to the next

Founder, Sarah McLachlan School of Music

NEW

When Sarah McLachlan founded Lilith Fair in the ’90s, she rewrote the rules of the music business. Today, her most powerful legacy is still unfolding at home: the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, now in its 25th year and serving more than 1,200 young musicians annually across Vancouver, New Westminster and Edmonton. A new partnership with Douglas College widens that pipeline even further, removing barriers for youth who might never otherwise pick up an instrument. This year’s record-breaking $3.3-million Barefoot in the Backyard fundraiser proved the city is still rallying behind her conviction that music education is a right, not a luxury.

But in 2025, McLachlan also reminded fans she’s never shied away from principled stands. While promoting Better Broken, her first album in a decade, she pulled out of the Disney-affiliated U.S. premiere of her Lilith Fair documentary in protest of what she called an “insidious erosion” of free speech—a move that aligned her with embattled host Jimmy Kimmel. Days later, she appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a surprise guest, performing her new single in solidarity after the show’s suspension sparked a national debate over censorship and political pressure.

Three Grammys, 12 Junos, 40 million albums sold and an Officer of the Order of Canada distinction later, McLachlan is still using her platform the way she always has: to make noise where it matters—whether that’s in a classroom or on a stage that others are trying to silence.

4. Fred Lee
For supporting just about  every charity in town

Man About Town, Auctioneer

Previously 2025

Does a charity event exist in 2026 without the enigmatic Fred Lee, the man whose magic on the mic coaxes dollars out of guests’ pockets and into the cause du jour? His skill at warmly revving up a crowd—who inevitably clap along as he calls out raised paddle numbers in joyful rhythmic count—sees charities clamouring to lock him in as early as they can (and literally scheduling an event around his availability; sometimes he’ll stack up two fundraisers in one night).

He’s shockingly tireless in his contributions. Even though he holds a day job with UBC’s Alumni Engagement, he serves as a partner for each charity he hosts, advising them on success strategies well in advance of the big day. And while he’s seemingly on the auction floor every night of the week, he finds the time to amplify causes close to his heart too, serving as an advisor for UBC’s CampOUT, a summer leadership camp for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and their allies.

5. Amar Doman
For bringing the roar back to BC Lions

Owner, BC Lions;  CEO, Futura Corporation

Previously 2025

Amar Doman has re-energized Vancouver’s CFL heartbeat through his ownership of the BC Lions—and 2025 was a standout year. Since stepping in, he’s backed a major renovation of the Lions’ aging Surrey practice facility, launching a multi-stage upgrade that will create a modern performance hub with new training, locker and lounge spaces. Off the field, his commitment earned him the CFL Commissioner’s Award in late 2024 for revitalizing club operations and community engagement. On the field, the Lions—now thriving under refreshed leadership—pushed their way to the Western Final in 2025, signalling that the organizational investments are paying off.

Doman’s momentum with the Lions mirrors the success of his broader business portfolio. Through Futura Corporation, he has continued to scale a North American operation generating roughly $3.5 billion in sales last year and supporting about 4,000 employees. That level of commercial stability provides the financial backbone for long-term investment in the Lions. With infrastructure upgrades, a fan-first approach and the support of a business empire, Doman is helping rekindle pride in local football and strengthening Vancouver’s place in Canadian sports culture.

6. Ryan Barrington-Foote
For steering one of Canada’s largest private companies

President, Jim Pattison Group

NEW

Vancouver’s own Ryan Barrington-Foote has quietly spent the past two decades shaping one of Canada’s most influential business empires—and this year, his impact on the city is impossible to miss. As president of the Jim Pattison Group, Barrington-Foote stands at the helm of a conglomerate whose reach touches everything from groceries to media to manufacturing. This year represents a turning point. Under Barrington-Foote’s leadership, the Pattison Group executed some of its most ambitious moves in a generation: acquiring California-based Save Mart to expand the company’s North American footprint, and spearheading the reimagining of Pattison ID—a Vancouver-rooted signage and branding powerhouse—through major U.S. expansion and a shift toward sustainability and advanced manufacturing. These decisions don’t just grow the company (originally founded by Power 50 Hall of Famer Jimmy Pattison); they reshape the economic landscape of the region, drawing cross-border investment, creating jobs and signalling a renewed era of West Coast ambition.

7. Thomas Müller
For bringing a winning attitude to Vancouver

Forward, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

NEW

When Thomas Müller left FC Bayern Munich after 17 legendary seasons (and 250 goals), he could have gone anywhere. Instead, the 2014 World Cup champion chose Vancouver—and he chose it specifically to win.

Müller’s arrival in August 2025 represents the most significant signing in Whitecaps history and one of the highest-profile additions in MLS’s 30 years. His resumé speaks for itself: 13 Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals and two Champions League trophies. But what convinced him to come to Vancouver wasn’t money or marketing opportunities—it was head coach Jesper Sørensen’s tactical vision and the Whitecaps’ position as legitimate MLS Cup contenders.

The impact has been immediate, both on and off the field. Jersey sales surged. German media now cover the Whitecaps regularly. His massive following in China—where he ranks third behind only Messi and Ronaldo—has given Vancouver visibility in the world’s largest market. But Müller’s most important contribution might be cultural. “When I came here, I talked to some people and they said we’re never winning anything,” he said to Sports Illustrated. “I got the feeling that Vancouver people accept not winning. I’m not used to that, and I want to change it.” For a city hungry for championships, Müller brings more than elite talent—he brings the expectation of victory.

8. Brian Grange
For taking sustainable housing out to sea

CEO and Co-founder, Bridgemans Services Group

Previously 2025

It’s a Vancouver pastime to look at empty buildings and dream of transforming them into housing; Brian Grange has taken things one step further—and, importantly, actually followed through. As co-founder and CEO of Bridgemans Services Group, he transforms retired cruise ships into “floatels”—fully equipped floating hotels that accommodate up to 1,400 workers on projects across Africa, Asia, North America, Australia and Europe. His ambitious idea has become a multinational enterprise that’s changing how remote industrial projects house their workers.

What started 12 years ago as a niche solution has evolved into a comprehensive marine services powerhouse. Bridgemans’ floatels feature luxury amenities—memory-foam beds, big-screen TVs, 8,000-square-foot gyms—while pioneering sustainability in industrial housing. The company’s flagship vessel near Squamish operates as net-zero accommodation using industrial-sized heat pumps, all powered by hydroelectricity instead of diesel generators.

Meanwhile, Grange’s Clean Oceans program, launched in 2021, has at this point eliminated hundreds of thousands of single-use plastic bottles through advanced water purification systems. His approach leaves no environmental trace: floatels float in, tie up and float out without requiring deforestation or permanent land-based structures.

Last year, Grange was named EY’s 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year, and he is setting new standards for sustainability and safety while partnering with First Nations communities to create lasting career opportunities.

9. Roger Hardy
For showing Vancouver what real 20/20 vision looks like

CEO, Kits Eyecare

Previously 2025

When one of Vancouver’s top-performing stocks comes from an eyewear company, you start paying attention to the guy running it. In 2025, Kits Eyecare dominated the TSX, powered by record-breaking growth and a milestone that felt more like a cultural shift than a metric: over one million active customers. That’s not a customer base: that’s a fanbase.

Hardy kept the momentum local, scaling Kits’ Vancouver lens lab, creating jobs and manufacturing capacity and pushing the brand from online disruptor to national contender with its first Toronto store opening in early 2026. And beyond the business win? There’s Hardy’s mentorship and philanthropy work—hosting 30-under-30 leaders, investing in next-gen founders and using Hardy Capital to boost emerging talent.

10. Jill Schnarr
For leading with purpose in times of crisis

Chief Communications and  Brand Officer, Telus

Previously 2025

When disaster strikes, Jill Schnarr mobilizes. As Telus’s chief communications and brand officer, she’s helped the company deliver over $100 million to Canadian charities through its Community Boards—funding a wide range of grassroots programs, from KidSafe in the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre to initiatives supporting evacuees during the Jasper wildfire.

But her leadership extends beyond crisis response. As part of the leadership team, she helped earn Telus’s recognition by Time magazine as North America’s most sustainable telecommunications company in 2025, and maintained its spot on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index’s North American Index—which it has now held for 24 consecutive years, a run unmatched by any other North American telecom. She’s also championed programs like Telus’s She Can Coach, breaking down barriers for women in sports, and the Reforestation Initiative which backs startups restoring wildfire-scorched areas. As one industry insider notes, “In times of crisis, Jill Schnarr has been a helper of the highest order.”

11. Ross Beaty
For leading the charge to protect  B.C.’s wild spaces

Founding Chair, BC Parks Foundation

NEW

Ross Beaty built his fortune in mining—founding Pan American Silver Corp., now the world’s second-largest silver producer, and building his Equinox Gold into a top-15 global gold producer. But his most ambitious project is rewilding British Columbia. “All my life, I’ve been interested in preservation,” he said to Business in Vancouver. “The only thing that has changed is my wealth.”

As founding chair of the BC Parks Foundation since 2018, Beaty is leading one of the most ambitious land protection efforts in Canadian history: a $500-million campaign to help B.C. protect 30 percent of its land mass by 2030, aligned with global commitments to address biodiversity loss and climate change. In under a decade, the foundation has already raised over $350 million, protected more than 114,000 hectares across 75 projects and developed programs in nature-based health, education and stewardship that reach hundreds of thousands of British Columbians annually.

His philanthropic reach extends further through the Sitka Foundation, which he leads with his wife, Trisha. Since its inception, Sitka has distributed over $70 million to more than 225 environmental organizations, making it one of Canada’s leading environmental foundations. Most recently, the Beatys donated to the $45-million expansion of UBC’s Beaty Biodiversity Centre, creating new research space to tackle biodiversity loss—demonstrating that global business leaders can channel their success into transformative action for their home communities.

12. Armin Amrolia
For tackling Vancouver’s housing crisis head-on

Deputy City Manager, City of Vancouver

Previously 2025

After 32 years of strategizing affordable housing at BC Housing—where her team delivered 23,000 homes across the province and averaged 3,500 units annually—Armin Amrolia brought her expertise to the City of Vancouver in 2021. Now, as one of three deputy city managers, shxe’s pursuing even more ambitious targets.

Vancouver’s new 10-year housing plan, approved in June 2024, sets out to build more than 83,000 homes between 2024 and 2033, with 75 percent designated as rental housing. It’s the kind of audacious goal that requires both vision and execution—qualities Amrolia demonstrated at BC Housing by creating the HousingHub program for middle-income housing and a redevelopment department to unlock density at provincially owned sites.

A YWCA Woman of Distinction and Urban Land Institute Outstanding Leader, Amrolia stands as a rare example of effective bureaucracy at city hall—proof that the right expertise in the right role can make transformative change possible.

13. David Long
For redefining the food bank model

CEO, Greater Vancouver Food Bank

NEW

When David Long arrived at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank in 2019, he went beyond steadying a 40-year-old institution: he pushed it into the future. The former chef-turned-CEO has spent the past five years doing something no one thought possible in a system built on borrowed warehouse space and canned donations: turning the GVFB into a fresh-food powerhouse with a permanent home.

In 2025, Long closed the deal that changed everything: the purchase of the food bank’s longtime warehouse on Lougheed Highway, ending decades of nomadic operations. With enhanced refrigeration, freezers and processing capacity, the GVFB now distributes an eye-popping 88 percent fresh or perishable food—produce, dairy, proteins—sourced through tightly knit partnerships with farmers across B.C.

But Long didn’t stop at stabilizing the supply chain. His new FRESH Start Program brings job services, mental-health supports, newcomer resources and other community partners directly into the facility, turning a basic food-distribution model into a holistic support hub for more than 16,000 people each month.

14. Wendy Hurlburt
For building B.C.’s biotech engine

CEO, Life Sciences BC

NEW

B.C. leads Canada in the life sciences industry in everything from commercial scale biopharmaceutical and medical manufacturing to genomics research for the medical industry—and the champion for translating the importance of said industry (and what it all means for the general public) is Wendy Hurlburt. She’s seen her group, Life Sciences British Columbia, become the steam engine behind attracting investment in the industry—over $15 billion in the past decade—and members include heavy hitters like AbCellera and Acuitas (steered by Power 50 alumni in their own right). “These collaborations don’t happen overnight,” she told Health Tech World in August of last year. “This is years and years of deep scientific excellence that is resulting in the pace of innovation we see now.”

15. Ajay Dilawri
For transforming cardiovascular care in Canada

Co-founder, Dilawri Automotive Group

Previously 2023

When Dr. David Wood saved his father Ram’s life without open-heart surgery, Ajay Dilawri decided to “pay that gratitude forward” in a transformative way. As co-founder of Canada’s largest automotive dealership group—with more than 4,000 employees and 85 franchises representing 38 brands—Dilawri certainly had the means to make a historic impact: through the Dilawri Foundation, he announced a $60-million donation to Vancouver General Hospital and UBC, the largest philanthropic gift in either institution’s history.

The donation will fund a proposed multi-use tower at Oak Street and West 12th Avenue ($35 million) and establish an innovation fund ($25 million) creating a national cardiovascular research and clinical care network with partner sites throughout Europe and the U.S. The resulting institute will include 15 specialized centres ready to treat patients immediately, including centres for Indigenous heart health, women’s heart health and youth heart health, as well as for AI and data science innovation. Since launching the Dilawri Foundation in 2002, the family has donated millions to charitable causes, but this gift sets a new standard for health-care philanthropy in Canada.

16. David and Tassan Sung
For proving that real power is the kind you share

Executive Vice-Chair and President  of Institutional, Nicola Wealth Management; Chair, Women’s LEAD

Previously 2025, 2024

David and Tassan Sung spent 2025 showing how influence works when money meets community. Nicola Wealth’s expansion into real estate—including the acquisition of a prime Coromandel property—signalled that the firm isn’t just managing assets, it’s shaping the city’s future. Being named one of B.C.’s Top Employers didn’t hurt the momentum either.

Off the balance sheet, the Sungs doubled down on culture. David remains a key force behind Arts Umbrella and the Vancouver Police Foundation. Tassan, newly honoured with a King Charles Medal, continues to champion women’s leadership (primarily as chair of Women’s LEAD) and next-gen philanthropy. Their ongoing support of the Audain Art Museum puts action to their belief that a thriving city needs thriving arts. Two years after first appearing together on this list, the Sungs return as a duo, still setting the tone for what civic-minded leadership looks like in Vancouver.

17. Michael Doyle
For shaping Vancouver’s culture with two of the city’s biggest entertainment empires

President, Vancouver Canucks Sports and Entertainment; President, Toptable Group

NEW

If you’ve ever been out even once for a night of entertainment in Vancouver, it’s likely that Michael Doyle had something to do with it—whether it was the restaurant you dined at, the sports game you attended or the show you caught. Doyle is both president of the Vancouver Canucks (overseeing business operations for the city’s most-watched team, along with the Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver Warriors and Seattle Surge) and of Toptable Group, the restaurant group responsible for stellar dining haunts such as Blue Water Cafe, Elisa, CinCin and Thierry.

He definitely put in his time to get to the top, though—for a decade, Doyle ran food and beverage programs at Rogers Arena until taking over all non-hockey operations in 2021. Now, he’s straddling major sports and major dining—which lands him in the position of being one of the city’s largest employers. Now that’s something to cheer about.

18. Ginger Gosnell-Myers
For building Indigenous knowledge into the city

Principal, Ginger Gosnell-Myers Consulting

Previously 2025

Ginger Gosnell-Myers has spent the past year making sure Vancouver’s future is built on more than good intentions. As the Indigenous engagement specialist for the West End Community Hub Renewal, she pushed the project to centre Coast Salish values in everything from design principles to public-space storytelling—a shift that will shape how thousands of residents experience the neighbourhood. She also continues to wield major influence from her post as SFU’s first Indigenous Fellow, where her research and policy work are quietly steering the city’s planners, architects and civic leaders toward genuinely decolonized urbanism. And when she takes a mic—whether at a major planning summit or local forum—she’s the voice reminding Vancouver that reconciliation isn’t a box to tick but a blueprint for better city-building. In a year of big conversations about land, belonging and climate, her leadership kept Vancouver’s compass pointed forward.

19. Royce Chwin
For inviting the world to Vancouver

President and CEO, Destination Vancouver

Previously 2025

Through all the mega-events this city has hosted in the last few years—Swift-fest, Invictus and Web Summit, to name a few—Royce Chwin has been a key behind-the-scenes player in ensuring our city is the shiny destination that visitors want to come back to. He’s been a big force in pushing the city to adapt its hotel policy so more can get built faster, which Vancouver desperately needs. And his work is paying off for the city: in 2024, Vancouver had 11.3 million overnight visitors, an increase over 2023—and 2026 is looking to continue on an upward trajectory with the world’s biggest football match (otherwise known as FIFA World Cup) arriving this summer.

20. Brian and Andrea Hill
For turning their next era into a masterclass in giving back

Founder and Executive Chair, Aritzia; Founder and Chair, Cause We Care Foundation

NEW

Brian and Andrea Hill spent 2025 proving that stepping out of the spotlight doesn’t mean stepping back. Brian’s move to sell some of his Aritzia shares signalled a shift from empire-building to legacy-building, while Andrea’s Cause We Care continued its steady, hands-on support for single mothers across Vancouver. Their philanthropy stretched well beyond one sector: the Hills backed the Invictus Games, supported the Capture Photography Festival, helped fund the Spearhead alpine huts and contributed to community spaces from Penticton to Whistler. The power couple may have traded retail runways for mountain trails and charity galas (well, mostly; Brian is still executive chair of the Aritzia board), but their influence continues to be unmistakable. In their quieter chapter, they’re making some of their most meaningful moves yet.

21. Erin Seeley
For leading the fight for gender equity and safe housing

CEO, YWCA BC

NEW

Since becoming CEO of YWCA BC in June 2022, Erin Seeley has transformed one of B.C.’s largest multi-service charities into a powerful advocate for systemic change. Leading a team of 500 across 42 locations delivering over 80 programs—from transitional housing to employment services to early childhood education—Seeley secured $40.7 million in federal funding to build and repair 3,400 affordable homes in Burnaby and New Westminster, including YWCA Marion’s Place with 32 units for women and families. But her impact extends beyond housing. After a horrific killing in Kelowna made the news, Seeley wrote to Premier Eby demanding that British Columbia declare gender-based violence an epidemic; she soon became a prolific voice against domestic violence. In January, Eby followed through with an acknowledgement of just how serious and pervasive the issue is, making Seeley’s requested declaration in his mandate letter to Minister of Finance Brenda Bailey.

22. Tamer  Mohamed
For making sci-fi medicine feel suddenly real

CEO and Co-Founder, Aspect Biosystems

NEW

Tamer Mohamed spent 2025 turning heads in one of the toughest biotech markets in years. Aspect Biosystems—the company he took over before he hit 30—landed a $115-million (USD) Series B round, one of the biggest private financings in Canadian biotech that year. Add in major federal and provincial backing, and it’s clear investors and governments see the same thing he does: bioprinted human tissue is no longer a moonshot. Under Mohamed’s lead, Aspect is pushing toward implantable, functional tissues that could one day treat chronic disease in ways medicine hasn’t caught up to yet. In a sector full of maybes, Mohamed delivered momentum—and put Vancouver firmly on the map for next-generation regenerative tech.

23. Jack Newton
For proving Vancouver tech can scale—and still show up for its community

CEO, Clio

NEW

Jack Newton spent 2025 reminding everyone that Clio isn’t just Vancouver’s biggest tech company—it’s also a company with a conscience. Fresh off last year’s blockbuster vLex acquisition, the legal-tech giant rolled out new AI tools that make it easier for law firms to work efficiently and for ordinary people to get help: streamlined digital intake for underserved clients, better support for unbundled and low-cost services and cloud tools that let legal clinics reach people who can’t make it into an office.

But Newton’s most telling move wasn’t technical at all—it was civic. His $3-million gift to UBC Sauder’s new Powerhouse project made a pointed case that Vancouver’s tech sector shouldn’t just hire local talent, it should invest in it. And through Clio Gives, the company continues donating millions in software to pro-bono organizations like Rise Women’s Legal Centre and the California Innocence Project.

Newton’s long game is unmistakable: build a world-class company, and expand who gets access to justice along the way.

24. Kirsten Koppang Telford
For refusing to let women founders get sidelined

CEO, The Forum

Previously 2025

Kirsten Koppang Telford spent 2025 turning The Forum into one of the country’s strongest engines for women-led businesses. She showed up everywhere from national radio to the Globe and Mail, calling out Canada’s persistent funding gaps and making a compelling case that women entrepreneurs deserve more than cheerleading. Under her leadership, The Forum continued to expand its mentorship and capital programs, giving thousands of women and gender-diverse founders real support instead of vague platitudes. Koppang Telford already had her successful exit with her business, ePACT; she could’ve taken the easy route. Instead, she’s pushing to rebuild the system so the next wave of founders doesn’t have to fight the same battles.

25. Esther  Rausenberg
For creating (and protecting) Vancouver’s artist spaces

Artistic Director, Eastside Arts Society

NEW

The influence of Esther Rausenberg’s work reaches back decades. The contemporary photographer was one of the founding artists of the Eastside Arts Society—the group that’s been helming the wildly popular Eastside Culture Crawl for nearly 30 years. The four-day crawl sees artists open their homes and studios to share their creative wares, from paintings to jewellery to ceramics and textiles. The event is “literally a mob at 1000 Parker Street during the crawl,” writes one of our Power 50 advisory committee members, but that alone isn’t what has Rausenberg making the list: she also co-leads the Creative Cultural Collaborations Society, which launched the Blue Cabin floating artist residency and continues to initiate new cultural projects and festivals.

This year, she pushed the fight to preserve artists’ space even further as an outspoken advocate for arts support with the City of Vancouver, expanding the Culture Crawl’s territory and earning the Eastside Arts Society a rare honour: a Canadian Institute of Planners Award for Planning Excellence. It’s an unusual but telling recognition of how vital her work has become to the city’s cultural planning.

26. Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations
For rebuilding Vancouver through an Indigenous lens

Council Chairperson Wilson Williams of Squamish Nation; Chief Wayne Sparrow of Musqueam Nation; Chief Justin Sky-George of Tsleil-Waututh Nation

Previously 2024

Few forces have reshaped Vancouver’s present—and its future trajectory—more profoundly than the united leadership of the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation. Together, they are transforming what decision-making, land stewardship and urban power look like on the West Coast. Over the past year, their collective impact has been felt across policy, housing, culture and development.

In partnership with the City of Vancouver, the three Nations helped advance the city’s UNDRIP Action Plan, embedding Indigenous rights and governance into civic systems. They led major steps toward attainable housing, including thousands of below-market homes at Heather Lands, and elevated cultural visibility—from raising their flags permanently in Stanley Park to co-shaping Vancouver’s hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Through the MST Development Corporation, their economic and urban influence is unprecedented: a $2-billion real estate portfolio encompassing the Jericho Lands—now planned for 13,000 homes with transit, schools and community amenities—along with the multi-phase St. Paul’s redevelopment, key roles in the Broadway Subway extension and a hand in the new Vancouver Art Gallery design. In April 2025, city council unanimously approved MST’s expanded Jericho vision, cementing it as one of the most transformative city-building projects in Vancouver’s history. Collectively, the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations are shaping neighbourhoods, and redefining the region’s future in the process.

27. Richard Jaffray
For rebuilding a restaurant empire

Founder and CEO,  LFG Growth Partners

Previously 2025

A co-founder of the North Vancouver-incepted Cactus Club, Richard Jaffray stepped away from his share in the culinary giant back in 2022. He went to work quietly on driving a portfolio of high-end restaurants under his firm LFG Growth Partners, which included acclaimed names such as Oddfish, Nook, Radish and Nightingale, and, in 2025, his strategic shopping spree continued. In late September, it was announced that LFG had purchased a hearty stake in The Keg, one of Canada’s most enduring, iconic and reliable restaurant brands. In addition to the big acquisition, Yaletown and Kitsilano Nightingale locations are in the works for 2026, making it clear that Jaffray’s influence on Vancouver’s dining scene will continue to be immense.

28. Lori Daniels
For steering us through the smoke, to the future

Chair of Wildfire Coexistence, UBC Faculty of Forestry

NEW

As B.C.’s wildfire season stretches into a year-round threat, Lori Daniels is leading the charge to help communities prepare, respond and rebuild. An internationally recognized expert in forest ecology, she’s conducted close to 300 media interviews as a wildfire specialist and participated in the UN General Assembly’s Expert Roundtable on Wildfire and Forest Resilience.

As inaugural chair of wildfire coexistence at UBC Forestry, Daniels launched the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence with a $5-million donation, bringing together research on historical fire regimes, post-fire recovery and society’s relationship with fire. Her work emphasizes Indigenous-led approaches: a recent $790,000 grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation supports collaborative research with four First Nations on prescribed and cultural burning practices. Between climate, topography, vegetation and Indigenous land stewardship, “there are so many pieces to this puzzle,” Daniels said in the Vancouver Sun. Her centre is creating predictive tools to help communities respond faster and build resilience—addressing both how we got here and how to undo the unintended consequences of past fire suppression policies, all while helping us adapt to our climate-changed future.

29. Martin Thibodeau
For turning financial clout into community good

Regional President, British Columbia, RBC Royal Bank

Previously 2025

Martin Thibodeau doesn’t just run the B.C. arm of Canada’s biggest bank—he runs to every community cause in Vancouver. Fresh from navigating RBC’s HSBC integration, he spends his days ensuring local developers get their share of loans; after hours, he’s a fixture of city events and nonprofit boards alike. Under his leadership, RBC invests millions annually across hundreds of charities (from Arts Umbrella to Science World) and events, but Thibodeau personally gives and volunteers, too. This year he also advanced the Indigenous Business and Community Award programming at the B.C. Achievement Foundation with an $80,000 sponsorship from RBC. Thibodeau’s combination of financial clout, personal generosity and hands-on engagement makes him a rare civic powerhouse.

30. Gary Pooni
For connecting the city’s movers and shakers

Principal, Pooni Group

Previously 2025

Gary Pooni has become an influential shaper of urban change in the Lower Mainland, quietly steering some of the region’s most complex developments. As president of Pooni Group, he’s the behind-the-scenes strategist translating political ambitions and community needs into buildable reality. Over the past year, his influence has only grown—guiding transit-oriented projects, championing thoughtful density, supporting student athletes through his Pooni Foundation and pushing for city-wide planning that balances livability with growth. In a housing-strained metropolis, Pooni’s power comes not from public spotlight but from his ability to align developers, policymakers and residents toward a shared vision of Vancouver’s future.

31. Jonathan Barnett and David Barnett
For being the music men

President/CEO and Executive Vice-President, Dayhu Group of  Companies; Founders, Music Heals

Previously 2025

If this doesn’t strike a chord in bettering the city, we don’t know what will. By day, philanthropic brothers Jonathan and David Barnett run one of Vancouver’s major real estate investment and development firms, but by night, they turn the volume up on the benefits of music therapy through their charity, Music Heals. Having raised millions to bring music therapy into children’s hospitals, palliative care wards, cancer programs, seniors’ care and dozens of community facilities since its inception in 2012, the foundation shows no sign of turning the dial down (according to its funding report, which only shows a growing reach).

Also this year, the Barnetts’ real estate firm, Dayhu Group of Companies, purchased Kitsilano’s historic Hollywood Theatre, adding the cultural landmark to its portfolio with the goal of preserving live venues—music to our ears.

32. Rory Richards
For crafting modular housing with holistic impact

CEO and founder, Nuqo Modular

NEW

Though the modular homes Rory Richards builds with her Indigenous-founded housing company, Nuqo, may be compact, her impact on the housing market is huge. Nuqo is behind a major, $21-million development in Burnaby; in 2024, it completed the build of Eskékxwi7ch tl’a Sp’ákw’us Place in Squamish, a 27-unit social housing complex for Squamish Nation women and their children. Not only does the flexible, modular housing approach hope to create social impact, Nuqo’s business model also makes way for more environmentally friendly ways to build (there’s no “tossed” worksite materials when the jobsite takes place in a factory). Deservedly, Richards was a nominee for the 2025 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards. 

33. Roham Gharegozlou
For building the future of digital ownership

Founder and CEO, Dapper Labs

NEW

While crypto markets have faced volatility, Roham Gharegozlou has been quietly building durability. As founder and CEO of Dapper Labs—the company behind NBA Top Shot, NFL All Day and Disney Pinnacle—he’s minted more than 200 million NFTs on the Flow blockchain, proving digital collectibles have staying power beyond the hype. Its valuation in 2025 was around $7.6 billion (USD), making it not just a unicorn (a private company valued at over a billion)—but also one of Canada’s highest-valued tech firms.

A Stanford-trained entrepreneur who has co-founded five companies and invested in nearly 100 others, Gharegozlou is now positioning Vancouver as a Web3 hub. In March 2025, Dapper Labs partnered with Coinbase for a “Stand with Crypto” event, bringing together builders, regulators and advocates to grow Canada’s blockchain ecosystem—establishing our fair city as a global centre for digital innovation.

34. Tracey McVicar
For forging the relationships that shape Vancouver’s economy

Partner, CAI Capital Partners

NEW

When Tracey McVicar joined CAI Capital Partners in 2003, she did more than build a successful private equity firm—she rebuilt an institution. After the retirement of four of the company’s five founders in 2015, McVicar took the helm and re-established the brand, raising capital and growing the firm’s reputation for consistent investment returns.

From her start in RBC’s investment banking program, McVicar has become one of Vancouver’s most respected business leaders, serving as past director of Teck Resources and BC Hydro. Her influence stems from what she calls her “interpersonal dynamics”—building trust-based relationships that transcend the boardroom. She’s also a dedicated philanthropist, founding the BC Orca Bursary Program supporting foster youth. Honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal in June 2025, McVicar remains focused on mentoring young professionals, especially women in finance.

35. Christie and David Garofalo
For turning their family values into action

Philanthropists; Chair and CEO, Gold Royalty Corp.

NEW

Christie and David Garofalo are quietly transforming Vancouver through a rare combination of business acumen and hands-on philanthropy. David, as chair and CEO of Gold Royalty Corp., guides one of the city’s most respected resource companies, while Christie has spent the past three decades volunteering, fundraising and serving on boards. In the past year alone, their impact has touched organizations including Arts Umbrella, Face the World Foundation, Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research, Vancouver Police Foundation and the Giustra Foundation’s We Got You Family Day, helping to raise critical funds for local families and national initiatives. Celebrated at the 2025 Business Laureates Gala, the power couple’s giving is personal, thoughtful and strategic—anchored in family values and community connection.

36. Jon Stovell
For reining in the VAG redesign

CEO and President, Reliance Properties; Chair, Vancouver Art Gallery Board of Trustees

NEW

When the Vancouver Art Gallery’s flashy new building design ballooned from $400 million to $600 million, gallery board chair Jon Stovell had a difficult call to make: stick with an unwieldly plan that had taken years to develop… or start from scratch. Under his leadership, the board made the call last fall to abandon the extravagant Swiss architects and champion Canadian talent instead. Indigenous-led firm Formline Architecture and Urbanism and KPMB Architects are now hard at work to create a “more realistic and practical and still visionary concept.”

The decision exemplifies Stovell’s approach across his 30-year career in real estate development. As CEO and president of Reliance Properties, he works across acquisitions, finance, civic approvals and construction, and served for 15 years as chair of the Urban Development Institute board (the position’s longest term ever), shaping industry policy and advocacy.

With Stovell at the helm, the gallery shifted to full financial sustainability with a balanced budget, while retaining major donor commitments (think the Audain Foundation and the Chan Family) while getting the public excited again about a project we’d all but given up on. “Obviously it’s a difficult adjustment but, I think, a decision that had to be made,” Stovell told the Vancouver Sun.

37. Sarah Nurse
For bringing star power to women’s hockey in Vancouver

Forward, PWHL  Vancouver Goldeneyes

NEW

When Sarah Nurse scored the Vancouver Goldeneyes’ first-ever goal in front of a sold-out Pacific Coliseum crowd of nearly 15,000, the Olympic gold medallist admitted she’d never felt anything like it. “I’ve played a lot of really big hockey games, and I’ve never felt emotional like I have in that first 20 minutes,” she told the Globe and Mail. “It felt like something different was in the air.”

The 30-year-old Hamilton native is one of professional women’s hockey’s biggest stars, ranking fifth all-time in the PWHL with a 0.82 points-per-game average and earning Second Team All-Star honours. But her impact extends beyond statistics. As PWHL Vancouver GM Cara Gardner Morey noted to Hockey News, Nurse’s “unwavering commitment to building an inclusive hockey community makes her a fan favourite everywhere she goes.” Her signing represents a transformative moment for women’s hockey in the city—and she’s making every game count.

38. Karen Fry
For holding the front line

Fire Chief, Vancouver Fire Rescue Services

Previously 2023

Forget the fact that she’s made history as Vancouver’s first-ever female fire chief: Karen Fry’s real legacy is the way she transformed how the city responds to its most pressing crises. In 2024, her firefighters responded to more than 7,500 overdose calls, administering naloxone over 880 times to save lives amid the toxic-drug crisis. Another life-saving measure: the ban of continuous-flame butane lighters, which resulted in an 80-percent monthly decrease in structure fires, particularly in the Downtown Eastside.

Fry has championed both innovation and inclusion: Vancouver now operates North America’s first net-zero fire hall and Canada’s first electric fire engine, while increased enforcement and fire-safety training for SRO operators addresses rising building-fire incidents. Her data-driven approach uses analytics to optimize response times and resource allocation. But perhaps her greatest achievement is cultural: rebuilding trust within the department and with marginalized communities, proving that effective leadership combines operational excellence with genuine compassion.

39. Jane Talbot
For fighting to keep downtown’s heartbeat strong

CEO, Downtown Van

Previously 2025

Jane Talbot, admittedly, is facing an uphill battle—but that only makes her impact more impressive. As CEO of the Downtown Van business association, she represents nearly 8,000 businesses. And at a time when every North American city is grappling with empty offices, sluggish retail and public-safety anxiety, Talbot has become one of Vancouver’s clearest voices on what’s at stake. In 2025 she pushed hard for data-driven solutions, using Downtown Van’s research to spotlight the sharp dip in workers and visitors, and speaking publicly about the safety measures needed to restore confidence. She’s also championed activation efforts that bring people back with energy, not obligation. Some leaders wait for momentum to return. Talbot is trying to build it herself, one street, one storefront and one very public conversation at a time.

40. Corinne Lea
For keeping indie cinema alive

CEO, The Rio Theatre

NEW

When East Van cultural pillar The Rio was under threat of shuttering completely in 2018 due to rising rents, operator Corinne Lea rallied the funds to purchase the building in its entirety; its community-focused programming has carried on ever since, to the delight of fans of horror flicks, indie films and live burlesque.

This year, Lea took her commitment to the indie film community even further, joining a group (which includes Osgood Productions’ Chris Ferguson, Stranger Things actor Finn Wolfhard and others) to purchase the iconic Park Theatre on Cambie Street, making sure yet another historic venue remains open to the public—and that pledge was after she announced on her Instagram page that The Rio would be expanding with a new bar concept (yet to open). Perhaps Vancouver’s newest adage goes like this: when an indie theatre’s door is about to shut, Corrinne Lea lodges a foot in there to keep it open. 

41. Medhi Walerski
For elevating B.C.’s dance scene to new heights

Artistic Director, Ballet BC

NEW

Since stepping into the artistic director role in 2020, Medhi Walerski has transformed Ballet BC into a modern arts organization with open arms (or “in second position,” in ballet terms). The 2024/2025 season marked the company’s most successful in nearly 40 years, drawing over 32,000 audience members in Vancouver alone—including for the critically acclaimed Trilogy—and led a prestigious international tour to Paris’s Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

But Walerski’s impact extends beyond packed houses. He’s established a new home on Granville Island, expanded educational outreach to schools and communities, secured sponsorships, welcomed Indigenous choreographers to Ballet BC’s artist-in-residence program and implemented a 52-week salary for dancers. As Ballet BC celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, Walerski proves that contemporary dance can thrive while remaining inclusive, innovative and financially sustainable—a move worthy of a bow.

42. Seonaid Nolan and Cheyenne Johnson
For turning addiction care into a real, accessible lifeline

Founders, Road to Recovery

NEW

Through their leadership of Road to Recovery—a seamless, first of its kind continuum of care for substance use that launched at St. Paul’s Hospital in late 2023—Seonaid Nolan and Cheyenne Johnson are reshaping Vancouver’s response to addiction. Under their guidance, hundreds of individuals have already accessed detox, stabilization, transitional housing, treatment and aftercare, often within a day of seeking help. The initiative’s expansion across the region brings hope, faster support and a culturally safe, evidence-based path to healing. Their work is turning addiction care from fragmented to connected, offering real second chances, dignity and community-minded recovery. Vancouver is better—and lives are saved—because of it.

43. RJ Aquino
For speaking out and up for the Filipino community

Chair, Filipino BC

NEW

When tragedy befell Vancouver’s Filipino community at the Lapu Lapu Festival last spring, RJ Aquino was on the front lines—not just to mourn with the rest of the community and city, but to demand action and government support for his community as chair of Filipino BC.

His leadership extends beyond crisis response: he’s continued to be a vocal champion for the creation of a Filipino Community and Cultural Centre. Rooted in the values of kapwa (shared humanity) and bayanihan (mutual support), the centre is intended to be a permanent home where traditions are preserved and culture celebrated—while delivering programs that fill service gaps and extend care beyond the Filipino community to all Vancouverites.

This year, the calls were finally answered, and the FCCC received federal funding commitment in Canada’s 2025 budget—placing it alongside the Chinese Canadian Museum and upcoming South Asian Museum as key cultural priorities.

44. Bridgitte Anderson
For holding steady in turbulent times

President and CEO, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade

Previously 2025

It’s no easy task to helm the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade at a time when trade is so tumultuous, but president and CEO Bridgitte Anderson has turned unprecedented challenges into opportunities for action. During a year of rising geopolitical tensions and Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods, she led over 100 Cascadia leaders on an advocacy mission to Washington, D.C., meeting with White House officials and trade representatives to defend Canadian interests. As chair of the Canadian Global Cities Council, she’s been positioning Vancouver well to capitalize on major 2026 opportunities, including the FIFA World Cup and Web Summit. Times may be tough, but it’s clear Anderson is tougher.

45. Hamed Shahbazi
For modernizing Canadian health care at scale

CEO and Founder, Well Health Technologies

NEW

When Hamed Shahbazi’s mother was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2013, he experienced firsthand the brutal inefficiencies of Canadian health care. But instead of wallowing in the frustration, the tech entrepreneur took action. Over the past decade, his Well Health Technologies platform has become the country’s largest owner-operator of outpatient medical clinics, while simultaneously developing the technology to help address some of the problems in our public health system.

Since founding Well in 2016, Shahbazi has completed over 80 acquisitions and taken the firm from zero to one of B.C.’s fastest-growing companies, with revenues exceeding $950 million in 2025. The company provides digital health tools and electronic medical record services, but also now operates more than 175 medical clinics across Canada, employing thousands of people and serving patients with AI-powered tools that help doctors spend less time on paperwork and more time on care.

46. Kris Krüg
For turning Vancouver’s AI scene into the city’s buzziest conversation

Tech Artist

NEW

In 2025, Vancouver’s AI scene found a beating heart in Kris Krüg. As founder of the grassroots BC + AI Ecosystem and curator of the monthly Vancouver AI Community Meetup, Krüg transformed what too often feels like a domain of code and capital into a cross-disciplinary cultural conversation. Under his leadership, the meetups drew hundreds per gathering—a mix of researchers, artists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, students and entrepreneurs—drawn together by curiosity, creativity and social purpose. More than a facilitator, Krüg has become the informal “connector in chief,” using his platform to push for ethical AI, inclusive access, and tech grounded in human values rather than hype. In a city hungry for community-rooted innovation, he’s quietly turned AI into a scene—diverse, messy, inspiring and distinctly Vancouver.

47. Jason and  Jerry Song
For fighting to lower the voting age to 16

Political Activists, TwinTalk Politics

NEW

The Beastie Boys might have been fighting for their right to party back in their youth, but twin brothers Jerry and Jason Song are fighting for the right to vote. Making headlines in the past year for their #Vote16 initiative, the Song twins are arguing that lowering the voting age will make for more engaged citizens, even taking to the B.C. legislature to make their point. Though the City of Vancouver didn’t see fit to consider the proposition—council rejected their proposal without debate—the City of Squamish pledged their support. They certainly won’t be resting on that one victory, though. The teens continue to make their voices heard via their politics podcast and by making media appearances across B.C. in favour of #Vote16. 

48. Sarah Roth
For turning B.C.’s biggest health challenge into a rallying point

President and CEO, BC Cancer Foundation

NEW

In 2025, Sarah Roth showed how leadership and fundraising can shape an entire province’s fight against cancer. At the helm of the BC Cancer Foundation, she guided the historic $500-million Beyond Belief campaign past its goal, unlocking critical funding for research, clinical trials, and expanded care across B.C. The campaign is already enabling the development of four new BC Cancer centres in Burnaby, Nanaimo, Kamloops and Surrey, with some facilities breaking ground and others in planning. Under Roth’s guidance, the Foundation’s revenues have reached record highs, fuelling programs that support patients, accelerate treatments and strengthen B.C.’s research ecosystem. While cancer touches more families every year, Roth’s combination of strategic vision and relentless advocacy ensures that communities see tangible progress—a rallying point in the province’s ongoing battle against its biggest health challenge.

49. Omer Arbel
For being a bright light in the global design scene

Founder, Bocci

NEW

There’s a game the editors of our sister publication, Western Living, used to play: try to spot a gorgeously designed home that didn’t have a Bocci light somewhere in it—it was nearly impossible. Omer Arbel’s Vancouver-based lighting company has become an international behemoth since he launched it in 2005. Through his firm, Arbel has revolutionized lighting design with sculptural, artistic fixtures that merge form and function in unexpected ways. Beyond aesthetics, Arbel has placed Vancouver firmly on the global design map, attracting creative talent and elevating the city’s reputation as a hub for innovation. Bocci’s 20th anniversary seems like the perfect time to celebrate Arbel’s radiating impact and illuminating design ideas.

50. Max Mitchell
For proving the city isn’t boring—it just needed a wrestling ring

Owner and Founder, Boom Pro Wrestling 

NEW

It turns out, Vancouver gets a whole lot friendlier once you throw a wrestling ring in the middle of it. Three years in, Max Mitchell’s DIY sensation Boom Pro Wrestling has turned the Commercial Drive Legion into a twice-a-month madhouse of spandex, soap-opera drama and joyful chaos. Full disclosure: Mitchell is married to our editor in chief, but his nomination came straight from the advisory council, impressed by the passionate community he’s built around his sensational performances. Every show sells out. The line wraps around the block. The crowd behaves like it’s Game Seven. Mitchell’s “Boomiverse”—a cast of gloriously unhinged heroes and villains—somehow unites sports fans, artists, families and curious Drive wanderers into one roaring organism. The moves are fun, but the magic is in the fandom: loud, loyal and fully committed, signs and all.

Boom even played the Commodore Ballroom this summer—and yes, that 800-capacity show sold out too, proving the hype has legs beyond its East Van home base. (No wonder, then, that Mitchell aMitchell built a place where everyone belongs, even though yelling is practically a civic duty.

VANMAG POWER 50 HALL OF FAME 2026

Our Power 50 Hall of Fame is an opportunity to honour the people who endure as consistent sources of positive influence in the city—including these three pivotal power players for 2026.

Carol Lee

Since founding the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation in 2011, Carol Lee has become the neighbourhood’s leading ambassador—revitalizing its streets with Light Up Chinatown, Taste of Chinatown and the Chinatown Storytelling Centre. A serial entrepreneur with ventures like Chinatown BBQ and Foo Hung Curios on the go, she’s also behind Bob and Michael’s Place, the new 231-unit social-housing project transforming West Hastings. And in 2024, she stepped into a full-circle role as chair of UBC Properties Trust, continuing her family’s civic legacy.

Malik Talib

Lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Malik Talib has shaped Vancouver through ventures in real estate and food processing, all while remaining a prominent leader in the charitable Ismaili community. A former head of the Aga Khan Council for Canada, he now serves on the National Committee of Aga Khan Foundation Canada and chairs the Ismaili Leaders International Forum. His civic work spans BC Children’s Hospital, United Way and the Vancouver Foundation—where he championed its landmark loneliness study—all with a focus on strengthening community.

Prem Gill

As CEO of Creative BC since 2015, Prem Gill has been one of the province’s strongest cultural champions—supporting everything from publishing and music to the engine of Hollywood North. After helping steady B.C.’s film industry during last year’s strikes, she continued the momentum in 2024 by directing $600,000 to 12 local production companies through Creative BC’s Slate Development Program, bolstering jobs and ensuring Vancouver’s creative sector remains a global force.