ACWW remembers Faye Leung

Longtime friend and supporter of ACWW, Faye Leung, passed away on November 1, 2024.  Often called the "Hat Lady" for her distinctive hats, Faye was a Canadian businesswoman and community leader known for her substantial contributions to Vancouver’s Chinatown and her involvement in one of British Columbia's most notable political scandals. Raised in the Chinese communities of Vancouver and Victoria, Leung built her career in real estate and finance, becoming a notable figure in Vancouver’s development through projects that benefited both local communities and large developers.

She and her husband, Dean Leung, played a role in the preservation of Chinatown by opposing a freeway project that would have destroyed the area. Her advocacy helped protect and shape Chinatown’s future, while her business dealings contributed to Vancouver’s transformation in the post-WWII era, including developments that shifted the city’s skyline from low-rise to high-rise buildings​

Leung is also remembered for her role in the "Fantasy Gardens" scandal, which ultimately led to the resignation of British Columbia’s then-premier, Bill Vander Zalm, in the early 1990s. Her biography, It Ain’t Over Until Faye Leung the Hat Lady Sings, captures her dynamic personality, influence on Vancouver’s real estate landscape, and impact on Canadian society as a vibrant, outspoken woman in business and politics.