Nancy M. Siew

In the early 1990s, Toronto Police Constable Bill CHAN (Now retired) and I worked together enthusiastically on promoting multi-cultural events to build a harmonious Canada. Always with a friendly smile on his face, he went about his work with diligence and sincerity. His outstanding results caught the attention of Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair who put him in charge of many public relations duties. With the expiry of Hong Kong's lease to China in 1997, new immigrants came to Canada. The influx of new citizens created adjustments in society, especially in major urban centres like Toronto and Vancouver. The Hong Kong group spoke the same Cantonese dialect and Bill also understood their lifestyle and apprehensions about the police. It was a hard-sell to the newcomers to readily accept police service. Because of those cultural biases, Officer Chan had a Herculean task. Reaching out to the citizenry, he had regular and frequent air time at three Chinese radio stations for GTA residents to call in. He also wrote a weekly column about policing, the law and new police initiatives. His efforts turned out to be a resounding success and I can attest to his quick wit and sound knowledge in his delivery. ( I understood how difficult it was to speak impromptu on air because I had done broadcasting myself.) People followed his programme faithfully and gave him a nickname of endearment - "Bill Sir". Bill's success did not come overnight nor without great effort. He arrived with his family from Hong Kong and for a few years, he could not find employment during the economic downturn. Instead of sitting idly at home, he studied ESL (English as a Second Language) full time while diligently looking for employment - in vain. Equipped with better language skills, his determination was rewarded with a starter position but he aspired for a better station, which would commensurate with his experience and life skills. After the entire night shift, he rushed to the high school to earn his Canadian diploma. With only a few hours' sleep each day, he persevered for almost two years. The hard-won diploma enabled him to apply for Ontario's Police College. Fortified by experience, understanding of policing and fluency in the Chinese language, he was a much-needed addition to Toronto's Police Service. Would it not be trite to say, "The rest is history."? During his work as a police officer, he received numerous awards and accolades from his superiors and the Community alike. Some of those prestigious awards included: The Presidential Award (Crime Stoppers), Toronto Police Chief's Award, Toronto Police Service Board's Commendation, Appreciation Award (St. John's Ambulance). Queen Elizabeth ll's Platinum Medal, among many others. His unwavering dedication was proof to us that he had a deep sense of duty for a job well done. I have no doubt that he will carry the same kind of passion and enthusiasm to the Councillor's position, if elected by the residents of Ward 22. By sharing his tenaciousness and his hardship in Canada, I present to you a man worthy of your trust and support. Although retired from police service, Bill continued serving the community through his volunteer work - Forpeople Community Support Association ( FPCSA) - as its Founder, and Executive Director. FPCSA is a non-profit organization; its mandate is to assist seniors, newcomers and others with language barriers to navigate the myriads of official organizations and complicated documentation. Bill's tribulation as a first-generation Canadian resonates with many immigrants. The hard work, upgrade in Canadian education and a trajectory to stability displayed an exemplary story for the discouraged and disheartened. His candidacy to Toronto's Council is his ardent desire to help people like himself to attain greener pastures. I have confidence that Bill will offer his future constituents significant support through hard work and valuable experience.