FES
Ted Talk@White Rock
FES TED-Style Community Talk
Sponsored by Alpha International Education
November 22, 2025 | 4:00–6:00 PM | Peace Arch Curling Club
The FES TED-style Community Talk concluded successfully this Saturday, bringing together youth speakers, community leaders, and local professionals for an evening of meaningful reflection and shared inspiration. The event created a warm and collaborative atmosphere
🎤 Featured Guest Contributors
The audience had the opportunity to hear insightful remarks from:
Ting, Branch Manager at RBC White Rock
Jas Singh Dhaliwal, local lawyer and White Rock City Councillor candidate
Leslie Chen, speaking on behalf of DiverseCity
Their perspectives complemented the student speeches, creating a layered conversation about responsibility, identity, opportunity, and social connection.
🌱 Themes Reflected Throughout the Event
Youth speakers and guests collectively explored:
Small Acts, Big Impact — illustrating how kindness and contribution shape shared spaces
Roots and Wings — expressing personal journeys of growth, resilience, and family influence
Many Cultures, One Community — celebrating diversity while recognizing common ground
These topics resonated strongly with attendees, who praised the authenticity and confidence demonstrated by the student presenters.
FES and Peace Arch Curling Club Host
Successful Community Open House
On November 8, from 4–6 PM, FES partnered with the Peace Arch Curling Club to host an Open House event. Historically, the curling club has had relatively few young participants and very limited involvement from the local Chinese community. This event successfully attracted nearly 60 attendees, marking a significant step toward broader community engagement.
The club began with an introduction to the history and basics of curling, giving participants a deeper understanding of the sport’s traditions and rules. After the briefing, everyone headed onto the ice for a hands-on experience. Many were surprised—what looked simple from the stands turned out to be much harder than expected, from balancing on the ice to delivering the first stone. But the challenge made it even more fun, and the atmosphere was full of excitement and laughter.
By the end of the session, nearly 20 participants expressed interest in joining a league to continue learning and playing. The event not only introduced more youth and newcomers to curling but also strengthened community connections across cultures and ages.
2025 FES Flea Market
The FES Flea Market was held at Turnbull Gallery on October 11, 2025 (11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.) with 25 vendor booths. FES volunteers helped sell on behalf of seven families, and many young entrepreneurs ran their own tables, selling handmade crafts, books, and toys while building business skills and confidence. After the event, many attendees asked about the next market, whether as vendors or as part of the treasure hunt activity. We are excited to announce that we are planning a Trunk Flea Market + Block Party for Summer 2026—stay tuned!
FES and MLA Halford Discuss Future Collaboration and Education Challenges
On October 1, 2025, FES Co-Presidents Ben and Gorden met with White Rock–South Surrey MLA Trevor Halford to share updates on FES’s recent initiatives, explore future opportunities for collaboration, and express concerns about the ongoing Surrey school funding crisis.
Honoring Remembrance Day Through Music and Community
From 1–2 PM on November 11, during Remembrance Day, FES partnered with the White Rock Seniors Society and Harmony Music to present a meaningful and heartfelt performance at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 8 (White Rock).
The program honored veterans and remembered those who served, bringing together community members of all ages through music and reflection on this important day.
Volunteer at Festival of Lights 2025- – Cloverdale
On October 19, 2025, our volunteer team participated in the Festival of Lights at Cloverdale Agriplex in Surrey. We supported the Cloverdale MLA community tent, helping greet visitors, share community information, and assist with event engagement. It was a meaningful multicultural community event where we contributed to building connection and celebrating diversity.
2025 Thanksgiving Celebration
The free Thanksgiving workshop and celebration was held from 2–5 p.m. on October 12, organized by FES, the South Rock Community Association, and Angle Brush Studio. It was wonderful to see so many young artists creating Thanksgiving cards and families coming together to connect and share the holiday spirit. Happy Thanksgiving!
Walk for Alzheimer’s (May 25, 2025)
To support individuals and families facing dementia, FES and RUC Canada collaborated to participate in the 2025 Walk for Alzheimer’s.
📅 Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025
📍 Location: Central Park – South Pond, 3883 Imperial St, Burnaby, BC
Together, we raised a total of $2,031.00 CAD!
From Semiahmoo Secondary to Cambridge: The Journey of a Policy Advisor in Energy
Gary is currently a Policy Advisor at Natural Resources Canada, and has previously served as a senior research fellow at the Tianjin Energy Research Institute and a visiting energy policy consultant at the OECD. He holds degrees from leading institutions including Peking University and the University of British Columbia, and is passionate about energy policy, sustainable development, and youth empowerment.
In this session on April 29, 2025, Gary and his mother shared their heartfelt story of navigating life as newcomers to Canada—highlighting Gary’s academic journey, cultural adaptation, and personal growth as an immigrant student. Their experience offers encouragement and insight for youth and families who are walking a similar path.
FES @ 2025 CNOY Walk
The Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is a significant family-friendly fundraising event that takes place annually to support local charities aiding those experiencing homelessness, hunger, and hurt. It encourages participants to experience a bit of the challenges faced by homeless individuals during the cold winter months. Participants can join at various locations or even organize offsite walks in their communities.
We assembled a 10-person team to participate in this impactful event. Despite challenging weather conditions with strong winds and rain on the day of the walk, the team successfully raised $310 to contribute to the cause.
2025 Chinese New Year Market
We kicked off the year with a vibrant Chinese New Year Market on January 26, 2025, celebrating cultural heritage and community spirit with a wishing tree installation ( displayed at Surrey’s Turnbull Gallery for 1 week), live calligraphy, lacquer painting, Go, balloons, and traditional snacks. The market also supported local entrepreneurs such as flower vendors , with students distributing Spring Festival couplets across White Rock and South Surrey. This meaningful blend of tradition, creativity, and compassion uplifted spirits across the community, highlighted the leadership of our youth volunteers, and showed the strength of unity—thank you to everyone who made the event a success.
Walk to Save Surrey Schools
Walk to Save Surrey Schools – April 13, 2025 is a public demonstration and a key part of FES’s broader call to action to address the Surrey School District funding crisis.
For years, Surrey’s schools have been underfunded, despite being BC’s largest and fastest-growing school district. Overcrowding, funding shortfalls, and delayed school construction have left thousands of students learning in portable classrooms with limited resources.
The 2025-2026 BC budget fails to close the gap. While the province claims record investments, the reality is a $16 million shortfall in Surrey’s school budget, forcing cuts to teacher hiring, classroom support, and student programs. Parents, educators, and local officials are frustrated with the provincial government’s slow response.
📢 That’s why we’re taking action!
On April 13, we invite students, parents, educators, and concerned citizens to join Walk to Save Surrey Schools—a city-wide march demanding immediate education funding relief.
Education cannot wait. Surrey’s students deserve better.
Fundraiser for Donald Aitken and his wife
Donald Aitken, 65, and his wife are facing significant challenges. His wife, who is battling cancer and relies on a wheelchair, requires regular chemotherapy. The couple became homeless after their roommate abruptly terminated their lease and now depend on community support.
For a time, they stayed at the Grandview Inn, with expenses covered by community donations. However, their combined monthly income of $1,040 CAD from CPP and OAS was insufficient to meet their needs, and government emergency aid only provided a limited stay. The community was working to ensure they have safe and warm housing through the winter and to secure stable, affordable long-term accommodations, especially given his wife’s serious health condition.
In an effort to raise funds, we sold donuts at the Chinese New Year market on January 26, 2025. We have raised $500 to cover two nights of their stay at the Grandview Inn and $200 in cash to cover laundry and other daily expenses. We visited the couple to offer further support and encouragement.
Art & Harmony Charity Concert
This annual event takes place during the summer break, with the 2024 event scheduled for July 27. All proceeds go to the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation.
2024 Spring Festival Chinese Fair
In 2024, we played a key role in enhancing the visibility and impact of the 15th Annual South Surrey White Rock Spring Festival Gala and introducing a brand-new side event, the First Chinese Fair.
Despite the gala’s long-standing history, it was the first time a promotional video was created for the event. We produced the video and successfully promoted it across multiple platforms, including Rednote(xiaohongshu), Instagram, and WeChat, effectively reaching a broader audience. As a result, many new immigrants learned about the gala for the first time.
Additionally, we collaborated with the organizers to plan and execute the first Chinese Fair, which served as a side event to the gala. The fair drew a significant crowd, including notable attendees such as MLAs and the Mayor of Surrey, making it a major highlight of the community celebration.
Through these efforts, We demonstrated our commitment to bridging cultural gaps, supporting local traditions, and fostering community engagement.
