An avid traveller, the 50-year-old Hongkonger and Toronto resident wears her Canadian nationality with pride. When Hong Kong was transferred to China in 1997, many families from the Kowloon and Hong Kong area emigrated to North America. That's how Sandra, who spoke Cantonese and English, found herself at a San Francisco high school until Grade 11. During the 1980s, Sandra’s parents, who currently live in Markham, decided to come to Canada because of the short wait time for citizenship, which is why Sandra finished her studies at Ridley College, a private high school in St. Catharines. Frequently travelling abroad for their international clothing business, Sandra’s parents left their three children in the care of various guardians. Before embarking on her adult life and studying humanities at the University of Toronto and administration at Seneca College, Sandra especially enjoyed spending time with her loving nanny Rosaline.
A passionate explorer who seeks out the more exotic destinations around the planet, Sandra worked in different departments within Ontario’s public service system, notably employment and health. She is fascinated to observe how, despite Toronto’s hectic lifestyle, Canadians can successfully find a balance between work, family and rest. She has also cultivated a vast social network that extends well beyond city limits, underscoring how important long-term friendships and helping others in the community are to her. However, Sandra does turn a critical eye to the value accorded by some Asian immigrant families to power, money and fame. In her opinion, Canada is a country that is rich in opportunities: educational, commercial and social. Just look at some of the issues across the border . . .
Sandra is an animal lover and dotes on her miniature dog Rocky. She is grateful for the love of her family and friends and explains that it is up to every one of us to protect the values we hold dear, such as inclusion, multiculturalism and quality of life. Living in the heart of multicultural downtown, Sandra says she is concerned with the challenges residents, elected officials and authorities face with regard to the ghettoization of immigrant populations and discrimination against certain visible minorities. Lastly, she has a message for anyone who hopes to immigrate to Canada. She emphasizes the importance of being able to adapt to the people and customs here and of showing openness and flexibility. According to Sandra, who at first is ostensibly quiet but truly bubbles with enthusiasm, the best thing that happened to her was moving to Canada. Her friends and loved ones will tell you that Sandra embodies the very values we cherish: a sense of commitment, acceptance and loyalty.