Friends of APF Canada Receive High Honours

Vancouver, BC – August 13, 2010 – Two friends of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, the Honourable Jack Austin and Dr. Karen Minden, have been awarded high honours by the province of British of Columbia and Canada, respectively, for their significant contributions to fostering closer partnerships between Canada and the Asia Pacific region.

Jack Austin, from Vancouver, will be awarded the Order of British Columbia for his leading contribution to public policy in British Columbia and Canada, particularly recognized for his exceptional contribution to Canada-Asia relations. Austin has championed stronger relations between Canada and Asia since 1971, when as deputy minister of Energy, Mines and Resources he was part of the first Canadian trade mission to China.

Austin was instrumental in establishing the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada in 1984 and in creating an endowment for the foundation in 2005. He served as president of the Canada China Business Council for seven years and co-chair of the Canada China Legislative Association for five. Austin was a member of the Senate of Canada for 32 years, representing British Columbia. He has practiced law in Vancouver for over 20 years specializing in trade and commercial law, particularly in relation to China, South Korea and Japan. Most recently, he was recognized for his contributions with the creation of the Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies through a joint initiative of APF Canada and Simon Fraser University.

Dr. Karen Minden, from Toronto, was recently recognized as a member of the Order of Canada for her contribution to fostering economic partnerships between Canada and the Asia Pacific region, as well as her social service contributions including founding the Pine River Institute providing addiction treatment programs for adolescents in Ontario. As former Vice President of Research at APF Canada, Minden brought international leadership experience in Asia Pacific economic, scientific and academic policy and cooperation. She has published numerous books and articles on health care development in China, management of technology in the Pacific Rim, and Pacific Rim science and technology networks.

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About APF Canada

The Asia Pacific Foundation is an independent resource for Canadians on contemporary Asia and Canada-Asia relations. As a national not-for-profit organization established by an Act of the Federal Parliament in 1984, the Foundation brings together people and knowledge to provide the most current and comprehensive research, analysis and information on Asia and on Canada’s transpacific relations. It promotes dialogue on economic, security, political and social issues, helping to inform public policy, the Canadian public and Canada’s Asia practitioners. The Foundation is funded principally through an endowment from the Government of Canada and by corporate and individual donors.

For additional information, please contact:

Trang Nguyen
Communications Manager
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
Tel: 604-630-1540
Email: trang.nguyen@asiapacific.ca