BC Conservative candidate in Richmond-Steveston co-founded group that held events with China's consulate
Gordon Zhang was a founding director of the Grizzly Bear Institute of Canada, which hosted Belt and Road Initiative forums alongside China's Consul General in Vancouver.
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Gordon Zhang, the Conservative Party of BC candidate for MLA in Richmond-Steveston, was a founding director of a nonprofit think tank that held multiple events with China's Consul General in Vancouver and promoted the Belt and Road Initiative, according to a report by Business in Vancouver published on October 23.
The think tank, the Grizzly Bear Institute of Canada, was incorporated in 2017 under the BC Societies Act. Its founding documents describe it as a group "founded by local Chinese academics." Its stated purpose was to publish research on economics, political science, and international affairs.
Business in Vancouver's reporting draws on BC Societies Act filings and Chinese consulate records to document four events in 2017 between the institute and Consul General Liu Fei. On March 22, 2017, Liu met with institute director Wang Guangyu, who "thanked Consul General Liu for her attention and guidance to the institute," according to records BIV cited. On May 21, Liu attended a Belt and Road Initiative forum the institute co-hosted with UBC's Institute of Asian Studies. On May 27, Liu and institute members met to discuss ways to promote Canada's participation in the program. On July 30, Liu attended a farewell dinner hosted by the institute.
Zhang's role grew after those events. By May 2018, Business in Vancouver reports him listed as vice-president at a roundtable titled "Belt and Road cooperation models and opportunities in North America."
BC Societies Act filings show Zhang ceased being a director in 2020.
The Belt and Road Initiative is China's international infrastructure and investment program, which funds ports, railways, and other projects in many countries. Canada has not joined as an official partner. Western governments have raised concerns about the program and its role in expanding China's political influence abroad.
Neither Zhang nor the Conservative Party of BC responded to BIV's repeated requests for comment before the article was published.
Zhang is running in Richmond-Steveston, a district in Greater Vancouver where the incumbent BC NDP member is not seeking re-election. Voters in that district can check their voting place at the Elections BC website before polls close at 8 p.m. today.
For the full list of candidates in Richmond-Steveston and other districts, see Gordon Zhang's candidate page on this site.
Questions this story answers
Who is Gordon Zhang?
Gordon Zhang is the Conservative Party of BC candidate for MLA in the Richmond-Steveston district in the October 24, 2026 provincial election. He has taught business at Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Richmond campus for more than 17 years, according to his party's profile. Business in Vancouver reported that he was a founding director of a think tank that held events with China's Consulate General in Vancouver.
What is the Grizzly Bear Institute of Canada?
The Grizzly Bear Institute of Canada is a nonprofit that BC Societies Act filings show was founded in 2017 by what its documents describe as 'local Chinese academics.' Its constitution aimed to publish research in economics, political science and international affairs. Business in Vancouver reported that the institute held events with China's Consul General in Vancouver and promoted the Belt and Road Initiative, China's international infrastructure program.
What is the Belt and Road Initiative?
The Belt and Road Initiative is an international infrastructure and investment program run by the government of China. It funds roads, ports, railways and other projects in many countries. Canada has not joined the program as an official partner. Critics in Western governments have raised concerns about the program's terms and its role in expanding China's political influence.
What events did the institute hold with China's Consul General?
Business in Vancouver's reporting, drawn from BC Societies Act filings and consulate records, names four specific events in 2017. On March 22, Consul General Liu Fei met with institute director Wang Guangyu, who 'thanked Consul General Liu for her attention and guidance to the institute.' On May 21, Liu attended a Belt and Road Initiative forum co-hosted by the institute and UBC's Institute of Asian Studies. On May 27, Liu and institute members met to discuss promoting Canada's participation in Belt and Road. On July 30, Liu attended a farewell dinner hosted by the institute.
What was Gordon Zhang's role in the institute?
BC Societies Act filings show Zhang was a founding co-director of the Grizzly Bear Institute of Canada in 2017. By May 2018, Business in Vancouver reports him listed as vice-president at a roundtable on 'Belt and Road cooperation models and opportunities in North America.' The same filings show he ceased being a director in 2020.
Did Gordon Zhang or his party respond to Business in Vancouver?
Business in Vancouver reported that neither Gordon Zhang nor the Conservative Party of BC responded to the outlet's repeated requests for comment before the article was published on October 23, 2026. The article named the reporter who sought comment and described the attempts as repeated. No statement from Zhang or the party appeared in the published piece.
When did Zhang leave the organization?
BC Societies Act filings show that Gordon Zhang ceased being a director of the Grizzly Bear Institute of Canada in 2020, three years after the institute was founded. The filings are the source Business in Vancouver used to establish this date.
Where can I find more about Gordon Zhang's candidacy?
Gordon Zhang's candidate page on this site is at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/gordon-zhang. Richmond-Steveston is one of the 93 provincial districts choosing an MLA on October 24, 2026. Voting places are listed at the Elections BC website.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Business in Vancouver reportbiv.com
- Gordon Zhang candidate page on voche.mevoche.me
- Conservative Party of BC candidate page for Gordon Zhangconservativebc.ca
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