---
title: "BC Conservative candidate in Richmond-Steveston co-founded group that held events with China's consulate"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/gordon-zhang-conservative-richmond-steveston-china-group-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-24T14:28:07.151Z"
---

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](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/gordon-zhang) on this site.

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