The Canada China Business Council hosted its 2026 New Year Networking Cocktail Reception on January 22 in Toronto, bringing together members and invited guests for an evening of insight, exchange, and forward-looking dialogue at the outset of the year.<\/p>\n
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The program featured timely remarks on Canada\u2019s economic outlook and perspectives on the evolving Canada\u2013China relationship, delivered by a distinguished group of speakers, including Luo Weidong, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto; Thomas J. Timmins, Partner at Gowling WLG; Farah Omran, Senior Economist at Scotiabank; Bijan Ahmadi, Executive Director and COO, Canada China Business Council; and Jeff Zhang, Regional Director, Central Canada, Canada China Business Council.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”86627,86630,86636,86642,86648,86591,86633,86645″ posts_number=”10″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_heading title=”Watch the recap of the event” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ title_text_align=”center”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/_gZZL3nyc20?si=kLzYXkMCTTK8rdgv” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Event Description” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
A highlight of the evening was the series of member self-introductions, with 15 CCBC member organizations sharing brief overviews of their activities and priorities. Representing sectors such as education, professional and advisory services, retail and consumer goods, logistics and supply chains, financial and tax services, food and beverage manufacturing, consumer products, and financial technology, participating members reflected the diversity of the CCBC network and helped set the context for the cocktail reception that followed, supporting more targeted and meaningful networking and deeper business conversations.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”86543,86546,86549,86552,86555,86558,86561,86564,86567,86570,86573,86576,86579,86582,86585″ posts_number=”50″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text admin_label=”Event Description” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
CCBC extends its thanks to Gowling WLG for serving as venue host and to Scotiabank for sponsoring the event.<\/p>\n
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We look forward to continuing these discussions and welcoming members to future CCBC programs in 2026.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”86516,86606,86519,86522,86525,86513,86528,86531,86534,86537,86594,86600,86540,86603,86609,86612,86615,86618,86621,86624,86639″ posts_number=”50″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Thank you to our sponsors:” admin_label=”Thank you to our Sponsors” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ title_text_color=”#E3002B” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Venue Host” admin_label=”Venue Host” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ccbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Gowling-WLG-logo.jpg” title_text=”Gowling WLG logo” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Sponsor” admin_label=”Sponsor” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ccbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Scotia-Bank-Logo.jpg” title_text=”Scotia Bank Logo” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Speakers:” admin_label=”Speakers” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ccbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Luo-Weidong-square.jpg” title_text=”Olivier Gervais” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image – LUO Weidong” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ animation_direction=”off” border_style_all=”solid” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
\n <\/p>\n[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Position – LUO Weidong” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
LUO Weidong<\/span><\/strong> Mr. LUO Weidong was born in December 1967 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree.<\/p>\n He began his career in 1990 in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is now the Ministry of Commerce of the People\u2019s Republic of China.<\/p>\n He assumed his role as Consul General of the People\u2019s\u2002Republic of China in Toronto in September 2023.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ccbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Thomas-Timmins-low-res.png” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Image – Thomas Timmins” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ animation_direction=”off” border_style_all=”solid” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n \n <\/p>\n[\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Position – Board Director” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ text_font_size=”10px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n Board Director of CCBC<\/span><\/strong> Thomas J. Timmins<\/span><\/strong> Tom Timmins (\u8c2d\u6c11\u601d) is a senior projects lawyer based in Canada focused primarily on renewable energy projects and the global energy transition. He leads the Energy Sector Practice at Gowling WLG Canada. Named a ‘Leading Lawyer’ by The Legal 500 Canada<\/em> and Who’s Who Legal<\/em>, Mr. Timmins serves as a Board member of the Canadian Ditchley Foundation, as an advisor at the Centre for Urban Energy at Metropolitan Toronto University, as a member of the Legal Committee of Transparency International and on several public and private boards. He also teaches Infrastructure and Project Finance Law and serves as an adjudicator under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. Mr. Timmins served as the Leader of Gowling WLG Canada\u2019s highly successful China Practice between 2016-2024.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ccbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Farah-Omran-e1769096969348.jpg” title_text=”Farah Omran” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image – Farah Omran \n <\/p>\n[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Position – Farah Omran” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n Farah Omran<\/span><\/strong> Farah Omran joined Scotiabank Economics in 2021, working with the team on macroeconomic forecasting and stress testing as a primary responsibility. Farah joined Scotiabank after having spent some time as a policy analyst at the C.D. Howe Institute. Farah holds a Master\u2019s Degree in Economics from the University of Toronto, where she was a fellow at Massey College.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ccbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Bijan-Ahmadi-square.jpeg” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image – Bijan Ahmadi” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ animation_direction=”off” border_style_all=”solid” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n \n <\/p>\n[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Position – Bijan Ahmadi” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n Bijan Ahmadi<\/span><\/strong> Bijan Ahmadi is the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Canada China Business Council (CCBC), where he leads the Council\u2019s strategic direction, operations, and programming across all seven chapters in Canada and China. In this capacity, he also serves on CCBC\u2019s Board of Directors and its Executive Committee.<\/p>\n As a recognized voice in Canada\u2013China relations, Bijan works closely with senior executives, policymakers, and institutional partners to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, advance member services, and position Canadian companies for success in the Chinese market. His work focuses on translating policy and regulatory developments into practical insights for business leaders and supporting high-level commercial engagement between the two countries.<\/p>\n Prior to joining CCBC, Bijan co-founded and served as Executive Director of the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy (IPD) from 2018 to 2024, where he helped build the organization into a respected binational foreign policy think tank operating in Canada and the United States. During this period, he launched IPD\u2019s Asia research program and its annual flagship conference, the Indo-Pacific Strategy Forum (IPSF) in Ottawa, now widely regarded as Canada\u2019s leading platform for policy and economic dialogue on the Asia-Pacific region. He was also co-editor of Canada\u2013China Brief, an online policy publication covering political and economic developments in the bilateral relationship.<\/p>\n Throughout his work on China, Bijan has advised multinational corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises on navigating Canada\u2013China trade, regulatory, and policy environments. He has led Track 2 and Track 1.5 dialogue initiatives in partnership with Chinese, Canadian and American institutions and he regularly delivers lectures and professional training on Canada\u2013China economic relations for public and private sector audiences.<\/p>\n Bijan also serves on the Advisory Board of the Canada China Forum, a platform dedicated to nurturing the next generation of China-competent Canadian professionals.<\/p>\n He holds a Master\u2019s degree in Global Diplomacy from SOAS University of London and a Master of Applied Science from the University of Toronto. Earlier in his career, he worked in strategy and management roles in the financial services and real estate sectors and has served on the boards of several Canadian non-profits and NGOs, including the Toronto branch of the Canadian International Council.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ccbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Jeff-Zhang-photo-.jpg” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Image – Jeff Zhang” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ animation_direction=”off” border_style_all=”solid” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n \n <\/p>\n[\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Position – Jeff Zhang” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n Jeff Zhang<\/span><\/strong> Jeff has over 20 years of international experience in private, public and non-profit organizations in a variety of sectors including E-commerce, oil and gas, retail, commercial real estate, education and financial services. Prior to joining CCBC, Jeff worked in establishment and operation management at a Sino-Foreign joint venture company and in strategic partnership management at a Fortune 500 multinational company. He also led and assisted a number of Canadian companies and educational institutions into China where he was responsible for strategic partnerships and branding establishment.<\/p>\n Jeff has an MBA in marketing and international business from Concordia University in Montreal and is fluent in Mandarin and English. He has also been a guest speaker at professional business associations in China and Canada.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Canada China Business Coun […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1687,"featured_media":86627,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[176],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ccbc-past-events"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1687"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86505"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86505\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86729,"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86505\/revisions\/86729"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ccbc.com\/zh-hans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Consul General
<\/em>Chinese Consulate General in Toronto<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Biography” open_toggle_text_color=”#141011″ open_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” closed_toggle_text_color=”#b2b2b2″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” icon_color=”#e3002b” open_icon_color=”#e3002b” admin_label=”Biography – LUO Weidong” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ title_font_size=”14″ body_text_color=”#141011″ body_font_size=”15″ border_color_all=”#cccccc” border_style_all=”solid” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#cccccc” border_style=”solid” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Position – Thomas Timmins” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
Partner
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Biography” open_toggle_text_color=”#141011″ open_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” closed_toggle_text_color=”#b2b2b2″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” icon_color=”#e3002b” open_icon_color=”#e3002b” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Biography – Thomas Timmins” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ title_font_size=”14″ body_text_color=”#141011″ body_font_size=”15″ border_color_all=”#cccccc” border_style_all=”solid” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#cccccc” border_style=”solid” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
\n” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ animation_direction=”off” border_style_all=”solid” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
Senior Economist
<\/em>Scotiabank<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Biography” open_toggle_text_color=”#141011″ open_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” closed_toggle_text_color=”#b2b2b2″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” icon_color=”#e3002b” open_icon_color=”#e3002b” admin_label=”Biography – Farah Omran” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ title_font_size=”14″ body_text_color=”#141011″ body_font_size=”15″ border_color_all=”#cccccc” border_style_all=”solid” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#cccccc” border_style=”solid” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
Executive Director & COO
<\/em>Canada China Business Council<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Biography” open_toggle_text_color=”#141011″ open_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” closed_toggle_text_color=”#b2b2b2″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” icon_color=”#e3002b” open_icon_color=”#e3002b” admin_label=”Biography – Bijan Ahmadi” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ title_font_size=”14″ body_text_color=”#141011″ body_font_size=”15″ border_color_all=”#cccccc” border_style_all=”solid” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#cccccc” border_style=”solid” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
Regional Director, Central Canada (ON, QC, MB) <\/em>
Canada China Business Council<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Biography” open_toggle_text_color=”#141011″ open_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” closed_toggle_text_color=”#b2b2b2″ closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” icon_color=”#e3002b” open_icon_color=”#e3002b” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Biography – Jeff Zhang” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ title_font_size=”14″ body_text_color=”#141011″ body_font_size=”15″ border_color_all=”#cccccc” border_style_all=”solid” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#cccccc” border_style=”solid” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n