Brandt Louie
Bio
The first members of Brandt Louie’s family came to the Vancouver area from China in 1862, while his grandfather arrived here in 1898. Their storied history has been an intrinsic part of the history of BC, and the city of Vancouver, for well over 150 years.
Following in the tradition of his grandfather HY Louie and his father Tong Louie, Brandt is a respected business entrepreneur and an influential community leader. He is a sought after speaker by corporations, universities, and community organizations. As a business leader he uses his platform to educate and encourage others to contribute to the future of Canada in all sectors, including the arts.
Brandt was born in Vancouver, graduating from UBC in 1966 with a Bachelor of Commerce. He practiced as a Chartered Accountant until 1972 and was elected Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia in 1997.
In 1998 Brandt took the helm of H.Y. Louie Limited, which celebrates its 122nd anniversary this year. He is the 3rd generation to head the family business that includes Georgia Main Food Group and London Drugs; a Vancouver icon for 80 years and symphony supporter for over forty years.
Brandt’s core values are evident in the number of boards he’s served on throughout his life, including: the Royal Bank of Canada, the Vancouver Board of Trade and the B.C. Business Council. He is on the board of the National Coalition of Canadians Against Anti-Asian Racism.
Brandt has received numerous awards and honours recognizing his contributions to Canadian society. In 2024 he was named to The Order of Canada and is a recipient of The Order of BC. He has two Honourary Doctor of Laws degrees, conferred by UBC and SFU, where he served as Chancellor for 6 years.
Brandt has acted as a major catalyst in the creation of a national strategy on Anti-Asian Racism. In 2023 he spoke in the Senate Chamber in Ottawa, as a representative of Canadian Chinese Families impacted by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923. That work is ongoing.
Brandt and his wife Belinda enjoy travelling and spending time with their 4 grandchildren. Though still active in business as Chair of both London Drugs and HY Louie, Brandt is an avid fisherman and true to his character, is a passionate supporter of ocean conservation; acting as a partner with First Nations in preserving fish stocks and stewarding the land.
