Bob Lee

Robert (Bob) Lee was a key figure in the growth and development of Vancouver. Steeped in his family’s values of caring for the community, Bob became an astute businessman, passionate philanthropist and community builder. 

During his career, Bob was instrumental in the creation of the new St Paul’s Hospital site, the Great Northern Way campus, and created the UBC Properties Trust, which resulted in a transformational $2 billion endowment for the university. Bob was the first Chinese Canadian to serve as Chancellor of a Canadian university, and in recognition of his many contributions to UBC, the graduate school of business and alumni centre were named after him. He was bestowed numerous honours, including the Order of BC and the Order of Canada. A community builder, Bob Lee left a lasting imprint on his city, province and country. 

Bob, a Founding Trustee of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation and a longtime supporter of its revitalization efforts, has been involved with Bob & Michael’s Place since the beginning. Drawing from his diverse network, he assembled a team to help bring Bob & Michael’s Place to life, including Axiom Builders, the Bosa Family, architect Wing Leung, and many others.