Lilly Mah-Sen, MIM

Lily Mah-Sen’s story is rooted in the Chinese-Canadian experience, from her family indentured railway worker beginnings to her father paying the Head Tax. This background fueled a lifelong commitment to human rights and the environment.

With a career spanning international development (CUSO) and human rights (Amnesty International Canada), and degrees from the University of Alberta and McGill, Mah-Sen continues with her passion for justice. Now retired in Sooke, BC, she believes that local, community-level action is the vital key to responding to the climate emergency. She states: “My deepest hope has always been simple: a world where future generations live as part of, not apart from, the web of life—coexisting with forests, waters, and all living beings; where the rights of all are respected; and where diversity is cherished and protected.”