On November 23, more than 100 alumni from Hong Kong and Asia Pacific gathered at the Kowloon Shangri-La to mark U of T Engineering’s 150 anniversary — the latest event in a yearlong celebration of the Faculty’s distinguished past and exciting trajectory. 

The event featured a fireside chat with Dean Christopher Yip on topics ranging from the student experience and global fluency to new research.  Later Emmy Choi (ECE 9T5), co-founder of the Hong Kong Engineering Alumni Association, and Andrew Sit (EngSci 9T6), also a keen volunteer, joined the Dean on stage to discuss the importance of staying connected and the strength of the alumni base in Hong Kong. 

See photos from the event at the gallery below:

To learn more about U of T Engineering’s history of innovation, visit our Engineering 150 microsite. 

Also in attendance were members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao. 

Guests at the event were invited to engrave their own luggage tags — a nod to the global network of U of T Engineering alumni — and take pictures in a photobooth with different campus backgrounds. The event brought a touch of St. George to Hong Kong, with classic Canadian food and a special Skule150 beverage. 

Several guests brought memorabilia from their time at U of T Engineering, including Sai Kwong Daniel Li (EngSci), who brought his convocation program from 1974 and a letter from U of T Alumni Association President Walter Giles. One alumnus, Tony Lui (ECE 7T4), was on route to Hong Kong for a family reunion when he heard about the event and decided to attend, despite a busy family schedule.    

“It was incredible to meet alumni from four different decades halfway around the world,” says Dean Yip, who also brought his own U of T Engineering yearbook from 1987. “Our wonderful conversations and connections carried on throughout the evening — the hotel eventually gave us the ‘it’s time to wrap up’ signal.  

“We have a remarkable network of alumni who are working across disciplines to solve some of the biggest global challenges and advance society. It’s testament to the power of a U of T education, and the community spirit and camaraderie that transcends generations.”