Brandt and Belinda

Lyrics

So many families in business
Are merely banding together
But few give back to their city
As much as Brandt and Belinda Louie

Makin’ Vancouver better
Instead of grabbing the treasure
Putting philanthropy back into
Business, Brandt and Belinda

Brandt and Belinda, they offer the lesson
That you can prosper in business if you follow the laws of heaven
Indeed, that was Brandt’s grandfather’s message
To his family, he wrote it down in his letters to read

And now it’s time for some credit, the Louies are in for
A recognition of contribution to BC, a reward
From Canada’s Engaged University, they scored
A President’s Community Leadership Award!

So, congratulations from this SFU Alumni
This fun guy who kicks it in BC sometimes
And buys from IGA, whether veggies or fungi
Plus supplies from London Drugs when it comes time

So shout out to H. Y. Louie, who laid the foundation down
That Hok Yat shop was the pride of Chinatown
In 1903, where the finest fertilizer was found
He got sick on a trip home and started writing down

Some deep advice that his family would prize 
From 1935 to 2035: “Don’t be afraid to be kind
And loyal to customers, in discussions with workers, be nice
And charitable, let the whole community thrive”

Those are paraphrases, hopefully not lost in translation
But they laid the foundation for the whole organization
Plus the Tong and Geraldine Louie Family Foundation
Which is led by two creative, compassionate Canadians

So many families in business
Are barely banding together
But few give back to their city
As much as Brandt and Belinda Louie

Makin’ Vancouver better
Instead of grabbing the treasure
Putting philanthropy back into
Business, Brandt and Belinda

Brandt and Belinda, so what’s the obvious lesson?
You can prosper in business if you follow the Laws of Heaven
Born in Canada, Brandt’s father Tong wasn’t accepted
As a citizen here until 1947

That Chinese Exclusion Act law was oppressive
But Tong never let prejudice stop his ambitions
He took that shop in the 50s, and blew it up in the 70s
From groceries to that epic London Drugs acquisition

That’s the family business, but let’s go back to Belinda
Born in Hong Kong, she moved to Boston, Mass in the 60s
Studied business administration and did some banking with Citi
Versatile, speakin’ several languages with proficiency

Bringin’ eastern wisdom into every niche she’s in
From Davos to the Center for Ethical Leadership
Perpetuating that legacy of charity, philanthropy
And service to community, that’s the work of the Louie Family

Dedicated to education, lifting the next generation
First Nations engagement and business innovation
So let’s celebrate them, for this Leadership Award
For retail stores that feed BC and keep us nourished

Like Fresh Street Market, and for the deeper vision
That businesses don’t need to be greedy to be efficient
That’s the H. Y. Louie position, you give back 
And watch communities thrive off your company’s impact

So many families in business
Barely banding together
But few give back to their city
As much as Brandt and Belinda Louie

Makin’ Vancouver better
Instead of grabbing the treasure
Putting philanthropy back into
Business, Brandt and Belinda

Brandt and Belinda
What’s the obvious lesson?
Any business can prosper
That follows the Laws of Heaven

Brandt and Belinda
What’s the obvious lesson?
Any business can prosper
That follows the Laws of Heaven