Sherman Chan receives the 2026 Ron Hall Community Leadership Award
The Burnaby Division of Family Practice is pleased to recognize Sherman Chan as the 2026 recipient of the Ron Hall Community Leadership Award.
Sherman is an exceptional leader who has dedicated his career to building a healthier, more inclusive community. Sherman recently retired after 25 years of service as Director of Family and Settlement Services at MOSAIC BC. He is a past co-chair for Burnaby Inter-agency Council (BIAC), and a past co-chair of our own Primary Care Network Steering Committee representing BIAC.
His deep work spanning four decades with refugees and temporary foreign workers showed that true health equity requires looking beyond the walls of a traditional clinic. It requires meeting people where they are, understanding their unique life stories, and breaking down systemic barriers. Sherman has spent years doing exactly that as the PCN Steering committee co-chair for BIAC—serving as a vital bridge between newcomer settlement systems and health care.
Sherman has been a driving force in shaping localized health-care planning. His vision and advocacy were instrumental in establishing the MOSAIC Community Clinic at Edmonds Campus for Healthy Communities. This critical partnership has transformed how we deliver trauma-informed, culturally safe primary care to newcomers, refugee claimants, and families facing barriers in our community.
Sherman’s tireless work across municipal committees and inter-agency councils ensures that health and social services are never siloed but seamlessly integrated to lift people up. His collaboration with the Burnaby PCN embodies the very spirit of community-led, compassionate care.
Meet Sherman Chan
Sherman Chan was the Senior Advisor to CEO and Director of Family and Settlement Services at MOSAIC. He has a Master of Science in Applied Social Studies Degree from United Kingdom. He has worked in the field of social service for more than thirty years in Canada, Hong Kong, USA and Britain. Sherman takes a leadership role with immigration matters in Canada. He is currently a Co-chair of Corrections Canada Pacific Region Ethnocultural Advisory Committee, He was a Co-chair of Burnaby Inter-agency Council and Burnaby Primary Care Network Steering Committee, a member of the Transit Police Chief’s Community Council. a member of the Executive and Treasurer of the Canadian Council for Refugees, a member of the National Settlement Council, and served as a Director of the Board of the Pro Bono Law BC and Board of AMSSA.
Sherman has done a number of collaborative studies with research institutions and participated in social justice advocacy with community groups. He presented three times in front of the Canada House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on ‘Best Settlement Services’, ‘Promoting Economic Prosperity through Settlement Services’, and ‘Resettlement of Syrian Refugees to Canada’.
Sherman is the recipient of the City of Vancouver 2006 Cultural Harmony Award, recognizing his outstanding contribution to the promotion of cultural harmony in the City of Vancouver, and a Canadian Delegate to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Consultations in Geneva Switzerland in 2013 and in Sydney Australia in 2024.
About the award
Established in 2025, the Ron Hall Community Leadership Award honours Ron Hall, a long-serving community Board member, patient advisor, advocate and educator.
Chosen by Division staff, the award recognizes someone whose leadership and dedication have made a lasting difference in the lives of Burnaby residents. It also celebrates the community partnerships that support Burnaby residents’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Congratulations, Sherman, and thank you for all you have contributed to Burnaby.
Read our 2025–26 Annual Report to learn more about the people and partnerships supporting primary care in Burnaby.
