The co-founder of a Vancouver-based immigrant services group that has grown into one of Canada’s largest social service agencies has died.
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. did not disclose the cause of death for Maggie Ip, who co-founded the agency in 1973.
“We are profoundly saddened by the loss of Maggie Ip,” said organization CEO Queenie Choo.
“Her leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to our mission have been an inspiration to us all. We will honour her memory by continuing the important work she was so passionate about.”
Maggie Ip was born in Shanghai but moved to Vancouver with her husband in the late 1960s, parlaying her experience as an immigrant into launching and building Canada’s largest settlement service organization.
B.C. Premier David Eby posted on X that he was saddened by Ip’s passing.
“Her leadership & dedication to helping newcomers have profoundly shaped our community,” Eby said.
“My condolences to her family, friends and entire S.U.C.C.E.S.S. family during this difficult time.”
BC Conservative Leader John Rustad calls Ip a “true visionary and a compassionate leader.”
“Her dedication to improving the lives of immigrants through S.U.C.C.E.S.S. transformed the lives of thousands of people, creating opportunities for newcomers to thrive in
their new home.”
Ip also served as a Vancouver city councillor from 1993 to 1996.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says in a statement that Ip was a true visionary, trailblazer, and beloved community leader, whose organization has helped thousands of newcomers settle in Canada.
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is now the largest immigrant settlement service organization in the country, and Sim says Vancouver’s city hall will fly its Canadian flag at half-mast in memory of Ip.