Welcome to CAFE Vancouver

CAFE Vancouver was started in 1983 as one of the founding chapters under CAFE National. Interested in the common mandate of CAFE National, well known family business owners took on the challenge of creating and promoting an association dedicated to the well being and success of family businesses in British Columbia. Today, the CAFE Vancouver chapter is managed by the Business Families Centre at the Sauder chool of Business, UBC. Together we provide business families and advisors expertise, education and resources to grow their businesses and sustain their families. To view the Business Families Centre website please click on this link.

Our membership consists of both business families and advisors to business families. Our business family members are involved in virtually every industry imaginable. The common thread is not the size of the company, sales volumes or number of employees. It is not how many people actually work in the family business or are affected indirectly. The common thread is that our membership all have family connections and issues that directly affect their working and personal relationships within their family unit.

Members who are advisors to business families (Associate Members) include financial institutions, accounting firms, law firms, strategic planners, facilitators and communication specialists. These members are professionals who provide services to family businesses and who are dedicated to developing their knowledge of business family issues.

Our members form strong, educational and personal bonds with other people who understand the challenges and rewards of working and living with family members. Through Advisory Groups, seminars and events, members are afforded the opportunity to understand the experiences of others who have found successful ways of developing and maintaining strong family business relationships. Most of our members are willing to share their successes and their mistakes, offering a wealth of information to family businesses striving to be successful on many levels.

2009 CAFE Vancouver Family Enterprise of the Year Achievement Award

CAFE Vancouver Chapter is pleased to announce that the 2009 Family Enterprise of the Year Achievement Award for CAFE Vancouver is awarded to the Porte Family of Porte Realty Ltd. Click here to read up on this year's recipient

This award acknowledges the importance of the family enterprise in today’s changing economy through recognition of achievements made within a Canadian family enterprise.  For more information regarding the CAFE Family Enterprise of the Year Achievement Award, please call 604-827-5422 or email cafe@sauder.ubc.ca