Wilson Sayson

Winston Sayson, Q.C., provides a comprehensive account of his journey from Manila to becoming British Columbia’s first Filipino-Chinese-Canadian Crown prosecutor. Born in Manila to Chinese parents, Sayson immigrated to Vancouver at age 18 during martial law in the Philippines. After completing his education at Kwantlen College and UBC Law School, he joined the BC Prosecution Service in 1989, specializing in crimes against children and vulnerable people, vehicular homicide, and prosecuting professionals in positions of authority.

Sayson’s career was marked by significant contributions to victim advocacy and judicial reform. He pioneered the Courthouse Dog Program to support child witnesses and advocated for forensic nursing programs in sexual assault cases. His work earned him numerous awards, including the Criminal Justice System Leadership Award and the Vision Award from the International Association of Forensic Nurses. Throughout his 30-year career, he mentored numerous lawyers and prosecutors while advocating for systemic changes to make the justice system more accessible to victims.

The interview also explores Sayson’s experiences with racism and discrimination in the legal profession, his advocacy for Filipino-Canadian lawyers, and his “Five E’s” philosophy for immigrant success: English, Education, Employment, Engagement, and Excellence. He reflects candidly on work-life balance challenges in the legal profession and offers guidance to future generations of Filipino-Canadian lawyers about navigating systemic barriers while maintaining professional excellence.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.