Servant leadership: Reflections and lessons learned from 49 years of service to Canada

Judge Albert Wong’s journey began as a young immigrant in Sudbury, Ontario, where he learned the values of hard work, dedication, and community service.

As a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for over 39 years, Judge Wong gained extensive experience in public service building a stronger and more inclusive Canada. His service in the military, which included roles in strategic communications and public affairs, took him to Afghanistan and a peacekeeping mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, and numerous domestic operations in Canada and the Canadian Arctic. As a UN Peacekeeper, he witnessed firsthand the profound impact of diplomacy and collaboration in maintaining peace and security worldwide.

After his military career, he transitioned to civilian life. He has been an advisor at federal, provincial, and municipal governments on strategic communications, stakeholder relations, and public safety. He actively advocates for social cohesion and community engagement. Throughout his volunteer work with Asian Canadian organizations, he has championed causes that promote unity, mutual understanding, and social awareness.

Since becoming a Citizenship Judge in 2014, Judge Wong has welcomed over 300,000 new Canadians, helping them integrate into our multicultural society. This role reinforces his belief in the importance of compassionate immigration policies that reflect Canada's values of diversity and inclusion.

His focus includes strengthening national security, advocating for fair and compassionate immigration policies, and promoting social cohesion. Judge Wong is a strong advocate for building a stronger, more inclusive and resilient Canada by way of harnessing the power of collaboration that stands as a beacon of hope and unity on the global stage.