Vancouver: Leo Seewald, a Canadian-born lawyer who transitioned into a licensed fisherman in Taiwan, captivated audiences with his unique life journey during a public lecture held at the Vancouver Public Library.

According to Focus Taiwan, Seewald, who is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, as well as German and French, humorously noted that his English is his weakest language. Growing up in Vancouver, Seewald’s frequent visits to Chinatown with his family sparked his interest in learning Chinese at the age of 10. He initially learned Cantonese, the predominant dialect in Vancouver at the time, before moving on to Mandarin during his time in Beijing.

Seewald’s academic journey began in Canada, where he earned a business degree from Simon Fraser University and a law degree from the University of Alberta. His proficiency in Chinese later facilitated his work at a law firm in Hong Kong. In 2006, he joined Manulife Financial, a prominent Canadian corporation, and was offered a choice between relocating to Taiwan or Indonesia. Encouraged by recommendations, he chose Taiwan, where he served as vice president of Manulife Insurance and chairman of its asset management arm.

Seewald’s interest in maritime activities took root in Taiwan, where he initially explored the island’s waters by yacht. Frustrated by restrictions that limited access to many harbors to fishing vessels only, he pursued certification as a fisherman. After obtaining a national ID card five years ago, he became eligible to take the necessary exams, making him, as he believes, the only white fisherman in Taiwan.

Seewald has since visited over 170 out of Taiwan’s 230 fishing harbors. Currently, he is the chairman of New Green Power (NGP), a Taipei-based renewables company, and hosts the TaiwanPlus television program “Happy Fisherman,” where he sails with local fishermen. His lecture marked the first warm-up event for this year’s TaiwanFest, an initiative aimed at promoting Taiwan and Taiwanese culture in Canada.