CBC Ontario Morning — Kingston Lawyer Wins Inspirational Entrepreneur Award
When Ningjing (Natalie) Zhang first arrived in Canada a decade ago, she came as a refugee, seeking safety. Today, she practises law in Kingston, Ontario — a recognized immigration and refugee lawyer who now provides legal representation to others making the same journey.
Her work, and the journey behind it, is the focus of a recent CBC Radio Ontario Morning feature marking her 2026 Kingston Inspirational Entrepreneur Award — a recognition jointly presented by Kingston Economic Development Corporation and the Kingston Immigration Partnership, honouring newcomer entrepreneurs whose businesses contribute meaningfully to the community.
The Story Behind the Recognition
Ms. Zhang sat down with CBC Radio Ontario Morning to discuss the arc of her journey — from seeking refuge to becoming the lawyer others turn to when they are seeking it themselves. The feature explored what this prestigious recognition means to her, not only personally, but for every newcomer who has ever wondered whether they truly belong in Canada.
It was, as Ontario Morning framed it, “an inspiring story” — one that resonates beyond the Kingston legal community, speaking to what Canada can offer when newcomers are given the chance to build.
A Firm Built on Lived Experience
Ms. Zhang founded BridgePoint Law with a specific mission: to provide refugees, immigrants, and cross-border clients with the kind of sophisticated legal representation that is often out of reach. The firm handles cases many others turn away — complex refugee appeals, inadmissibility matters, urgent motions at the Federal Court, and cases where the stakes, in her words, are “everything a person has.”
First of Her Kind
Ms. Zhang is the first person of Chinese descent to receive the Kingston Inspirational Entrepreneur Award. The distinction reflects not only her legal accomplishments, but the broader message her story sends: that the path from newcomer to contributor — and from contributor to leader — is one Canadians from every background can walk.
Listen to the Feature
The full Ontario Morning feature is available on CBC Radio’s online archive.
