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Click
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Special Patron Invitation
[click
here]
Letter
from Markham's Deputy Mayor re A Taste of Asia
[view
letter]
Certificate
from the Premier and Province of Ontario [view
certificate]
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Wayne
Chan, representing Market Village and Reminginton
Home, Dr. Ken Ng, Coucillor Alex Chiu, Hon. David
Tsubouchi.
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FCCM
Hosts “ A Taste of Asia” Street Carnival
Moving the Spirit of Multiculturalism Into the
Streets
Despite
the drizzle of rain throughout most of the day, numerous
people from York Region and Toronto still took advantage
of the long weekend to enjoy themselves, and Markham’s
“A Taste of Asia” festival is a top choice.
Although
this is their first year in organizing such an event,
the Federation Of Chinese Canadians in Markham did not
let themselves be limited to the confines of their district.
Instead, with the co-operation of the Town of Markham,
they moved the whole event into the streets by blocking
off a main intersection.
The
festival took place on Kennedy road, between Steeles and
Clayton, on the western side of Market Village. A huge
stage was set up at the north side of the site for the
afternoon’s non-stop performances, plus an ad-hoc
basketball court for the days basketball competitions.
Dr.
Ken Ng, Chairman of FCCM, stated that the event was organized
to bring a renewal of people’s spirit and confidence
in Toronto after the trauma of SARS and to speed up the
process of Toronto’s recovery. The festival featured
over 60 booths that sold various goods and services at
discounted prices, and the performances were a reflection
of the multicultural mosaic of Canada, such as Japanese,
Filipino, Chinese, to name a few.
The
guests of honour and participating business and government
officials were heralded into the ribbon-cutting ceremony
by a marching band as they walked through the site towards
the main stage. Among them were Consul General of the
People’s Republic of China in Toronto Chan Xiao-Ling,
Ontario's Minister of Culture David Tsubouchi, Markham's
Deputy Mayor Frank Scarpitti, York Regional Councillor
Tony Wong, Markham Councillors Alex Chiu and Khalid Usman,
Markham Candidates for Councillor Thomas Qu and Tom Farrar,
Markham Town Crier John Webster, York Regional Police
Representative Wayne Kalinski, M.P. of Scarborough North
Jim Karygiannis, Richmond Hill Councillor Dave Cohen,
Vaughan Councillor Mario Racco, Toronto Mayoral Candidate
John Tory, York Region District School Board Trustee Tessa
Benn-Ireland, Wayne Chan & Johnson Yip of Market Village
Shopping Centre, Martin Kobayashi & Sid Ikeda of Japanese
Canadian Cultural Centre, and other Community Leaders
Mark Persaud, Mobeen Khaja, Kamil Sadiq, David Chung,
Alex Yeung, Ed Joaquin, Tilley Murray, Tom Farrar, Longhuan
Kim, Stan Yu, Andi Shi.
Dr.
Ken Ng also said that this is the first time ever in Markham
that a Chinese association had promoted a large-scale
event that successfully acquired the co-operation of the
Town of Markham to set up a roadblock for such a purpose.
This is a historical moment for the partnership of the
Chinese community and the mainstream society.
Taste
of Asia Thank You Dinner
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Project
Proponent
Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham (FCCM), her business
division, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Markham(CCCM),and
the Asian-Canadian Entrepreneurs & Professionals (ACEP),
with Market Village Shopping Centre as co-host.
Purpose of Project
Our aim is to create an event where people of different
backgrounds and cultures can come together and enjoy a day
of fun and cultural exchanges. The festival will not be
just for the people of Markham but for Greater Toronto and
the neighboring areas because of the strategic location
chosen for the event. The Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue
site serves both Toronto and Markham which is a town well-known
for its high concentration of different ethnic groups that
form the multicultural mosaic of our country of Canada.
The project is an ideal venue for the promotion of cultural
exchange and the stimulation of tourism.
The adverse effects of SARS had caused a downtrend in our
economy and both consumer confidence and sales had been
badly affected. With this festival, we hope to bring the
consumers out, restore their confidence and stimulate the
economy.
Description
The street festival will be a full day event of non-stop
musical and cultural performances from different ethnic
groups. It highlights the cultural flavors of food, color,
customs, arts, music, dance and fashion that are unique
to different Asian ethnic backgrounds. At the same time,
local companies will be setting up booths in the area to
offer promotional and discount packages or merchandise,
and there will also be an intercultural basketball tournament
on the premises followed by an awards ceremony. It will
be a day of action, excitement, and fun.
With the co-operation of the Markham municipal government,
a section of Kennedy Road adjacent to Market Village and
Pacific Mall will be blocked off. This location at Kennedy
Road and Steeles Avenue is the busiest traffic area of Markham
and the two shopping centres are popular consumer and tourist
areas.
Deputy Mayor Frank Scarpitti has kindly agreed to be the
Master of Ceremonies at our opening.
Target Market
A community event of this scale is sure to attract a huge
audience. Many members of the Canadian Federation of Intercultural
Friendship (CFIF), of which FCCM is already a member, have
committed themselves to participate in this festival. These
member groups are not just local associations but have links
to other community
groups, and they represent different sectors of the whole
of Greater Toronto. Thus, the audience attracted will not
be just local.
The location chosen is also a designated tourist area, easily
accessible for everybody through public or private transportation.
The nature of the activities is suitable for people of all
ages, and will be a perfect 'family affair' for all.
Before the event, there will be a press conference with
releases in all major community newspapers, television and
radio. Posters and flyers will also be distributed in order
to reach as many people in the public as possible.
Funding
We have the backing of the Town of Markham, as well as the
Regional Municipality of York in the organization of this
project. However in order to accomplish our goals, private
sponsorships and support are vital to its success. This
is not a mere multicultural ethnic event, but also a commercial
venture designed to help revive our economy. Moreover, it
is our projected aim that this will become an annual event,
which makes both government and private support ever more
important for its success. |
