Flag Raising Ceremony held in Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan to celebrate China’s 67th National Day
Xue Bing, Toronto’s Consul General, Ken Ng and Canadian officials from all three government branches attended to celebrate.

MingPao.com
Oct. 4, 2016

Last Sunday, October 2, during what is referred to as “Golden October” in Chinese culture, the towns of Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan, in the region of York, each held flag raising ceremonies to celebrate China’s National Day. It was a beautiful, clear and sunny day, conditions which ensured that the ceremonies proceeded smoothly and in a cheerful atmosphere.

The Chinese national flag raising ceremony has been held in various cities of the region of York for many years. The events are organized by Dr. Ken Ng, Chairman of the York Region Chinese Association, and his wife Emily, and are jointly prepared with mayors and councillors of Chinese descent and the Consulate-General of China in Toronto. The ceremony was first held in Markham and was celebrated there for many years, before being organized in Richmond Hill and Vaughan. This is Vaughan’s first Chinese flag raising ceremony. The ceremony takes on even more meaning this year as it coincides with the celebration of the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Canada, an occasion during which the leaders of China and Canada visited one another’s respective homelands and established a cooperative relationship.

Mr. Xue Bing, Chinese Consul General in Toronto, his wife and organizer Dr. Ken Ng, Chairman of the York Region Chinese Association, attended all three flag raising ceremonies, at 10am in Richmond Hill, at noon in Markham, and at 3pm in Vaughan. Officials from all three branches of government, along with overseas Chinese community leaders and the public, actively participated in the ceremonies in the three cities and warmly celebrated China’s National Day in Canada.

The government officials present included John McCallum, Minister of the Federal Department of Immigration, Arnold Chan, Deputy Government House Leader, Majid Jowhari, Member of Parliament, Michael Chan, Minister of International Trade of Ontario, Reza Moridi, Minister of Study and Innovation of Ontario, Dave Barrow, Mayor of Richmond Hill, Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor of Vaughan, Jack Heath, Markham Regional Councillor, Namara Armstrong, Markham Regional Councillor, Castro Liu, Richmond Hill Councillor, Alan Ho, Markham Councillor, Amanda Yeung Collucci, Markham Councillor, Alex Chiu, Markham Councillor and Sandra Racco, Vaughan Councillor.
In all three cities, the local public enjoyed multiple performances presented by various Chinese groups, such as the Red Maple Senior Association, clad in colorful dress, that put on a concert involving chorus and drums, and the Senior Association from Ward 6 of Markham, that performed the traditional “Flower Drum” dance. These performances contributed to a very cheerful and festive atmosphere on this special day.

Ceremonies like these allow the overseas Chinese population to express their longing for their homeland, while reveling in the pride that the strength and prosperity of their country brings them. After the ceremonies ended, the majority of people asked said they were left feeling very excited.