The Inaugural Mayor’s Lunar Gala: Vaughan's Mid-Autumn Celebration

VaughanEast.snapd.com
Nov. 1, 2017

Every year the Asian community comes together to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival. A tradition that dates back more than 1,000 years, it brings family and friends together to enjoy the moonlight and give thanks for the year's harvest. To honour this important custom, the City of Vaughan hosted the inaugural Mayor's Lunar Gala on October 6th at the Toscana Conference Centre (at the Hilton Garden Inn), in which more than 400 people joined together for an evening of entertainment and specialty dishes.

"Among the many things I have learned after almost thirty years of public service, is that diversity is one of our city's greatest strengths. This year's Mayor's Lunar Gala celebrated the contribution and exceptional spirit of our growing Asian community,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua.

To support Vaughan's mission of bringing healthcare close to home, proceeds from the event benefitted the Mackenzie Health Foundation. A total of $25,000 was raised for the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital. Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, co-chair of the hospital's $250-million Exceptional Care Belongs Here campaign, has matched the money raised at this year's event through the Spirit of Generosity fund for a total donation of $50,000.

“As an important part of our civic life, we are proud to honour such meaningful Asian customs and traditions. It is especially rewarding to be able to raise funds for a noble cause - access to world-class healthcare in our community. Through our combined efforts, the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital is a reality. I would like to express my gratitude to the Mayor's Lunar Gala co-chairs, Irwin Li, Justin Poy and Andy Chan, as well as chair Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, for their hard work in organizing this event. I look forward to another year of happiness and prosperity," said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua.