The Amitofo Care Centre (ACC) founded by Taiwanese Venerable Master Hui Li led its 17 African orphans to Toronto and Canada’s Atlantic Provinces during August 7th-11th on its “Goodwill Mission 2016 – From Taiwan with Love in Africa” concert tour. The ACC children gave performances in Toronto, two New Brunswick cities, Saint John and Moncton, and the City of Charlotetown in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Aside from undertaking cultural exchanges, the ACC group also demonstrated Taiwan’s efforts in promoting humanitarian causes in Africa to Taiwanese expatriates in Canada and Canada’s mainstream society.
On August 7th, the ACC children performed at the Flato Markham Theatre in the Great Toronto Area (GTA). The program included Taiwanese and African songs and dances, English songs and Chinese martial arts. More than 500 audiences were all deeply moved by their talents. In her remarks, Catherine Y. M. Hsu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto (Toronto TECO), thanked the ACC for spreading Taiwan’s Great Love to African countries, which testified the commitment of Taiwan’s government and people to international humanitarian concerns. Among the guests attending the event were MPs Ali Ehsassi and Bob Saroya, Markham’s Deputy Mayor Jack Heath and Markham Regional Councilors Joe li and Nirmala Armstrong.
After visiting Toronto, the ACC group, accompanied by Ambassador Rong-chuan Wu, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, and DG Hsu, continued its tour and gave three performances during Aug. 9th-11th in its first ever visit to Canada’s Atlantic provinces.
In the remarks he gave during each of the performances, Ambassador Wu introduced to the audience ACC’s compassionate and philanthropic ideals, stressing that the ACC not only gives the African orphans asylum, but also provides them with opportunities to receive education from primary to high school. This year, 20 outstanding ACC students have been selected to receive university education in Taiwan. The program is sponsored and assisted by the Taiwan government.
On August 9th, the ACC group gave a performance in front of an audience of more than 100 people at the Sanctuary Theatre in the City of Saint John, New Brunswick. Among the guests were Dorothy Shephard, Member of New Brunswick’s Legislative Assembly, and Bernard Cormier, Saint John's cultural affairs officer on behalf of Saint John Mayor Don Darling. All the local politicians and residents who showed up for the show were deeply impressed by the talents of the ACC kids.
On Aug. 10th, the delegation visited the City of Moncton in New Brunswick, and performed in the outdoor music festival “Midis Musique” jointly sponsored by the Moncton City Council and the local Capitol Theatre. During the festival, members of the ACC group were able to closely interact with the audience. Among the attendees were Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold and New Brunswick Senator Pierrette Ringuette, both of whom gave high recognition to the ACC children.
On the 11th, the ACC delegation visited PEI and gave a special benefit performance in its capital Charlottetown City. The event was organized by Toronto TECO and jointly supported by the PEI Ministry of Education and the Moonlight International Foundation. More than 250 guests were there to watch the captivating performance; among them were Her Honour Mrs. Dorothy Lewis, wife of Lieutenant Governor Frank Lewis, Brad Trivers and Peter Bevan-Baker, Members of Legislative Assembly of PEI, and Charlottetown City Mayor Clifford J. Lee. After the performance, Ambassador Wu, along with the representative of the Moonlight Foundation, donated the proceeds of $2000 from the performance to the PEI Chapter of the Children's Wish Foundation. The donation was aimed to raise more international awareness for the welfare of children. The Foundation representative Beth Gauthier expressed appreciation for the donation and everyone present in the ceremony was deeply touched by this act of benevolence.
The ACC delegation’s East Canada tour has showcased the robust development of Taiwan’s civil society and the efforts of Taiwan’s NGOs in uniting the great passions of Taiwanese people and overseas Taiwanese communities to provide humanitarian aid in the international community while projecting Taiwan’s soft power in the world. It also aligns Taiwan’s culture with the values cherished by Canada's mainstream society, further advancing friendship between the two countries.
Members of the ACC group showcase their talents at the Flato Markham Theatre in the GTA.
Members of the ACC group sing and dance in their performance at the Flato Markham Theatre in the GTA.
DG Hsu (6th from the left) joins Master Hui Li (centre), the ACC children and several guests on the stage during the ACC group’s performance at the Flato Markham Theatre in the GTA.
The ACC group’s performance at the Flato Markham Theatre in the GTA attracts an audience of more than 500 people.
The ACC group, accompanied by local Taiwanese community leaders and Deputy DG Nicolas Hung of Toronto TECO, visit the Markham City Council.
Ambassador Wu and DG Hsu join ACC members and Mrs. Lewis, MLAs Trivers and Bevan-Baker, and Mayor Lee for a group photo.
Ambassador Wu, the ACC and Moonlight Foundation donate the proceeds of $2000 from the performance to the PEI Chapter of the Children's Wish Foundation.
More than 250 guests watch the ACC delegation’s performance in Charlottetown City, PEI.
Ambassador Wu, DG Hsu and the ACC members share a group photo with Senator Ringuette (the third from right on the third row) and Mayor Arnold after the ACC group’s performance in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Ambassador Wu, DG Hsu and the ACC children share a group photo with MLA Shephard and cultural affairs officer Cormier after the ACC group’s performance in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Ambassador Wu shakes hands with Mayor Darling in front of some ACC delegation members.
