Two veteran teams of the Republic of China (Taiwan), the R.O.C. Veterans Association in Toronto (ROCVAT) and the Ontario Chapter of the Veterans Association of the Republic of China (VAROC), assembled their marching contingents and took part in the 97th Warriors’ Day Parade in Toronto on August 18. Representing the ROC veterans, both teams firmly held R.O.C. and Canadian flags and marched in high spirits. The female members of the ROCVAT contingent wore ROC flag T-shirts and marched in standard parade steps. They were among the most eye-catching groups in the Parade.
The 97th annual Warriors' Day Parade took place at the Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto. This year's parade commemorated the 100th anniversary of the end of WW I and the 70th Anniversary of the First ever UN Peacekeeping Mission – (UNTSO) United Nations Truce Supervision Organization. Many veterans, including soldiers and generals, along with various military marching contingents and bands, attended this historic event. During the one-and-half-hour parade, all the marching contingents and bands marched along Princes’ Boulevard to the sounds of military bands, pipes and drums. When the marching groups passed the saluting dais and saluted the presidium, they were warmly welcomed by the cheering crowds.
The ROCVAT has attended the Warriors’ Day Parade since 1989 and this is the 30th year that it joined the event. The organization assembled more than 50 men and women this year to march in the Parade, including the flag team composed of male members and the women’s team composed of female members. They were joined by 105-year-old senior veteran Li Yan-kai, who rode on his motorized wheelchair to partake in the celebration. As for the VAROC, it started its participation in 2009 and has never missed the event since then.
Director General of Toronto TECO Catherine Y. M. Hsu, along with TECO’s Deputy Director-General Michael Kuan-chung Chen, Director of TECO Cultural Center, Shu-ling Lee and the Center’s Deputy Director Jhih-jhong Dong, led the office staff and their family to participate in the event. Five participants of the “2018 Taiwan Youth and Overseas Expatriate Bridging Program” also showed up for the memorable occasion. Before the procession started, D.G. Hsu visited and reviewed the two R.O.C. teams and thanked them for representing the R.O.C. in this great event. When the two R.O.C. contingents and other marching teams passed the saluting dais, they were all cheered and saluted.
The ROCVAT contingent marches in the Parade.
The VAROC contingent passes the saluting dais.
DG Hsu, along with the commander of the ROCVAT contingent, Chang Hai-chou (fourth from the left), VAROC President Wu Lung-kuang (3rd from the right), and five participants of the “2018 Taiwan Youth and Overseas Expatriate Bridging Program” pose for a group photo.