Taste of Asia

Taste of Asia is a non-profit, annual street festival organized by the Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham (FCCM), Association of Progressive Muslims in Canada (AMPC) and the City of Markham, located in Markham, Ontario, Canada. The mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti, not only endorses Taste of Asia, but is also the co-chair of the festival. Dr. Ken Ng, president of FCCM, is the chairman and Mobeen Khaja, president of AMPC is the co-chair. Taste of Asia is the largest Asian Festival in Canada with over 100,000 attendees each year. Major attractions include exotic food vendors, live performances, and a variety of commnunity events ranging from basketball competitions to hot sauce competitions. The festival takes place between the intersections Kennedy Road and Clayton Drive to Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue East during the last weekend of June.

Programming

Taste of Asia showcases various performances relating to Asian culture including musical performances, dances, and martial arts performances. In 2013, Taste of Asia featured The Voice of China contestant Zhang Wei.

History

Taste of Asia was created in 2003 during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) with the goal of recovering the local economy.The goal of the first Taste of Asia festival was to promote multiculturalism, mutual respect and collaboration among different ethnic groups in Canada. It started as a one-day festival but since 2004 has grown to be a two day festival.

Event History

Dates	Attendance	Guests
June 22–23, 2013	Zhang Wei
June 28–29, 2014	Guo Rong
June 27–28, 2015	YuEr Li and Zheng Gong

Organizers

Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham (FCCM)

The Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham (FCCM) is a non-for-profit organization located in Markham, Ontario that serves to promote the Chinese culture and provide services to the Chinese Community, as well as to help new Chinese immigrants immerse and integrate into the mainstream culture of Canada. It was established in 1989 by Dr. Ken Ng and formally incorporated on May 22, 1992. FCCM is organized by a volunteer board of directors. In order to plan various aspects of their events, FCCM is divided into four major divisions, Markham Chinese Seniors Association, the Chinese Canadian Sports and Recreation Club of Markham, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Markham, and the Markham Chinese Cultural Centre.

Since its establishment, FCCM has been involved, organized and participated in a variety of events that promote the Chinese community and culture, most notably the annual Taste of Asia street festival. Other events include the Chinese New Year Celebration 2016 at the Markham Civic Centre and Vaughn City Hall, Mid-Autumn Festival, Thanksgiving, PRC Flag Raising, YRP International Day of Elimination of Discrimination and many more. FCCM's goal for organizing these events is not only to bring awareness to the Chinese culture but to also interact and appreciate other cultural backgrounds participating. FCCM also has collaborated with multiple other charitable organizations in the past such as United Way of York Region, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, Markham-Stouffville Hospital, and the Canadian Red Cross.

Objectives of FCCM

1. To promote, foster, and protect the human rights of Chinese Canadians in Markham.

2. To serve as a voice on matters of concern of Chinese Canadian in Markham.

3. To bring together and unite Chinese Canadians of Diverse backgrounds in Markham.

4. To promote an understanding of the role of Chinese Canadians in the Canadian mosaic.

5. To promote the dissemination of information on Chinese culture.

6. To identify the social service requirements of the Chinese Canadians within Markham and to promote the provision of these services.

7. To assist first generation Chinese Canadians within Markham in adapting to Canadian society, while maintaining their cultural identity by informing them of the various educational, social and governmental assistance programs available and to encourage their integration into the mainstream of Canadian society.

8. To encourage first generation Chinese Canadians to become politically, socially, and culturally involved in Markham.

9. To establish a volunteer, community based umbrella organization for the Chinese Canadian residents, and to create a business, professional, social and cultural association within Markham for the purpose of pursuing the objects described herein.

Interest Classes

FCCM provides a variety of interest classes to students of all ages (children, adults and seniors) in order to keep its organization running. These include a variety of different styles of Tai Chi, Knitting/Crochet Class, Yoga, Bagua Zhang, Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Ng's Tai Chi Sword Class, GuZheng, ErHu, Chinese Calligraphy, Line Dance and Children's Drawing Class.

Centre Locations

Currently FCCM has two cultural centre locations to run its organization.

1. Market Village Site:  4390 Steeles Ave E, Markham, ON L3R 9V4
2. Langham Square Site: 28 South Unionville Ave #2101, Markham, ON L3R 4P9