The Lunar New Year celebration and banquet organized by the Toronto Hong Kong Community Centre in Canada took place at the King’s Banquet Hall in Markham on February 1st, attracting approximately 250 attendees including Hong Kong residents, community leaders, business executives, media personnel, and eight political guests to ring in the new year.
Several prominent Canadian officials graced the Lunar New Year event with their presence, offering New Year greetings and showing support for the Hong Kong community in Canada. The political figures in attendance included Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Conservative Party Deputy Member of Parliament Melissa Lantsman, Liberal Party Member of Parliament and Special Committee Member on Canada-China Relations Jean Yip, Conservative Party Member of Parliament Philip Lawrence, Liberal Party Member of Parliament and Committee Member on Immigration Salma Zahid, Conservative Party Member of Parliament Arpan Khanna, Conservative Party Member of Parliament Terry Dowdall, and Markham City Councillor Andrew Keyes.
The banquet was co-hosted by Aileen Calverley and Joseph Tsang of the Toronto Hong Kong Community Centre. During their speeches, Conservative Party Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman, Members of Parliament Arian Khanna and Philip Lawrence used the symbolism of the Year of the Snake to encourage embracing transformation and striving for resilience, emphasizing the importance of upholding Canadian democratic values and freedom. The officials distributed red envelopes to guests, offering blessings such as “Kung Hei fat Choi” (May you be prosperous) and “Happy New Year” to the attendees. #