Bringing Vibrancy to Life: The Shaanxi Association of Canada

Shaanxi Association of Canada

December 14, 2025 00:00

Toronto is home to a large Chinese community, with numerous associations and organizations. Those born, raised, educated, or employed in China may join these associations. Having been born, attended university, pursued graduate studies, and worked in different provinces and cities, I have participated in numerous hometown association events during my 25 years in Toronto. Over the past six months, through performing Ansai waist drumming, I have frequently engaged in activities organized by the Shaanxi Association. I have come to deeply appreciate that among all hometown associations, the Shaanxi Association is an organization that enriches our entertainment, daily life, and well-being. First, the Shaanxi Association's Ansai waist drum team is often invited to perform opening drum routines at events. Their powerful rhythmic music combined with bold drumming movements brings a grand, vibrant, and festive atmosphere to the start of numerous entertainment activities in Toronto. I had always considered practicing Ansai waist drumming an excellent way to lose weight. After seeing media coverage of the Shaanxi Association's drum team in late February this year, I immediately joined without hesitation and began attending weekly practices. Within just a few short months, the association performed Ansai waist drumming at the following events:

Shaanxi Provincial Association Elderly Spring Outing

Chongqing Association

Dragon Boat Festival Cultural

Festival Senior Sports Meet

Chongqing Culture & Commerce Carnival

Qilu Association Gathering

Shaanxi Association Summer Barbecue

2025 Dragon Culture Festival Closing Ceremony

Shanxi Association Mid-Autumn Gathering

This waist drum troupe is not only active in Toronto but was also invited by the City of Niagara to perform at Canada Day celebrations. Alongside drum ensembles, tai chi practitioners, and yangge dance groups, they put on a grand opening performance in Niagara. Soon, this waist drum troupe will venture beyond Ontario to participate in the “Chinese Culture Month” event organized by the Chinese Association of Montreal.

Secondly, the Shaanxi Association frequently organizes various online and offline activities to enrich members' daily lives. For instance, its spring outings for seniors provide opportunities to hike together in beautiful, fresh-air parks for physical fitness; AP course strategies for high school students offer valuable knowledge to students and parents; guidance on selecting school district housing assists with school choice and property purchases; and lectures on claiming domestic pensions, offering practical information for seniors residing in Canada.

The association boasts diverse cultural and recreational activities, including an Ansai waist drum troupe, large drum performances, Yangge folk dances, dance groups, Tai Chi, table tennis, and Guandan card game teams. These vibrant pursuits infuse everyday life with colorful sunshine. The association also integrates culinary elements into its events. Beyond the dedicated “Shaanxi Food Festival,” many gatherings feature delicious dishes. Spicy liangpi noodles are refreshingly appetizing, while roujiamo bread stuffed with meat leaves you full yet craving more. Grilled skewers, corn on the cob, and baked flatbreads evoke the comforting flavors of home. My hometown also centers on noodle dishes, and the culinary segments incorporated into many Shaanxi Association events not only satisfy the palate but also revive the flavors of home.

Finally, the vibrant activities organized by the Shaanxi Association greatly benefit everyone's physical and mental well-being. While participating in these events, friends meet to discuss past and present, deepening spiritual connections and exchanges, bringing greater joy and happiness to all. These gatherings also encourage participants to engage in physical activity, strengthening their bodies. Several drumming friends have shared with me that since taking up Ansai waist drumming, they've shed many pounds. A robust and healthy physique not only benefits the individual but also reduces visits to the doctor, easing the burden on the nation.

Many hometown associations hold only one or two events a year, but over the past six months, while performing Ansai waist drumming with the Shaanxi Hometown Association, I've also participated in a wide variety of activities organized by the association. These events not only greatly promote the Ansai waist drum—recognized by China as a national intangible cultural heritage—bringing vitality, celebration, and health, but also add vibrant colors to Canada's “beautiful mountains, beautiful waters, beautiful solitude.” Moreover, they infuse every aspect of our lives with excitement.