The Shaanxi Association of Canada "Respon Wealth Management Corp." 2023 Flower Appreciation and Barbecue Carnival Event was successfully held.

Du Yunfeng Shaanxi Association of Canada 2023=09-18

The villagers are homesick, the hometown sounds are strong,

the fragrance is wafting, and the flowers are different

The phrase “The spring breeze is proud, and the horseshoe is sick, and the flowers are long and easy to see” is a famous line written by the Tang Dynasty poet Meng Jiao after he passed the imperial examination. It expresses his joy and pride, and it has become a classic quote that has been admired through the ages. This line has also given rise to two idioms: “春风得意” (proud in the spring breeze) and “走马观花” (to look at flowers while riding a horse), both of which convey a sense of joy and satisfaction.

Embracing nature, planting flowers and grass, everyone has a love for beauty. To encourage more fellow countrymen and Chinese friends to join the ranks of planting flowers and plants, with the support of the Ontario government and under the initiative of President Zhou Zhijun of the Shaanxi Hometown Association, this unique large-scale outdoor event of the Shaanxi Hometown Association 2023 “Ruibang Financial” Flower Appreciation and Barbecue Carnival was co-hosted by the Canadian Shaanxi Hometown Association, the Federation of Chinese Hometown Associations in Canada, and the Canadian Chinese Horticultural Association.

In Canada, for the hometown associations from over 20 provinces of the ancestral country, barbecues are held by every family, every year. However, holding a flower appreciation exhibition at the same time is an unprecedented first. To ensure the success of this event, allowing the fellow countrymen to come with hope and return with joy, the Shaanxi Hometown Association has spared no effort in preparation. The board of directors established a preparation group of more than 20 people as early as February, led by director Yang Xi'an, composed of directors and active volunteers. They also invited representatives from the Federation of Chinese Hometown Associations in Canada, the Canadian Chinese Horticultural Association, and the title sponsor Ruibang Financial Company to join the preparation group. After its establishment, the group held multiple preparatory meetings and fixed weekly meetings every Thursday to discuss the event plan. They considered everything in detail, from major aspects such as how to arrange the site, design the overall event, set the process, and divide the sections, to minor details like who is responsible for purchasing the barbecue meat and how to deliver more than ten watermelons to the site. Every aspect was thoroughly considered, and responsibilities were assigned to individuals.

The Shaanxi Hometown Association has been actively involved in co-organizing the 2023 Toronto Flower and Plant Festival initiated by the Canadian Chinese Horticultural Association. They organized directors and volunteers to travel tens of kilometers to visit and learn at a fellow countryman's flower and plant farm, accumulating experience in flowers and plants through activities and discussions. Many senior directors also actively participated, contributing ideas and strategies. To prepare the venue, the organizing team made multiple visits to the event site at G.ROSS LORD Park in North York, Toronto, to plan the layout, identify potential issues in advance, and develop contingency plans.

After the announcement of the event, it received enthusiastic support and responses from sponsors and fellow countrymen. Ms. Liao Ziwei, President of Ruibang Financial, generously donated 3,000 Canadian dollars to sponsor the event; "Dongcai Construction and Decoration" A-Long sponsored $1,000; professional accountant Zhang Yanping proactively contacted the organizing team to sponsor $500; and President Zhou Zhijun followed suit with a cash sponsorship of $500. Almost every day, there are continuous updates of sponsors and fellow countrymen donating cash and in-kind contributions to the event.

The fellow countrymen were also eager to sign up to participate in the event, vying to be volunteers. On the day of the event, the volunteer tasks were exceptionally heavy, starting from 9 a.m. until the end of the event at 5 p.m. However, the registration was continuous, and in the end, the number of volunteers who signed up exceeded 60 people.

In mid-June, the chairman of the event’s preparation committee, Yang Xi’an, had to urgently return to his home country due to an emergency. The overall responsibility was then handed over to the vice-chairman, Gao Rong. Although she was a new director, she did not hesitate to take on the heavy responsibility. In addition to organizing weekly meetings, she often worked late into the night, discussing and communicating every detail of the event with the heads of each subgroup of the preparation committee via phone or video.

On July 16, 2023, a Sunday, which was like a major festival for the Shaanxi Hometown Association, the weather forecast predicted rain. However, the directors and volunteers were undeterred by the weather. Some directors arrived at the event site before 8 a.m., and under the leadership of the volunteer coordinator, Hou Kebin, they unloaded and set up tents, tables, chairs, flowers, background walls, and prizes for the event. Most of the other volunteers also arrived at the site before 9 a.m. and began the busy work of setting up and preparing the site. President Zhou Zhijun, after attending his niece’s wedding in Chicago, which started at 6 p.m. on the 15th, hurried to the airport at 3 a.m. He took the 7 a.m. flight from Chicago back to Toronto and went straight to the event site.

Around 11 a.m., nearly 200 fellow countrymen from the Shaanxi Hometown Association, spread across seven regions around Greater Toronto, along with more than 20 former presidents and senior directors of the association, arrived at the event site one after another.

The event was graced by the presence of dignitaries from three levels of government, co-chairs of the Federation of Chinese Hometown Associations in Canada, presidents and leaders of various provincial hometown associations and direct departments, presidents of the Canadian alumni associations of Shaanxi universities, representatives of sponsors, media, and about 80 other guests from various community organizations. They arrived at the venue around noon and included notable figures such as members of parliament, the president of the title sponsor Ruibang Financial, co-chairs of the Federation of Chinese Hometown Associations in Canada, vice-chairs, members of the advisory committee, presidents or executive presidents of various hometown associations, heads of direct departments, presidents of the Canadian alumni associations of Shaanxi universities, the vice president of the Canadian Chinese Horticultural Association, media representatives, and leaders of various Chinese cultural and professional associations.

Whether moved by the sincerity of the Shaanxi Hometown Association's fellow countrymen and volunteers, and the guests in attendance, the overcast sky with a forecast of heavy rain began to clear, allowing the much-anticipated carnival to commence under the bright sunshine!

At noon, with the resounding sound of dragon drums, the hosts Jason Zhang and Ava announced the start of the festivities. The directors, dressed in yellow volunteer uniforms, made their entrance dancing the Yangge! 😊

President Zhou Zhijun opened the ceremony with a speech, welcoming over 200 fellow countrymen and more than 80 guests from all directions and briefly introducing the event's content.

Representatives of the co-organizers, co-chair Huang Lan from the Federation of Chinese Hometown Associations in Canada and vice-president Liu Xi from the Canadian Chinese Horticultural Association, also delivered enthusiastic speeches, highly praising the well-organized and well-implemented event. Deputy Mayor Chen Guozhi, Members of Parliament Li Guoxian, Ke Wenbin, Cui Binghui, and others also gave speeches. Members of Parliament Hu Zixiu, Hu Yuanbao, Jiang Zhenyu, He Hujing, Chen Zhihui, Ke Wenbin, and Li Siyun sent congratulatory messages to the event.

Following the speeches, Liu Xiaobin, the person in charge of the flower group, announced the rules for the flower auction. All the flowers up for auction were spontaneously donated by fellow countrymen and guests. Liu Xi from the Horticultural Association donated ten pots of precious orchids, being the foremost orchid enthusiast in Toronto. The exhibition and sale site was bustling with excitement, matching the intensity of the hot day.

Flowers and plants may not be rare in Canada, as many households have them. However, the auction's appeal lies in the emotional connection to one's hometown. The same flowers, with their fragrance, shape, and vibrant colors, carry a different significance when they come from a place of shared heritage. They become more than just plants; they are a daily reminder of home, carrying sentiments and memories. The fervor of the auction reflects this deep connection, as each bid is not just for a plant, but for a piece of home. 😊

The title sponsor "Ruibang Financial" President Liao Ziwei, diamond sponsor "Dongcai Construction and Decoration" Mr. A-Long, gold sponsor professional accountant Ms. Zhang Yanping, and silver sponsor Hongtai Financial professional insurance and financial advisor Ms. Li Tonghua each gave speeches, wishing the event great success. After President Liao's speech, President Zhou led the directors to present him with a paper-cutting of the words "Ruibang Financial," handcrafted by the enthusiastic local folk paper-cutting artist Mr. Li Xiqin, which brought a delightful surprise to President Liao.

To enhance the enthusiasm of the locals for participating in the flower auction, the interactive games and wonderful cultural performances meticulously arranged by the head of the interactive group, Lei Jihua, were particularly attractive. In addition to interactive games like "Peach Blossoms Blooming" and "Planting Flowers," the dance "Deep Love for China" performed by Wu Rong and her daughter Alina highlighted the profound love for the motherland that Chinese people carry no matter where they are. The youthful energy of Emily's performance of "I Like You" took the audience back to the idealistic days of youth. Former director Chu Guang brought a beautiful song "Drunken Butterfly," expressing his fondness for the Shaanxi Hometown Association. An Wensheng recited the poem "Bring in the Wine" by the great Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, vividly conveying Li Bai's use of wine to drown his sorrows and express his deep and wide-ranging life sentiments. The most captivating moment was when Cui Binhui, a councilor from Lichtenstein, as a person from Xi'an, Shaanxi, affirmed the event highly. Unexpectedly, after his speech, he was so moved by the hometown sentiment that he performed a beautiful flute solo on the spot, expressing his deep longing for his hometown. Mr. Du Yunfeng's Tai Chi performance was mesmerizing, drawing continuous applause. Kou Xuejuan's Qin opera "Listening to Grandma's Revolutionary Stories" seemed to transport the audience back to Shaanxi in the 60s and 70s, and everyone spontaneously hummed along. The professional performance of "Opera Medley" by Zhai Quanfang, a former professional performer of the General Political Song and Dance Troupe, brought the venue to a climax with her professional singing level.

While some were admiring the auctioned flowers, others were captivated by the splendid performances. The attendees were also indulging in the Shaanxi-style delicacies like rice noodles, sesame sauce noodles, buckwheat noodles, and roujiamo, which were quickly devoured by the fellow countrymen. Soon, a long queue formed at the barbecue area for the aromatic grilled lamb skewers and sausages. As they savored the flavors, they didn't forget to share with their fellow villagers, exchanging cold noodles for skewers of meat, reminiscent of the old bowl gatherings under the locust trees back home. Even in Canada, the thick bonds of hometown warmth were felt, enhancing the sense of community with each shared dish. 😊

The event concluded at four in the afternoon, with fellow countrymen leaving the venue reluctantly, holding their beloved plants and prizes they had won, looking forward to the next reunion... 😊

After the event, the directors and volunteers began the busy work of dismantling tents, cleaning up, and transporting items. Some of them continued their hard work until 10 p.m.

A special thanks to the following volunteers and fellow countrymen who actively signed up for the event. Their selfless dedication made the successful organization of this event possible. They are: Zhou Zhijun, Hou Kebin, Fan Zhenhong, Sun Hongqi, Li Binli, Guo Xiaojian, Sun Jianguo, Shan Fuping, Wang Dehu, Liu Xiaobin, He Zhiying, Lei Jihua, Gao Rong, Jason, Ava, Xin Qiang, Chen Hong, Li Xiaohong, Gao Yan, Fu You, Jia Qiang, An Wensheng, Wang Yong, Xu Chun, Dang Weihong, Kathy, Zhou Ke, Gong Jingmin, Cheng Hong, Liang Chun, Chen Gang, An Ruiqi, Cai Jihong, Zhou Kou Xuejuan, Xu Bin, Wang Yan, Li Zhuzhen, Guo Lijun, Yang Xue, Wu Ping, Vida Yang, Bai Xiaoning, Huo Xin, Guo Lin, Zhou Jiandong, Zhou Wei, Gao Yan, Xie Hongjing, Shen Jing, Li Jun, Sister Li, Liang Zhaoning, Liu Yang, Liu Linna, Ji Ming, Su Chang, Zhou Jun, Zhou Huimin, Mao Yi, Ling Yi, and the 20 high school student volunteers led by Helen, the principal of Toronto International Collegiate!

Their efforts in the aftermath of the event are as commendable as their participation during it, ensuring everything was left clean and orderly. 😊