TORONTO, April 24, 2026 – On April 18, the launch ceremony for the 2026 Fifth Global Alumni Summit and the publication press conference for the new book My University were held in Markham. The event was jointly organized by the Canada Committee of the Global Alumni Summit and the North America Office of City Financial News. Organizers said at the event that preparations for the new edition of the Global Alumni Summit have begun, and that related thematic events are planned to continue in Markham this fall.
The event was mainly divided into two parts: an introduction to the launch of the 2026 Fifth Global Alumni Summit, and the unveiling of the new book My University. Attendees came from alumni associations, the cultural sector, education, finance, and business communities, with leaders from several Canadian alumni associations of Chinese universities taking part.
According to information presented on site, the organizers hope to continue using the Global Alumni Summit as a platform and to keep organizing activities around thematic sharing, resource connection, and cross-sector exchange. Topics discussed at the event included wealth management, insurance and retirement planning, compliance pathways for entering the Canadian market, developments in the electrical engineering industry, and technological frontiers. For some Chinese alumni organizations and professionals active in the Greater Toronto Area, this kind of event provides not only an opportunity for alumni networking, but also a setting for discussion around professional information and industry experience.
As for the fall summit mentioned by the organizers, the information made public so far is still mainly limited to the launch announcement and some general topic directions. Specific details such as the full agenda, participation methods, and event arrangements have yet to be released.
The unveiling of the new book My University, held alongside the launch ceremony, extended the day’s focus into the areas of publishing and culture. According to the organizers, the book brings together works by multiple alumni authors and centers on university education, memories of alma mater, study experiences, life turning points, and the spirit of university life. Its contents include essays, reflections, documentary-style writing, commentary, and some academic writing.
Several editorial board members and author representatives shared at the event what led them to take part in the editing and writing process. They spoke about the impact of university education on personal growth, as well as the relationship between writing and alumni memory. Much of the on-site discussion focused on experiences connected to alma mater, the spirit of university life, cross-border study backgrounds, and written expression. Some speakers also touched on topics such as the relationship between artificial intelligence and literary writing.
Viewed as a whole, the Global Alumni Summit and My University point to two different but related directions: platform building and cultural documentation. For Chinese alumni communities active in the Greater Toronto Area, the former offers a cross-university and cross-industry space for exchange, while the latter turns scattered study experiences and life memories across different countries and professional fields into written work that can be preserved and shared. For community readers following this type of event, the next things worth watching are when the detailed arrangements for the fall summit will be announced, and how My University will continue to circulate within alumni communities and Chinese-language reading circles. (LJI by Yuanyuan)
