TORONTO, September 23, 2026 – Toronto’s overseas Chinese community held a series of events on September 20 to mark the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Nearly 100 representatives from Chinese community organizations, community members and young people took part, covering different age groups from seniors and adults to youth and children.
During the event, participants first visited the Sun Yat-sen statues at Riverdale Park in Toronto’s east end and at the Chinese Cultural Centre in downtown Chinatown for commemorative ceremonies. At Riverdale Park, participants bowed three times toward the statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and took group photos. They later went to the Toronto branch of the Chee Kung Tong Chinese Freemasons of Canada for a seminar.
The commemorative event focused on reviewing the historical ties between Sun Yat-sen and overseas Chinese in Canada. Sun travelled across Canada in 1911 to raise funds for the revolution. Chee Kung Tong organizations and overseas Chinese communities in several Canadian cities took part in fundraising, and some association halls raised funds by mortgaging their properties. This history in Canada became one of the main topics discussed during the seminar. Related Canadian historical records also document fundraising efforts by Chee Kung Tong organizations in support of Sun’s revolutionary activities.
Zhang Jian, chair of the event, introduced the arrangements for the series of commemorative activities at the seminar. He said that while marking Sun Yat-sen’s anniversary, organizers also hope more people will learn about the role overseas Chinese in Canada played in modern Chinese history. Zhang also introduced the original stage play Sun Yat-sen in Toronto, which will be based on Sun’s fundraising activities in Toronto in 1911 and will use stage performance to present the story of the local Chinese community more than a century ago.
Cheng Hongbo, Deputy Consul General of the Chinese Consulate-General in Toronto, attended the seminar and delivered remarks. He spoke about the significance of commemorating Sun Yat-sen from three perspectives: love for family and country, national unity, and national rejuvenation.
Speaking about love for family and country, Cheng said Sun Yat-sen carried out revolutionary activities overseas for many years, and overseas Chinese played an important role in that process. He mentioned the saying that “overseas Chinese were the mother of the revolution,” saying it reflects the history of overseas Chinese taking practical action to participate in and support the revolution. For today’s overseas Chinese communities, he said this cultural and historical connection can be continued by telling stories from Chinese history, strengthening exchanges with Canadian society, and helping younger generations understand this history.
On the issue of national unity, Cheng cited Sun Yat-sen’s views on China’s unity and said overseas Chinese can use their broad connections to promote exchanges and deepen understanding. Speaking about national rejuvenation, he mentioned Sun’s call to “revitalize China” and quoted the phrase, “The revolution has not yet succeeded; comrades must still strive.” He said he hoped participants would connect historical remembrance with practical action today. The above content reflects Cheng’s remarks at the seminar.
Yu Zhuowen, chair of the Toronto branch of the Chee Kung Tong Chinese Freemasons of Canada, then introduced the historical connection between Sun Yat-sen, the Chee Kung Tong and overseas Chinese in Canada. He noted that Sun joined the Chee Kung Tong in Honolulu in 1904 and came to Canada in 1911 to raise funds. Around the time of the Huanghuagang Uprising, Chee Kung Tong organizations and overseas Chinese in Canada continued to provide support through donations and other means. Yu said the existing Sun Yat-sen statues in Toronto also carry the shared memory of this history within the local overseas Chinese community.
Chen Jie, playwright of Sun Yat-sen in Toronto, also shared the creative process behind the production. She said that while reviewing historical materials, she gained a renewed understanding of the experience of overseas Chinese in Canada supporting the revolution in 1911. She hopes the stage production will bring the story that took place in Toronto more than 100 years ago back into the view of today’s audiences, especially helping younger generations learn more about the experiences of early Chinese communities.
At the seminar, several representatives from Chinese community organizations and descendants of participants in the 1911 Revolution also spoke from the perspectives of personal and family history. Han Jinwen, speaking as a second-generation descendant connected to the 1911 Revolution, shared the story of her father, Han Duofeng, and his involvement in related historical events, extending the day’s discussion from history into family memory and intergenerational inheritance.
Participation by younger generations was also an important part of the event. Child and youth representatives, including Yang Zilin and Yang Ziqi, gave remarks and shared how taking part in the event helped them gain new understanding of Sun Yat-sen and related history. Several participants also said they hoped community events and history education could help the next generation growing up in Canada better understand the connection between Chinese communities and modern Chinese history.
The event also included cultural programming, including a youth recitation of What Makes Huaxia, What Makes China. From the commemorative ceremonies at the two statue sites to the historical sharing inside the Chee Kung Tong hall, and from community representatives to children and youth speakers, participation across different generations became a distinct feature of the event. The seminar concluded with a group photo.
The series of events marking the 160th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s birth will continue. According to the plan, the original stage play Sun Yat-sen in Toronto will be staged in Toronto on November 28, continuing to present the historical story of Sun Yat-sen and overseas Chinese in Canada through theatre.
（LJI by Yuanyuan）
