The "Walking with Dreams – 2024 Shenzhen Charity Night," jointly initiated by the Canada Confederation of Shenzhen Associations (CCSA) and Eternal Love Charity Association of Canada, was grandly held on September 6 at the Hilton Hotel in Markham. The event, with a theme of charity, raised funds for the SickKids Foundation and the NorthStar Special Needs Society (NSNS), while also celebrating the 8th anniversary of CCSA. Nearly a thousand guests, including officials from all three levels of Canadian government, representatives from charitable organizations, business and community leaders, gathered at the "Shenzhen Charity Night" to extend the Chinese community’s love and care for sick children.

In her opening welcome speech, Chair Jenny Qi , on behalf of the event organisers – CCSA and Eternal Love Charity Association of Canada – sincerely thanked the SickKids Foundation, Aixin Charity Foundation, NorthStar Special Needs Society, and the Federation of Canadian Chinese Chamber of Commerce for their strong support, as well as the co-organizers, all attending guests, sponsors, supporting companies and individuals, especially the association’s directors, members, and the secretariat staff and volunteers who worked hard to prepare for the event.

Jenny also happily announced that the evening was a historic moment, as all the guests witnessed the 8th anniversary of CCSA. Since its founding in September 2016, the association has actively promoted the diversity and development of the community and the flourishing of charitable causes, and has worked to enhance friendly exchanges between Canada and China in various fields, as well as practical cooperation between the cities of Toronto and Shenzhen.

Honourary Chairman of CCSA, former senator Victor Oh, Chinese Consul General in Toronto Luo Weidong, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Richmond Hill Mayor David West, Ontario MPPs Aris Barbikian and Vincent Ke, Markham Deputy Mayor Michael Chan, Richmond Hill Deputy Mayor Godwin Chan, Vaughan City Councillor Mario Racco, Toronto City Councillor Nick Mantas, Markham Regional Councillor Amanda Yeung Collucci, Richmond Hill City Councillor Simon Cui, MP Shaun Chen’s representative Judy Yeung, Chinese Consul Zang Litong, York Region District School Board Chair Ron Lynn, York Region Police Chief MacSween’s representatives Inspector Chad, Detective Denny, and Officer Bruce, former Ontario Minister of Research, Innovation and Science Reza Moridi, former Toronto Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong, and former Vaughan Regional Councillor Sandra Yeung attended the dinner. Also in attendance were Brands for Canada Chair Ian Webster, CEO Helen Harakas, and Focus Asset Director James Stellick, along with representatives from hundreds of businesses, chambers of commerce, alumni associations, and cultural organizations from across Canada, as well as dozens of media outlets.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a congratulatory letter for the event. In addition, federal MPs Shaun Chen, Jean Yip, Majid Jowhari, Han Dong, Toronto City Councillors Lily Cheng, along with many chambers of commerce and overseas Chinese organizations from around the world, also sent congratulatory messages.

The event was filled with notable guests from all walks of life, and the program was rich and diverse, with many exciting surprises. The evening opened with performances by a magic act called “Flying Rainbow,” a drone video show, and an electrifying marching drum ensemble. There were also wonderful cultural performances by both Chinese and foreign artists, as well as a performance by an autistic youth singer. Many auction items were prepared for guests to bid on and donate.

SickKids Hospital, a charitable institution founded in 1875, is not only Canada’s first paediatric hospital but also the largest paediatric medical training centre in the country. It is a research centre committed to improving children’s health, and one of the world’s top three children’s hospitals integrating medical care, nursing, teaching, and research. The SickKids Foundation was established in 1972 to raise funds for the hospital, and it is Canada’s largest charitable fund for children’s health research, learning, and care. It has promoted several Sino-Canadian paediatric medical cooperation projects, including in Shenzhen, China.

The NorthStar Special Needs Society (NSNS), founded in 2021, is a non-profit organization that provides support to children with autism and their families through various sports activities. NSNS aims to improve the children’s physical coordination, social skills, and confidence through sports, helping them integrate into society. Since its founding, NSNS has provided a wide range of programs and activities for hundreds of children, including large public events such as movies, skiing, skating, and boating.

The Shenzhen Charity Night raised a total of 40,000 CAD in donations for the SickKids Foundation and the NorthStar Special Needs Society (NSNS). The event concluded with a check presentation ceremony, where Chair Jenny Qi of CCSA, President Lu Lin of the Eternal Love Charity Association of Canada, and Chairman Wang Haicheng of the Federation of Canadian Chinese Chamber of Commerce presented checks to representatives of the SickKids Foundation and the NSNS. The organizers hope this event will encourage active participation from the Chinese community, with charity at the core, spreading the power of love and inspiring all sectors of society to come together to support charity and contribute to the well-being of children in need across Canada.

On August 24, the Launching Ceremony of "Shenzhen Meets Toronto" Friendship City Photo Exhibition and the Shenzhen-Canada Innovation Cooperation Conference, jointly hosted by Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office, Toronto Economic Development and Culture Division and Longhua District Government, was held in China Printmaking Museum in Longhua District, Shenzhen, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the friendship city relationship between Shenzhen and Toronto.

Yao Ren, Deputy Secretary General of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, attended the event and delivered a speech. Deputy Secretary General Yao Ren said that in the past five years, Shenzhen and Toronto have developed fruitful and practical cooperation in economy and trade, information technology, cultural exchanges and education. Shenzhen is willing to further deepen the friendship city relationship with Toronto and make new and greater contributions to promote economic development, social progress and livelihood improvement of both cities. Denzil Minnan-Wong, the Deputy Mayor of City of Toronto, Han Tao, Chinese Consul General in Toronto, Reza Moridi, former Minister of Research and Innovation and Science, Mr. Song Yijun, representative of the Ontario Provincial Government of Canada and Commercial Counselor of the Canadian Embassy in China, Cheryl Blackman, Director of the City of Toronto's Economic Development and Culture Division sent special video messages, commenting highly of the achievements of cooperation between Shenzhen and Toronto, and expecting the friendship city relationship to reach new heights.

At the Cooperation Conference, Cao Saixian, Director General of Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office, introduced to the guests the latest economic and social development of Shenzhen and the city's foreign investment and enterprises service policies. Toronto Economic Development and Culture Division and Longhua District Government made presentations. Representatives and heads of over ten business associations, renowned IT, equipment manufacturing, service and trade organizations from Shenzhen and Canada shared their development experience. Attendees said that the conference have provided a platform for mutual communication and development between enterprises and institutions in Shenzhen and Canada, further boosting the faith of enterprises in taking roots in Shenzhen.

"Shenzhen Meets Toronto" Friendship City Photo Exhibition showcases classic sceneries , technological innovation cooperation & exchanges, and regional cultures & arts of the two cities. During the visit to the photo exhibition, Jenny Qi, Chair of CCSA and Chair of the SCI Innovation Centre introduced the 5-year establishment of the Shenzhen-Toronto Friendship City and the achievements made by CCSA and SCI Innovation Centre for the two cities in the areas of technology, economy, trade, culture, medical care, and charity. Deputy Secretary-General Yao Ren expressed his appreciation and affirmation for the contribution and called Jenny Qi the diplomatic ambassador for the people.

In addition to the amazing photo exhibition, other cultural interactive activities including magic show, calligraphy demonstration, musical performance, printmaking, Chinese traditional dance were organized. Nearly 200 guests participated in this event including Matthew Pal, Commercial Consul of Canada in Guangzhou, Michel Constantin, Director of the Quebec Government Office in Shanghai, other Canadian officials in China, leaders and representatives of well-known enterprises and business associations in Shenzhen and Canada, as well as nearly 100 Canadian citizens and Shenzhen residents living in Shenzhen.