Chinese Arts and Literary Contests for Youth came to a perfect conclusion
Nearly $60,000 was donated to the Chinese Cultural Center of Greater Toronto
With over 20 years of history, the “Chinese Arts and Literary Contests for Youth”(CALCY) has finally come to a successful conclusion. $58,000 was donated to the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto (CCCGT) with the aim of enabling the CCCGT to utilize its exceptional venues and resources for the future, and to provide the younger generation in Canada with a better understanding of their inherent culture. On October 26th, the Cheque Donation Ceremony was held at the CCCGT, with the participation of the directors and advisors of both parties.
Since 2000, CALCY has been a Toronto-based cultural platform that spans China, Hong Kong, Taiwan. It has held 20 competitions in two decades, including poetry recitation in Cantonese and Mandarin, children’s song recitation, parent-child pair reading, storytelling, quiz contests on Chinese language and knowledge, simplified and traditional Chinese calligraphy, and painting.
“CALCY is the most widely attended academic talent contest in the GTA and is supported by many educational and cultural organizations. Over the years, it has reached 80,000 participants, including non-Chinese speaking students.
Every year, more than 100 professionals and experienced teachers from related fields serve as judges, and more than 300 volunteers are involved in organizing and assisting with all aspects of the competition.
The award ceremony was the most anticipated event of the year, especially when it was held at the PC Ho Theatre of the CCCGT. It consistently attracted substantial attendance.
In presenting the cheque to the CCCGT, Mr. Stephen Siu, Chairman of the Association of Chinese Arts and Literary Contests for Youth (ACALCY), said that the years of COVID had dealt a heavy blow to the CALCY because various competitions required on-site participation of students, teachers, and parents. On-site interactions are also essential. Some items, such as calligraphy and painting, are not suitable for online competitions. Moreover, the epidemic has affected CALCY’s connection with Chinese schools, students and parents, volunteers, and sponsors.
Mr. Siu said that many of the students who participated in CALCY have now graduated from universities and have successful careers. Some have even become politicians and members of the legislature. “After 20 years of hard work, the time has come for us to step down. Numerous members and volunteers of CALCY have been diligently and enthusiastically working and have made unwavering contributions to the organization. We are proud to say that we have nurtured thousands of young people for two decades and have made significant contributions to the community,” he said.
He said, “It is with a sense of reluctance that the members of the CALCY let the CCCGT take over the baton. We hope that the Chinese culture will take root under the deep cultivation of the CCCGT.”
“When I saw the program books of the previous CALCY, it was like walking into the youthful years of twenty years ago. We can proudly say that we have dedicated the most youthful season of our lives to the cultural heritage of the young generation, and written an ordinary and unrepentant life of education. Time flies. Although we are now retired, our passion for cultural heritage is still the same. Even at twilight the sky is still full of sunshine; It’s never too late even at old age.
“I hope that all Chinese educators and parents who are passionate about Chinese culture and willing to exchange and learn from each other will continue to support the CCCGT, so that together we can immerse ourselves in the beautiful and vast sea of culture and art, draw more nourishment, promote the charm and essence of Chinese culture, and insist on the cultural heritage to write a more beautiful chapter.”
Last but not least, Mr. Siu thanked the sponsors from the industrial and business sectors, the cultural and arts sector, community organizations and individuals for their generous support, the principals, teachers, parents and students for their enthusiastic participation, as well as the organizing committees, advisors, judges, hosts and volunteers for their unselfish and uncompensated service over the past two decades.
The Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to the Association of CALCY for their donation. Mr. Alan Lam, Chairman of the CCCGT, said, “We have taken over the torch and enthusiasm of the CALCY, and with the success of the CALCY’s experience and talents, the CCCGT will organize more quality Chinese cultural activities, especially the promotion of youth projects, which is of great significance and covers a wide range of areas. He urges those who are interested in joining the volunteer program to contact the CCCGT.
Dr. Ming-tat Cheung, Founding Chairman of the CCCGT, concluded that the direction that CALCY has been insisting on for many years is the same as that of the CCCGT, which is to promote Chinese culture, to infuse the Chinese community with the nourishment of the rich traditional culture, and to devote itself to nurturing the education and inheritance of the next generation. It is also the mission of the CCCGT to enrich Canada’s multiculturalism through cultural exchanges with other ethnic groups!
「青少年中華學藝」劃上完美句號
近六萬元存款捐贈中華文化中心
歲月染芳華，桃李育芬芳。有超過二十年歷史的「青少年中華學藝」比賽，終於宣布劃上完美句號，功成身退，把銀行的五萬八千元存款，悉數捐贈大多倫多中華文化中心，使其利用中心的優秀場地及資源，繼往開來，讓加國的年輕一代，更加認識及了解固有的文化風采。支票捐贈儀式，在10月26日於中華文化中心本部進行，雙方董事及顧問出席並交流。
「學藝」比賽是大多地區參與人數最多的學術才藝比賽，而且受到眾多的教育及文化機構支持。歷年纍計參加人次，達到大約八萬之眾，並包括有非華裔學生參賽。
每次比賽，都有來自相關領域的近百位專業人士和資深教師擔任評審，並有三百多名學生及成人義工，參與籌備及協助比賽的各環節。
每屆的頒獎典禮都是學生、老師和家長們最期待的。特別是後期在文化中心何伯釗劇院舉行的頒獎表演，每次都座無虛設，珠玉紛呈，讓人耳目一新。
青少年中華學藝比賽協會主席蕭顯揚，在頒贈支票與文化中心時表示，新冠疫情的幾年給予「學藝」沉重的打擊，因為各項比賽活動其實都需要學生、老師和家長的現場參與，才能達到一定的效果，而且現場的互動也極為重要，有些項目如書法繪畫等比賽根本不宜在線上舉行。而且疫情的幾年也影響到「學藝」與中文學校、學生和家長、義工，以及贊助商的聯繫。
蕭顯揚說，很多早期參予「學藝」的學生，都已經大學畢業、而且事業有成，甚至有從政出任議員的。「二十載學藝春秋，贏得功成身退。無數學藝成員及義工們默默耕耘，滿腔熱情，作出無悔的奉獻。如今我們可以說是碩果盈盈、桃李滿門。」
他說：「學藝成員今次是懷著不捨、又不能不捨的心情，讓文化中心接棒。願中華悠久的文化、底蘊深厚的國學，能夠在文化中心的深耕下，落實生根。」
「看到歷屆學藝比賽的特刊，往事點滴，如同走進了二十年前的青蔥歲月，我們可以驕傲地說：我們已經把人生最蔥蘢的季節，奉獻給了年輕一代的文化傳承，書寫了平凡而無悔的教育人生。歲月如歌，雖然如今引退，但我們對文化傳承的熱情卻是依舊的。莫道桑榆晚，為霞尚滿天。」
「願熱心中華文化、願意交流學習的華文教育工作者與家長，繼續支持文化中心，讓我們攜手浸淫在優美浩瀚的文化藝術之海中，汲取更多養份，推介中華文化的魅力與精髓，堅持文化傳承，書寫更華麗的篇章。」
最後，蕭顯揚感謝二十年來各工商界，文化、藝術界，社區社團和有心個人鼎力贊助，校長，教師，家長及學生的熱心參與，以及籌委，顧問，評審，主持和義工們的無私、無償服務。
大多倫多中華文化中心對「學藝」協會的捐贈，表達了衷心的感謝。文化中心主席林樹田說，我們接下了「學藝」的火炬與熱忱，並會借鏡「學藝」的成功經驗與優秀人才，文化中心將舉辦更多優質的中華文化活動，尤其是青少年學藝項目的推廣，意義重大，涵蓋範圍廣泛，他呼籲有興趣參加義工的朋友，可向文化中心聯繫。
文化中心創會主席張明達醫生總結說，「學藝」多年堅持的方向，與文化中心是一致的，都是弘揚中華文化，為華裔社區注入博厚多姿的傳統文化滋養，致力培養下一代的教育與傳承。而與其他族裔文化交流，共同豐富加拿大多元文化的共融共榮，更是文化中心的使命！