On October 9, during the fifth Dragon Culture Festival award ceremony held in Toronto, Zhang Jian, the president of the Federation of Chinese Cultural and Art Groups in Canada, announced the upcoming series of events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the global fight against fascism in 2025. The events will include a large-scale artistic performance titled “Ode to Peace,” aimed at promoting the importance of remembering history and cherishing peace.
Zhang emphasized that remembering history is not about fostering hatred. The War of Resistance significantly strengthened the national unity among the Chinese people during a critical time. He noted that now more than ever, there is a need to unite the national spirit and focus on development together.
In addition to the highly anticipated “Ode to Peace” musical and dance epic scheduled for May, the commemorative activities will also feature a historical photography exhibition, relevant discussions, and community outreach initiatives. Zhang encouraged the local Chinese community and individuals from various sectors to engage with and support these events, expressing hope that this series of commemorations would serve as a bond to unite the community.
Reflecting on past events, he mentioned that in June 2015, Chinese expatriates from the Greater Toronto Area had organized similar activities, including the “Ode to Peace” performance, to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in the fight against fascism, which garnered significant participation from local Chinese organizations.
The fifth Dragon Culture Festival took place from August 30 to September 1 in the city hall plaza of Toronto, Canada’s largest city. Since its inception in 2018, the festival has become an annual major showcase of Chinese culture for the Greater Toronto Chinese community to share with the mainstream. On the evening of October 8, the organizing committee celebrated those who contributed to the success of the festival and the promotion of traditional Chinese culture and cultural exchange between Canada and China. Notable attendees included former Canadian senator Hu Zixiu and Cheng Hongbo, the acting consul general of China in Toronto, who presented awards to the honored organizations.
