Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre is the stage for the annual TaiwanFest that took place August 28 to 30. Celebrating its 26th year, TaiwanFest holds two weekend events back to back in Toronto and Vancouver, its first hosting city.
The festival showcased Taiwanese culture through musical performances such indie rockers Echo, plus the TAIWANfest Orchestra, alongside photo exhibits such as Where We Come From, political chats, animated shorts, film screenings, among with a slew other representations and expressions of Taiwanese cultures.
Unlike other festivals that can sometimes feel exclusive and confusing, organizers of TaiwanFest made it a part of their goal to remain open to Canadians who are not of Taiwanese background, particularly in their programming organization.
The concept of “festival routes” was used, where all events were separated into categories, or routes, for attendees to follow. One can focus on music, culinary, or the educational Taiwan 101 route.
The Taiwanese community in Canada is fairly small, with an approximation of 250,000 Canadians of Taiwanese background as of 2013. The York Taiwanese Student Association, however, has an active membership, with their president Alvin Ching Lu estimating there are 700 to 900 active members of students and alumni.
Lu, who has been a part of YTSA since September 2014, realizes the under-representation of the Taiwanese culture.
“There are fewer and fewer Taiwanese [students] coming each year,” says Lu. “There might be a decline of the presence of Taiwanese, [but] I believe we are able to overcome this obstacle.”YTSA organizes several events throughout the year, including Halloween bento events and a Chinese New Year celebration.
Arts, holidays, and festivals such as the TaiwanFest are all reflections of a culture. One just needs to open their eyes and ears to their expressions, and their mind and hearts will soon follow.
Victoria Goldberg, Arts Editor.
Featured illustration by Branavi Balendran.
