East Toronto Chinatown fetes new Zhong Hua Men Archway.
Chinatown Archway
Staff photo/JOANNA LAVOIE
The excitement was audible Saturday afternoon in East Toronto Chinatown as hundreds of community members and dignitaries gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Toronto Zhong Hua Men Archway.
The official inauguration ceremony of the city's first traditional Chinese archway featured 13 Chinese lions as well as a special Chinese dragon dancer all dancing to the sounds of authentic drummers.
The grand opening also included painting of the eyes and mouths on two large white marble lions at the front of the archway as well as the cutting of a roasted suckling pig for good fortune.
The People's Republic of China donated the lion statues, which each weigh three tons. Hundreds of celebratory noisy firecrackers were also detonated following a ribbon cutting ceremony.
"Consider this a good omen for all of us here today. How exciting it is here today to open Toronto's newest landmark," said former school principal and active community volunteer Valerie Mah, the celebration's mistress of ceremonies.
Ten years in the making, the new archway at Broadview Avenue and Gerrard Street East is the brainchild of Dale Cheung, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce (East Toronto) and Bernard Loh, the group's vice-president, as well as a small group of past and present members. The group dreamed up the project while having dim sum with the area's former city councilor, Jack Layton.
The archway is a joint project between the City of Toronto and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce (East Toronto). The Toronto Parking Authority provided the land and the construction management for the archway. Countless other supporters, notably Bridgepoint Health, donated both cash and materials toward the project.
In keeping with the traditional Chinese 'Paifeng' style of commemorating the great achievements of ones ancestors, the Zhong Hua Men Archway is engraved with messages of goodwill and wisdom.
With tears of joy in his eyes as he took to the podium to say a few words, Cheung - who created the artwork that adorns its walls - expressed his gratitude in Cantonese for all of the support over the last 10 years.
Mayor David Miller flanked by local politicians from all three levels of government also shared his appreciation to everyone who made the beautiful "gateway to East Chinatown" a possibility.
"The archway itself is a beautiful tribute to the men and women who worked on the railway," said Miller, pointing to carvings on the 13-metre tall structure that pay tribute to the Chinese pioneers who built railways across Canada.
"The archway welcomes people to the neighbourhood and is symbolic of the revitalization of this neighbourhood. Toronto and Canada could not prosper without Chinese-Canadians' support."
Miller especially credited Cheung and Loh for all their hard work on the project.
"They imagined this project and made it happen," he said.
Elated to be celebrating the archway's grand opening, Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher called the archway a symbol of friendship and community as well as a perfect way to welcome people to the area.
"Thank you for your dedication, your sleepless nights, all your hard work," she said to the project's "champions."
Local MPP Peter Tabuns also took a few moments to say what an exciting day this was for the community as did the riding's MP Jack Layton, who also spoke a few words in Cantonese to the crowd.
"Every step people worked together to build this dream. Now we have a permanent symbol of the enormous contribution Chinese-Canadians have made to build our country," Layton said.
Zhu Taoying, the Consul General of China, also congratulated the community and the city on the new archway, which she said is symbolic of the positive relationship between China and Canada.
The grand opening celebration both opened and concluded with a community party in the neighbouring Riverdale Park. Those festivities included Chinese opera singers, food and sweets, singing and dancing, and a kung fu demonstration.