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People visiting the popular Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga tomorrow (January 23, Toronto time) will have an opportunity to experience the dynamism of Hong Kong's cosmopolitan culture and economic vitality in ¡§Hong Kong Comes to Mississauga¡¨.
The event, jointly presented by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada, and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, will bring an array of Hong Kong attractions to Square One, one of the largest shopping centres in Ontario. It will also kick off a series of Hong Kong-themed events in the Greater Toronto Area in the next two months, featuring Hong Kong as Asia's events and culinary capital, as well as highlighting its role as an international financial centre, and a cultural city in the region.
According to the Canadian Chinese Restaurant Merchants & Tourism Association (CCRMTA), coordinator of the project, the main purpose of organising ¡§Hong Kong Comes to Mississauga¡¨ is to bring Hong Kong's friendly gestures to the heart of Mississauga, one of Canada's wealthiest and fastest growing cities, since Mayor Hazel McCallion of Mississauga will be visiting Hong Kong together with a Canadian business delegation in May, and CCRMTA will be hosting a Canada Festival in Hong Kong later this summer.
Square One's Centre Court will be decorated with a 3-D eight-foot-high Hong Kong Tram as the backdrop, conveying the message that you can always discover or re-discover Hong Kong in a relaxing double-decker tram tour, which only cost 30 Canadian cents. And, it can also be a ¡§savoury journey¡¨ along this century-old tramway through Hong Kong's cosmopolitan streets.
Scenes of Hong Kong's famous attractions such as Lantau's Giant Buddha, bun towers, lantern festival, and a replica of the statue of the legendary kungfu star Bruce Lee will be set up. Visitors can find displays on Hong Kong's participation in the Shanghai Expo, and Hong Kong's major trade fairs, etc.
To promote Hong Kong's heritage culture and culinary culture, a mini-concert will be staged by the Toronto Chinese Orchestra; medal winners from the Wayland Li Wushu Centre will be demonstrating Chinese kungfu; and a Toronto chef originally from Hong Kong will be demonstrating abalone cooking. There will also be singing and dancing performances, and talks on wine and tourism.
Visitors will receive gifts and coupons, and have the opportunity to enter a contest to win a 12-day trip for two to Hong Kong and China.
The activities of ¡§Hong Kong Comes to Mississauga¡¨ will run from 1pm to 5pm at Square One's Centre Court, with the kick-off ceremony at 3pm, to be officiated by MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament) Bob Delaney; Mayor Hazel McCallion; and Ms Maureen Siu, Director of the HKETO.
A similar event, entitled ¡§Hong Kong Comes to Markham¡¨, will be held at the Market Village of Markham next weekend. Other Hong Kong celebrations will be held at the Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation's Dragon Ball 2010 on February 6, Hong Kong-Canada Business Association's Year of the Tiger Gala on February 20, and the Confederation of Greater Toronto Chinese Business Associations' ¡§Oriental Fantasia ¡V Hong Kong & Shanghai¡¨ gala on March 7.
The Asian Institute of the University of Toronto will also host a ¡§In Conversation with Celebrity Hong Kong Chef¡¨ session to discuss the latest trend of Hong Kong cuisine with the visiting ¡§demon chef¡¨ Alvin Leung on February 9.
Ends/Saturday, January 23, 2010
Issued at HKT 09:35
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