Toronto , ARC World, a vibrant celebration of Asian culture, is set to captivate downtown Toronto, culminating in a celebrity basketball game headlined by actor Simu Liu and former Toronto Raptors star Jeremy Lin. Organized by Clement Chu, the one-day festival at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Kerr Hall promises a diverse array of activities, from food and shops to music and insightful speaker sessions.
Chu emphasized the event’s inclusive nature, highlighting stories of resilience with universal appeal. “The stories that some of these people are telling here, it’s not just necessarily about them being Asian but it’s a story of resilience,” he explained. “These are stories that apply way beyond the Asian community, so we hope people get that out of it. We hope people come enjoy the things that come from our culture, whether it’s food or art or entertainment.”
However, it’s the celebrity basketball game generating significant buzz, drawing fans and attention to ARC World’s underlying mission: fostering community engagement and youth involvement. Chu lamented the dip in community engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. “More than anything else, we want to get young people out and volunteering and making contributions back to the community, because we feel a lot of that was lost during COVID.”
The Asian Roots Collective (ARC) has its beginnings in basketball, and Chu remembers when the keys to a gym was only a dream.
- Founded 30 years ago as the Chinese Canadian Youth Athletic Association.
- Aimed to create a safe space for youth to play basketball.
- Expanded mission to include individuals with connections to all of Asia.
- Embraces “universal languages” like basketball to bridge cultural gaps.
What started as a small initiative three decades ago, the ARC has grown into much more.
One community member shared, reflecting on the event’s significance, “It happened when no one was watching,” and she added, “I saw volunteers working tirelessly, setting up the stage, practicing their performances… they are invested in bringing this community together.” This reflects the core spirit of ARC World, celebrating Asian culture while promoting unity and inclusivity among all communities. One Instagram user posted: “Can’t wait to see Simu Liu ball out!” Another user on X.com commented, “Finally, something fun to do in this city!” Facebook posts indicate a strong local buzz, with many families planning to attend.
Current Progress: ARC World represents significant strides in community building and cultural promotion. It showcases the growing influence and contributions of Asian communities while providing a platform for emerging talents and voices. The celebrity basketball game leverages the star power of figures like Simu Liu and Jeremy Lin to attract a broader audience and amplify the event’s message.
Chu says the organization’s mandate has changed over time. “We want to showcase all these things that are excellent, that are happening,” said Chu. “So we decided to change the direction of the organization a little bit, because we’re no longer just Chinese, we’re no longer just youth oriented programs, and we’re sure as heck not just athletics. We wanted to have a calling card that was more representative of what we’re doing. This year is the first year we’re launching ARC World, which is this convention where we’re celebrating all things Asian.”
The name of the organization reflects that. “Because we come from basketball, (the name) is like the three-point arc, your shot arc, but we’re trying to tell a story now so this is a narrative arc,” said Chu. “That was the inspiration behind the name of the organization.”
The roots of the organization are in basketball. ARC has come a long way since it was founded in 1995, the same year the Raptors started playing in Toronto. Back then, Chu and other leaders within the organization had to rent basketball courts at local high schools. Now they have their own athletic centre in Markham, Ont.
“We used to make that joke about, ‘oh, you know, one day, as opposed to renting schools, we’d love to have the keys to gym,’ because that’s the dream of every kid, to have the keys to gym so you could shoot around,” he said. “It’s just funny because, like, fast forward, 30 years later, through some of these initiatives, we were able to raise enough money to build our own mini-community centre with a basketball hoop and stuff, but so now we do have the keys to the gym which is pretty, pretty cool. The only downside is, I’m so old now that I can’t really play anymore, but the kids now have a place to run around, we have video games there, art, we teach coding, it’s gone far beyond just basketball.”
Remaining Hurdles: While ARC World has great potential, sustaining long-term community engagement and securing consistent funding remain challenges. Ensuring diverse representation within the programming and attracting attendees from all backgrounds are also crucial for the festival’s continued success. Furthermore, navigating the evolving social landscape and addressing potential criticisms or misconceptions surrounding cultural events requires careful planning and proactive communication. It will be imperative to address those critiscisms.
