The 16th TD Taste of Asia welcomed over 120 vendors and 200,000 attendees, inviting families, friends, and visitors of all ages. The opening ceremony began with a warm welcome by Dr. Ken Ng, Mayor Frank Scarpitti, and Councillor Sandra Rocco. This was followed by a live performance of “O Canada” by Larry Lo.
The crowd enjoyed a Lion Dance performance by Sammy Cheng and his FCCM students. After speeches and plaque presentations by Dr. Ken Ng, the Jerrahi Sufi Order of Canada performed with traditional Turkish instruments and dances.
The evening show featured Larry Lo and The Star Line Show, with special performances by famous sisters Jennie and Annie Chung. The night concluded with a final performance by Hong Kong singer and actress Moon Lau, who also held a meet and greet for fans on Friday, June 22 at Splendid China Mall, offering pictures and signed autographs.
Throughout the day, stage performances included FCCM Children Chinese Dance and Senior Group performances, Kung Fu and Tai Chi by Master Kan and his students, a Gu Zheng Ensemble, a live demonstration of Eye Chi Gong by Pureland Qi Gong, a Song Medley and Traditional Filipino Dances by MFFC Youth Performing Arts Group, live singing by local artist Kevin Teng, a rap and hip-hop performance by Alpha King, and a Muay Thai performance by Siam’s No.1 Muay Thai Academy.
This year’s theme country is Turkey, represented by the Republic of Turkey Consulate General in Toronto. Some of the highlights included two airline ticket raffles sponsored by Turkish Airlines, a live musical dance performance by the Jerrahi Sufi Order of Canada and a warm welcome during the Opening Ceremony by the Turkish Consulate General.
Moon Lau is a renowned Hong Kong singer and actress. She gained popularity for her roles in TVB dramas such as “A Fist Within Four Walls,” “The Exorcist’s Meter,” and “Al Cappuccino.” Moon has also released several songs, including “Lucky in Love” and “No Regrets.” Known for her versatile acting skills, she has appeared in numerous successful series. In addition to her acting career, she has captivated audiences with her singing performances, making her a beloved figure in the Hong Kong entertainment industry.
Over 120 vendors provided a wide variety of delicious traditional foods from multiple Asian countries. As usual, Stinky Tofu, Meat Skewers and Bubble Waffles were a favourite among the crowd in addition to the new Ice Cream Burrito. This year’s TD Taste of Asia featured a variety of booths ranging from cuisine all around the world, vehicle models such as Ford and Buick, and attendees were able to play games to win prizes at booth such as TD and Telus.
With 2018 being the Canada-China Year of Tourism, during the festival, China Southern Airlines sponsored a raffle to award one lucky winner a premium economy ticket to anywhere in China. The Canada-China Year of Tourism is an initiative put together by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to create closer ties between Chinese and Canadian citizens. In addition, Telecommunications Sponsor, Telus, provided a wireless hub to help make this raffle possible.
