The Asian Roots Collective is bringing together celebrities, culture, and community for ARC World, a vibrant one-day festival celebrating Asian heritage in downtown Toronto. The event, scheduled for Saturday at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Kerr Hall, promises an exciting blend of food, music, art, and entertainment that organizer Clement Chu hopes will attract people from all backgrounds.
The festival’s marquee event features a celebrity basketball game starring Marvel actor Simu Liu and former Toronto Raptors standout Jeremy Lin. This athletic showcase serves as the perfect finale to a day packed with cultural experiences, from traditional Asian cuisine to contemporary art installations and inspiring speakers sharing stories of resilience and success.
Chu emphasizes that ARC World transcends simple cultural celebration, focusing instead on universal themes of perseverance and community building. The stories being shared at the festival aren’t just about Asian identity, but about overcoming challenges and building bridges across different communities. The event aims to inspire young people to engage in volunteer work and give back to their communities.
The Asian Roots Collective has evolved significantly since its founding 30 years ago as the Chinese Canadian Youth Athletic Association. What began as a safe space for basketball has transformed into a comprehensive organization that now operates its own community center in Markham, Ontario, complete with sports facilities, gaming areas, art programs, and coding classes. The name change to ARC reflects this broader mission while maintaining the basketball connection through the metaphor of both the three-point arc and narrative storytelling arc.