中文 | English

May 31, 2008

For Immediate Release

Record breaking: over 250 multi-cultural participants registered in

4^th Annual City Mosaic

(May 31, 2008 Toronto) Across U-hub continues to encourage local Chinese Canadian Youth to explore the beauty of multi-cultural Toronto, the 4^th Annual City Mosaic race is taking place this Saturday, May 31, 2008.  Grateful to the support from the community, the number of participants registered for this year’s race was recording breaking of 250.  This event was included in the Asian Heritage Month celebration since last year. “Vision Youth” a community youth group form teams to join the event for the past two years.   This year’s participants had included South Asian youths from the “Social Services Network”, which reflects the multi-cultural diversity of Toronto, the event organizer hopes that this will bring forth an opportunity for different ethnic group to appreciate and exchange each other’s culture.

Toronto is one of the most world-renowned multi-cultural cities, however, immigrants to this city often live within one’s own niche and was not able to have a taste of the true multi-culturalism.  Since 2005, a non-profit organization, Across U-hub employed “Breakthrough your own boundary” as their slogan and organized many activities for youth to be involved in the community.  For the past 3 years, youth had grown increased interest in participating in City Mosaic, the event attracts over hundreds of youths to take part.  It is Across U-hub’s intend to organize this event for youth of different ethnicity so they can have a common platform to understand each other’s culture.

Despite the possibility of thunder rain on the race day, the participants all raced with much enthusiasm and anticipating hearts. During opening ceremony at 9 o’clock, the organizer, youth volunteers and special guests Councillor Chin Lee, and president of Social Services Network, Mr. Naushad Hirji hosted the formal opening ceremony for City Mosaic race. Each guest was asked to place a “foot step” on a Toronto map for the ceremony, this symbolizes participants will all leave their footprints in different corners of the city during the race. Mr. Naushad Hirji, said that, “it’s a historical moment for Today, to have multi-cultural youth to participate this event.”

All participants commenced the race with groups of four, using TTC and walking as means of transportation, they were to explore Toronto and find out answers to questions in different checkpoints. The organizer challenged participants to explore different checkpoints in different ethnic community, pay attention to details, and the groups that can find the most answers in 8 hours will become the champion.

On the Closing and Prize Presenting Ceremony held after the race at Across U-hub. The Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Michael Chan, MPP mentioned he was very happy to see youths going out of their comfort zone and explore the city.  He was particularly appreciative of Shababa the fifiteen-year-old South Asian dancers’ performance.  Minister Chan presented prizes for the winners.

After a whole day of competition, with the incredible speed, <Four Treasure Rice> Team took home the City Mosaic Top Explorer Award.  This team managed to arrive at the most Check Points in the shortest period of time. City Mosaic Champion goes to： <NBG> Team, First runner up: <Great Sphinx> & second runner up: <IBID>. 

Volunteers from Across U-hub is also promoting an upcoming Lament Youth Concert on Sunday, June 8.  Youths are encouraged to submit music compositions for this fundraising concert.  This concert employs interview, words, music and multi-media to encourage youths to embrace a long lasting loving care for the others. The organizer hope to bring youths to attend the Lament Youth Concert on June 8 at 7 – 9pm, the concert will be held at Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church. For event details, phone: 905 944 1944 or email: info@acrossuhub.com.