People’s Park brings parklife, Chinese style, to the heart of Toronto’s waterfront. Enjoy table tennis and Xiangqi (Chinese Chess), among other activities throughout the weekend.
PRICES
Everyone: FREE
Saturday, July 12, 2014
12:00PM – 8:00PM
Ontario Square
235 Queens Quay West, Toronto ON
Sunday, July 13, 2014
12:00PM – 6:00PM
Ontario Square
235 Queens Quay West, Toronto ON
Parks play an important role in the life of every Chinese city, town and village, which is why just about every populated area across the country is home to a People’s Park. Every day, all nooks and crannies of these parks are dotted with citizens engaged in a wide range of activities.
Groups and individuals practice elaborate taiqi and martial arts routines; dance groups gather to rehearse and perform for each other and park-goers; musicians of all kinds engage in impromptu concerts; retirees gather to sing the songs of their childhood; boom boxes fill the park with pop and dance music of all kinds, around which amateur dancers strut their stuff; groups gather around mahjong, Chinese chess, card and ping pong tables.
In Toronto, parks are also urban oases for city-dwellers, but local traditions around our green spaces differ slightly. With that in mind, we aim to bring a showcase of parklife, Chinese style, to the heart of Toronto’s waterfront. In addition to the Saturday evening outdoor screening of the single-shot documentary, People’s Park – with musical accompaniment by the Toronto Chinese Orchestra – we’ll transform Ontario Square into Toronto’s own People’s Park. A range of participants will showcase and teach various dance, taiqi, martial arts and musical styles while ping pong, mahjong and Chinese chess groups offer gaming options and instruction. The aim is to provide both a window into a different park experience, and, for some, a taste of home.