Even amidst the revelry of his bachelor party in Ontario’s picturesque Muskoka region, actor Simu Liu found his thoughts drifting to Markham. This bustling Toronto suburb is set to host a triumphant return: the annual Asian Roots Collective (ARC) festival, now famously known as ARC World Markham. Mark your calendars for September 12th, when Liu, alongside former NBA star Jeremy Lin, will headline a celebrity basketball game, kicking off a vibrant celebration of Asian culture, food, music, and inspiring speakers.
Bringing ARC World Markham Home
For Liu, the decision to bring ARC World back to Markham wasn’t merely logistical; it was deeply personal. “It’s such a big part of the Asian Canadian community,” he asserted during a recent phone call, the serenity of a Muskoka lake providing a stark contrast to the energy he anticipates. “First of all, it’s got the best Chinese food in the country, in my opinion.” Beyond culinary delights, Markham holds a special place as the birthplace of the non-profit behind ARC World, the Asian Roots Collective, initially established in 1995 as the Chinese Canadian Youth Athletic Association.
What began as a grassroots initiative to offer basketball programming for Chinese Canadians has blossomed. Today, the Asian Roots Collective boasts its own athletics centre in Markham, serving the broader Asian community with expanded programming. The collaboration between Liu and the organization dates back to 2019, when a celebrity basketball game successfully raised funds for Lin’s foundation. This event has since evolved into a powerful one-day festival, spotlighting Asian excellence across diverse fields—athletes, actors, musicians, entrepreneurs, and chefs converging with local businesses and community groups.
Liu passionately articulated the festival’s crucial mission: providing young Asian Canadians with vital role models. He candidly reflected on his own youth in the Greater Toronto Area, where opportunities outside a few “predetermined paths” seemed scarce. “If I could’ve attended an event where so many of my favourite actors or athletes or creators or entrepreneurs were there,” Liu mused, “I just feel like my perception of what was possible — my entire worldview — would’ve been very different.” This year’s ARC World Markham strives to ignite that same transformative spark for a new generation.
Jeremy Lin, joining virtually from the Bay Area, echoed Liu’s sentiments, emphasizing the enduring importance of such events amid shifting public discourse. “A recent backlash towards diversity and inclusion efforts,” Lin noted gravely, “is telling of the barriers we’re up against and why we need to continue to do this year in and year out.” His dedication to the city’s Asian community brings him back to Toronto repeatedly. “Toronto is easily one of my favourite cities, and one of the favourite teams that I’ve ever played for, primarily because of the fans,” shared the former Raptors guard, who also operates a basketball school in Toronto with ARC. He maintains a close bond with Liu, a camaraderie evident even across the digital divide as ARC co-founder Clement Chu playfully panned the camera to Liu’s vacationing friends.
The significance of events like ARC World Markham cannot be overstated, especially when counteracting external rhetoric that can unfortunately seep into Canadian discussions on marginalized communities. “It’s really important in those moments to just stand ten toes down and really support what you’re passionate about,” Liu asserted with conviction. “And for me, I’m never not going to be Chinese, so this community is always going to mean a lot to me.”
Anticipation builds as further celebrity attendees for this year’s festival will be announced soon. For now, Liu is back to bachelor party hijinks – a hot tub dip, a lake swim, and perhaps a competitive board game or two, all before resuming his work in championing Asian excellence and community. For more details on user expectations and data handling, please review our service guidelines.
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