Organized by the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), the “Taiwan Youth and Overseas Expatriate Bridging Program in Vancouver, Canada” visited British Columbia's capital city, Victoria, on July 17. The group toured the historic Chinatown and the B.C. Legislature. The members were led by Director Kuo Shu Chen (郭淑貞) of the Overseas Affairs Division at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, along with co-chairs of the Metro Vancouver Overseas Taiwanese Society (MVOTS, 大溫哥華台灣僑界聯誼會), Julia Hsieh (謝明珠), Sherry Huang (黃宗芹), and Christina Chang (張健理).
Upon arriving in Victoria at noon, the group visited Chinatown and enjoyed a casual lunch at Don Mee Seafood Restaurant. During the meal, Vice-Chair Kevin Hung (洪亮澂) of the Chinese Nationalist League of Canada - Chinese Youth Association(CNLOC-CYA) gave a presentation introducing the history of Victoria’s Chinatown, its connections with the Republic of China(Taiwan), and the evolution of local Chinese Canadian community organizations.
In the afternoon, the group proceeded to the British Columbia Legislature, where they were welcomed and guided by official legislative staff. The guided tour began with an introduction to the founding of the province and the design and symbolism of the provincial coat of arms, helping the students better understand the province's political system and cultural heritage. Newly appointed Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport and Taiwanese Canadian MLA Hon. Anne Kang, who had just taken her oath of office earlier that day, made a special appearance to greet the students and pose for photos.
The guide also highlighted a handcrafted Indigenous canoe housed inside the legislature, built by former Lieutenant Governor Steven Point, the first Indigenous person to hold the position, and Indigenous community leaders. This canoe, presented as a gift to the province, served as a starting point to discuss Canada and British Columbia’s ongoing efforts in Indigenous reconciliation and acknowledgment of past policies of cultural erasure.
The group continued their visit to the second floor and interior chambers of the Legislature, where they received detailed explanations of the province's parliamentary history, traditions, and institutional structure. A special arrangement was also made to allow the group to tour normally restricted areas, including the Legislative Library and the media control room, giving participants deeper insight into the operation and public communication.
To conclude the day, the students held a lively flash mob dance performance on the front lawn of the Legislature, showcasing the creativity and vitality of Taiwan's younger generation. Students also engaged with passersby, handing out Taiwan-themed stickers, successfully promoting cultural exchange.
