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Minister Prentice attended UCCA’s 40th Anniversary Banquet
October 24, 2009
by Paul K.P. Wong
 The President of UCCA Lyn Chow made an opening speech. |
The United Calgary Chinese Association (UCCA), held the 40th Anniversary Celebration, 2009-2011 Board of Directors (BOD) Inauguration and Elderly Appreciation Banquet on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the Regency Palace Restaurant in Chinatown. Over 500 people attended the banquet at that evening.
Minister of the Environment, Hon. Jim Prentice and his wife attended the celebration and appreciation dinner. Other VIP who attended the included the MLA of the Calgary-Mackay Constituency Teresa Woo-Paw, the MLA of the Calgary-Buffalo Constituency Kent Hehr, the Consuls of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Calgary Li Feng, Hou Danna, Wang Gongming and Yao Bing, the Citizenship Judge of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Hon. Raymond Lee, the community leaders and representatives.
 After a speech, Minister of the Environment, Hon. Jim Prentice presented a congratulation plate to President Chow for the 40th Anniversary of UCCA. |
After the opening ceremonies – a lion dance was presented by the Jing Wo Martial Arts & Athletics Association of Canada and sang the National Anthem. The President of UCCA Lyn Chow made an opening speech, and followed by His Honour Jim Prentice MP, MLA Teresa Woo-Paw, Kent Hehr and the Consuls of PRC in Calgary Li Feng, all of them made a short congratulation speech to the organization. After the speech of Minister Prentice, he also presented a congratulation plate to President Chow for the 40th Anniversary of the association. And later on, MLA Woo-Paw also presented the certificate of congratulation to Chow for the special occasion.
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After the inauguration ceremony of the new BOD, there was a special presentation, the president Lyn Chow presented the appreciation plates to six founding members of the association in 40 years ago for whom still alive today, but there were only three of them that attended the banquet that evening, they were Peter Eng, Sen Mah and Terry Lee.
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Chow stated in his speech, the UCCA has 29 association members presently. He also highlighted three major events that they are doing today: 1. The Spring and Autumn Memorial Services to those ancestors; 2. Participation the Stampede Parade with the community float annually; 3. One of the members of the Chinatown Safety Council.
Brief History of UCCA
Back in the 1968, the City of Calgary planned to build an express way to join the Bow Trail S.W. and 16th Avenue N.W. through Chinatown at Centre Street S.W. After a group of native born Chinese and professional immigrants found out, if the plan is passed in the City Council, then it will cutting the community in half at Centre Street, and will eliminate Chinatown’s area. Then, they formed up the Sien Lok Society to represent the Chinese community to against the plan at the City Council. Finally, the Sien Lok Society succeeded the fight in having the plan voted lost. After the incident, the Chinese organizations were aware that the unity of the community is very important, and needed to protect their common interests and rights in the settlement. Therefore, a meeting was called on April 28, 1969, with representatives from 19 associations in Chinatown, and established the UCCA.
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In the 70s and 80s, UCCA has been the voice of Chinatown, and fought lots of development plans with the City of Calgary. Today, the association becomes a more social and charitable organization, and it becomes one of the active associations in the Chinese community.