The Asian Roots Collective’s transformation from a small basketball group to a major cultural organization exemplifies the power of persistent community building. This Saturday’s ARC World festival at Toronto Metropolitan University marks a significant milestone in their 30-year journey, featuring celebrity appearances from Simu Liu and Jeremy Lin alongside comprehensive cultural programming.
Founded in 1995 as the Chinese Canadian Youth Athletic Association, the organization initially focused on providing safe spaces for basketball within the Chinese-Canadian community. Founder Clement Chu recalls the early days when organizers had to rent gymnasium space at various high schools, always dreaming of having permanent access to sports facilities. That dream has now become reality with their own community center in Markham, Ontario.
The modern facility represents far more than just basketball courts, incorporating video game areas, art studios, coding classes, and various educational programs. This expansion reflects the organization’s evolved understanding of community needs and their commitment to serving young people across multiple interests and skill areas. The center serves as a model for how sports-based organizations can grow into comprehensive community resources.
ARC World festival embodies this holistic approach to community building, featuring diverse programming that extends well beyond athletics. The event includes food vendors representing various Asian cuisines, artistic exhibitions, musical performances, and speakers sharing stories of resilience and achievement. Chu emphasizes that these stories, while emerging from Asian experiences, carry universal themes of perseverance and community building that resonate across all backgrounds.
