Taiwanese Canadians in Toronto host first 'Taiwan Day' with Blue Jays

Toronto, Sept. 14 (CNA) About 500 members of the Taiwanese Canadian community gathered Sunday for the first-ever "Taiwan Day," as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 11-2 at a sold-out Rogers Centre.

The Taiwanese Canadians traveled from across Canada, wearing "Taiwan Day" jerseys and waving "Team Taiwan" towels as they cheered the Jays to their third straight home win, among some 42,000 fans.

The event was organized by the Taiwan Merchants Association of Toronto and sponsored by local Taiwanese businesses. Its success has encouraged organizers to pursue a long-term partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays, a Major League Baseball (MLB) team, to establish "Taiwan Day" as an annual fixture.

Attendees included families and Taiwanese expatriates who traveled from cities including Vancouver, Montreal and Detroit.

Canadian MP Judy Sgro, co-chair of the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, joined the crowd, along with Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto Director-General Liang Yi-peng (梁毅鵬) and Toronto City Councillor Lily Cheng (陳伶俐), the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants.

Before the game, participants gathered in a park near the Rogers Centre wearing jerseys decorated with a Formosan black bear and Blue Jays logo, all labeled "Taiwan 1."

Their cheers backed the Jays and called for Taiwan's greater participation in international organizations, such as the United Nations and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), drawing notice from fellow fans entering the stadium.

Liang said the turnout far exceeded expectations and reflected the community's love for both Taiwan and Canada.

Sgro added that "all Canadians love Taiwan, respect Taiwan" and that she was happy to "come together and celebrate it."

Organizers called the event a milestone, blending Toronto's baseball passion with Taiwanese identity and giving expatriates a renewed sense of home.