Orchids from Taiwan were spotlights at the 2016 Canadian Tulip Festival that ran from May 12-23, 2016, marking Taiwan’s return to the event after a 10-year hiatus.
Since 1953, Ottawa has been hosting the world renowned Tulip Festival, one of the largest events of its kind worldwide. The origins of the Tulip Festival can be traced back to January 1943 when Dutch Princess Juliana, then in exile in Canada, gave birth to daughter Princess Margriet at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. The Government of Canada temporarily declared a ward at the hospital extraterritorial to ensure the newborn princess would hold exclusively Dutch nationality. As a show of gratitude, the Dutch government has gifted Canada with thousands of tulip bulbs annually. Later, the Tulip Festival was created, which has attracted over 600,000 visitors every year.
The Taiwan orchids, along with Canadian tulips, were part of the decorations of the Taiwan booth at the event, as was an image of a large-size, canoe-style Yami boat of the indigenous Yami tribe. Volunteers at the Taiwan booth, such as leaders of the Taiwanese-Canadian Association of Ottawa (TCAO) Mr. and Mrs. Gauzu Chang, Mr. and Mrs. Po-jen Lee, also wore traditional costumes of the indigenous Paiwan tribe.
Ottawa City Mayor Jim Watson commented on the orchids while visiting the Taiwan booth. MP Ahmed Hussen and his family expressed interest in the orchids from Pao Tau Enterprises Inc., which is located in his riding near Toronto. Ambassador Rong-chuan Wu, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Canada, elaborated on the high quality agricultural products in Taiwan and promoted the Taiwan International Orchid Show (TIOS) held annually in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City. TIOS is one the world’s top three orchid events, Wu said, adding that the 23rd World Orchid Conference will take place in Taiwan in 2020.
The Taiwan booth was set up by TCAO in collaboration with TECO in Canada. Activities such as flower-arranging, tea-demonstrations, paper-cutting, and handcrafting were also offered.
In addition, Moments, a young pop group consisting of members of Taiwanese descendants in Montreal also performed on May 15. Notable songs they performed include “Taiwan Will Touch Your Heart” and “Lemon Tree”.
(right to left) Ambassador Rong-chuan Wu, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, poses with Ottawa City Major Jim Watson, and Mr. and Mrs. Po-jen Lee, leaders of the Taiwanese-Canadian Association of Ottawa, at the 2016 Canadian Tulip Festival in May 2016.
Ambassador Rong-chuan Wu, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, and Mrs. Wu showcase a flower arrangement.
Mrs. Lin (right), wife of Deputy Representative of TECO in Canada Frank Lin, demonstrates the art of tea.