On March 22, Ontario MPP Ernie Hardeman made a statement in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, indicating that this year (2022) marks the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Canadian Missionary Rev. George Leslie Mackay, who was born in Oxford County, Ontario. To this day, Rev. Mackay is still regarded as a hero by the people of Taiwan, and people from all walks of life in Taiwan have held many commemorative events to celebrate this anniversary. Hardeman especially pointed out that President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan sent a letter to the Canadian Mackay Committee to commend Mackay's contribution to the people of Taiwan and the relationship between Taiwan and Canada.
MPP Hardeman also read out the important messages of President Tsai's letter: "We commemorate the 150th anniversary of Rev. Mackay's 1872 arrival in Tamsui...Today, Taiwan and Canada are like-minded democracies working together toward a common global vision of peace, stability and prosperity." The audience of government and opposition MPPs applauded warmly in approval.
Jin-Ling Chen, the Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto, together with her colleagues and the Co-Chairman of the Canadian Mackay Committee, Mr. Edward Chung, as well as leaders from Taiwanese community, including Ms. Maggie Lin, Mr. Peter Huang, Mr. and Mrs. Columbus Leo , were invited to witness the occasion and were introduced to the legislature by MPP Hardeman. The legislators gave them a standing ovation.
Director General Chen expressed her gratitude to members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for the friendly statement. She also felt honoured to be invited to witness the friendship between Taiwan and Canada.
As March 9 this year marks the 150th anniversary of Rev. Mackay's arrival in Tamshui, Taiwan, and March 21 is Mackay's birthday, the Ontario Legislature specially arranged to state the March meeting to commemorate Mackay's spirit and show the common values of freedom and democracy between Taiwan and Canada, as well as their cooperation in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the world.
Director-General Jin-Ling Chen presents a stamp pack commemorating the 150th anniversary of Rev. Mackay’s arrival in Taiwan to Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford County, Ontario, the hometown of Rev. Mackay.
Group photo of Taiwanese delegation and MPP Ernie Hardeman in the lobby of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario after the meeting adjourned.
