PanAm Athlete Khamica Bingham Sprints to Celebrate Toronto 2015 Games at CPAC’s 12th Annual Summer Festival

June 22, TORONTO – About five thousand people attended 12th CPAC Summer Festival at L’Amoreaux Park in Scarborough yesterday. As an IGNITE community partner, CPAC (Cross-cultural Professionals Association of Canada) celebrated TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games and showcased region Pan American sports and culture at their event. The fastest Canadian woman currently running, Pan Am athlete Khamica Bingham made an appearance, and brought TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games souvenirs.  She was a hit with the kids, as she encouraged them to be more actively involved in sports.

The CPAC Annual Summer Festival is the biggest outdoor multi-entertainment event within Toronto’s Chinese community. In order to showcase the Pan American 2015 games, CPAC introduced many sports activities in the festival: soccer, basketball and tug-of-war matches, fencing shows, Taichi practice, as star athlete Khamica Bingham showed off her skills.

Khamica holds the Canadian youth record in the 100-metre sprint and is one of Canada’s young and upcoming sprint talents. She finished just .01 seconds out of a medal position at the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships. At the 2013 World Championships, Khamica ran the anchor leg on the 4×100 metre relay team that broke the Canadian record and placed sixth overall.

Other highlights of the day included fun and games for the whole family. Five hours of performances included Caribbean drum and dance, folk dances, acrobatics, singing and martial arts. Kids were thrilled to play ‘Pin the Torch on PACHI’, ring toss, basketball shootout and learned to make bracelets, clay dolls, and Chinese paper cutting. There were loads of great prizes for participants, with over forty big lucky draw items given away, with a special draw for kids.

In addition, there were traditional delicacies from across the Caribbean and Asia Pacific shared among families, good bargains and special offers were found that were donated by many CPAC supporters.  The first 200 members to arrive received gift bags stuffed with giveaways.

“One of the objectives of CPAC is to help newcomers integrate into and contribute to Canadian society, as well as to provide culture and recreational services for them.  The CPAC Summer Festival is a celebration for the entire community with this in mind,” said Ms. Margaret Yang, President of CPAC at the opening ceremony, “With IGNITE’s support, this year’s Summer Festival became more energetic and meaningful!” Margaret continued.

Ms. Soo Wong, MPP of Scarborough -Agincourt, Mr. Chin Lee, Toronto City Councillor (Scarborough – Rouge River) and Jim Karygiannis, Toronto City Councillor (Scarborough-Agincourt) all delivered a few words. Vice Consul General Mr. Chuanbing Zhang, and Consul Mr. Shaojie Xia of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto were also in attendance at today’s Summer Festival.

About TO2015

The TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) is tasked with managing and delivering the Games. It is working to bring some of the world’s best athletes and artists to the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, giving Ontarians a unique chance to be part of the action, and making the region a hub for sport.

The TORONTO 2015 Games are funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, as well as Lead Partner CIBC and other partners and sponsors.

The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10–26 and the Parapan American Games August 7–15.

For more information about the Games, please visit TORONTO2015.org.

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Caption:

2015 CPAC SF01:Group Photo on the opening ceremony of 12th CPAC Annual Summer Festival. From left: Mr. Eric Xiao, Board Member of CPAC, Mr. Hugh Zhao, Board Member of CPAC, Mr. Chin Lee, Toronto City Councillor (Scarborough – Rouge River), Ms. Soo Wong, MPP of Scarborough -Agincourt, Mr. Chuanbing Zhang, Vice Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto, Miss Khamica Binghaml, Women’s Track & Field Athlete, Ms. Margaret Yang, CPAC President, Mr. Stan Yu, Board Member of CPAC and Event Chair of Summer Festival, Mr. Ti Wang, Board Member of CPAC, Mr. Daniel Gao, Board Member of CPAC, Mr. Andi Shi, Executive Director of CPAC.

2015 CPAC SF02:Women’s Track & Field Athlete, Khamica Bingham played with the kids at the site;

2015 CPAC SF03-05:About 40 vendors attended 12th CPAC Summer Festival and attracted about 5000 participants;

CPAC SF06:Basketball team at the 12th Summer Festival;

CPAC SF07:Tug-of-War at the 12th Summer Festival;

CPAC SF08:Fencing shows at the 12th Summer Festival;

CPAC SF09:Three hundred-people Taichi Show;

2015 CPAC SF10-13:Fun and games for the whole family;  

2015 CPAC SF 14: Jim Karygiannis, Toronto City Councillor (Scarborough-Agincourt) presented certificates to the winners of soccer, basket ball, tug-of war matches;

2015 CPAC SF15-26:5-hour performances attracted people’s eyes.