ARC World 2025: A New Chapter Celebrating Asian Canadian Culture

Written by Fête Chinoise Editorial Team
Photography: Fête Chinoise Editorial Team (Steven Yu)

On Saturday, July 12, 2025, the heart of downtown Toronto pulsed with bold energy, flavour, and celebration as the Asian Roots Collective (ARC) hosted the first-ever ARC World, a refreshed evolution of the CCYAA Celebrity Classic.

Formerly known as the Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association (CCYAA), ARC’s rebrand marks a community-wide evolution. One that acknowledges the complexity of growing up Asian in North America, of feeling too much or not enough, of existing between cultures, and ultimately, of finding strength in that duality.

As a long-time partner and friend of ARC, Fête Chinoise was proud to witness this next chapter unfold. ARC World continues to showcase that Asian Canadian identity is multifaceted, dynamic, and worthy of celebration.

Reposted from @asianrootscollective instagram

ARC World: A Festival of Now

Held at Toronto Metropolitan University, ARC World welcomed thousands to experience contemporary Asian culture across five curated areas: HOOPS, EATS, NEXT, TALKS, and MARKET. Each was a window into the stories, talent, and ingenuity of the Asian diaspora.

ARC HOOPS, presented by Google Pixel, brought star power and vibrant energy to the court, uniting NBA legends, content creators, and community icons in a game that was as much about representation as it was about sport. Familiar names like Simu Liu, Jeremy Lin, Matt Bonner, Jason Williams, and creators like Leenda Dong, MC Jin, and AJ Rafael lit up the arena, reminding us that basketball remains a unifying language across generations. MC Jin also thrilled the crowd as the halftime performer.

Photography: Fête Chinoise Editorial Team (Steven Yu)

At ARC EATS, formerly FreshFest, the scents of garlic, chili, sesame, and soy wafted through the air as chefs and food entrepreneurs shared dishes that told their own stories of migration, memory, and innovation. From Hong Shing’s crispy classics, A-Sha’s noodle bowls to Chef Suman Ali’s rich South Asian dishes, food became a bridge between generations and geographies.

ARC NEXT, powered by TD, turned up the volume on youth expression. Audiences were treated to performances by dance crew VYBE, singing prodigy Ava Ro, and YouTube sensations AJ and Alyssa Rafael. It was a space emerging youth began to claim their space, loudly and proudly.

Over at ARC TALKS, authenticity reigned. Panels featuring creatives like Koolmac, musicians Janice and Sonia Lee, and culminating with a heartfelt conversation between Simu Liu and Jeremy Lin, shared with generosity and purpose and invited listeners to lean in.

The ARC MARKET, presented by Intuit TurboTax Business, was a vibrant celebration of Asian Canadian creativity, featuring a diverse lineup of small businesses, artists, and makers like Raptors 905, Dim Sum City, and KayTran Eyewear, alongside vendors such as Artketgoods, Hey Fun Market, Jollybeast, and Kalamansi Collective, and more.

A Movement Rooted in Community

The spirit of ARC World radiated pride and joy. Beneath the celebrity appearances, streetwear drops, and culinary delights, the event created something deeper: a space where the community could truly feel they belong.

Proceeds from ARC World support the Jeremy Lin Foundation and ARC’s growing programming.

ARC’s rebrand is rooted in a truth we at Fête Chinoise have long recognised: culture is not static. It evolves, shaped by time, movement, and the stories of those living it. What began in 1995 as a grassroots basketball initiative for Chinese youth has grown into a multidisciplinary platform that empowers Asians of all backgrounds to thrive, express, and lead, in spaces like ARC World and beyond.

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