Roar and Rides Car Show Drives Community Impact and Raises $30k for Scarborough Health Network
Written by Fête Chinoise Editorial Team (Kayla Lo)
Photography: Ethan Wong
On June 22, 2025, West Beaver Creek Road in Richmond Hill transformed into an unexpected stage. Over 130 rare and exotic vehicles gathered for Roar and Rides, a new car meet event that united car enthusiasts, families, and cultural performers in support of the Scarborough Health Network Foundation. The event raised $30,000, with funds directed toward urgently needed hospital equipment that will directly benefit patients across Scarborough.
Before engines roared and admirers circled vintage gems like the 1955 Messerschmitt KR200 or the 1964 VW Type 1 Transporter, the day began with something far more ancient: the Chinese Lion Awakening Ceremony. Performed by the Choi Wing Sum Chinese Lion Dance troupe, this traditional rite is a deeply rooted cultural practice signifying the awakening of spirit and the ushering in of good fortune. Often reserved for milestone occasions, the lion dance served as a symbolic blessing of safety and prosperity for all vehicles and participants, linking a rich cultural lineage to the shared passion of the automotive community.
As conversations flowed between car owners, families, and organizers, Roar and Rides marked a growing movement to integrate cultural heritage into broader civic and philanthropic spaces.
Keith Kwan, founder of Roar and Rides, shared, “Roar and Rides thanks its sponsors for creating a unique event that represents a cultural celebration of East meets West and a collaboration between exotic cars and generosity towards the community around us.”
In blending tradition with community action, Roar and Rides reminds us that celebration can also be a form of care; and when care is rooted in culture, it resonates beyond the moment.
This spirit reflects the core values of Fête Chinoise and aligns with our 2025 Love at Mid-Autumn campaign, which celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival through community connection and generosity. The campaign honours the festival’s timeless themes of togetherness, unity, and family. Proceeds support three charitable organizations: the Chinese Canadian Museum, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Fête Chinoise Cultural Foundation, dedicated to accessible music education and sustained cultural engagement for future generations.
Through initiatives like Roar and Rides and Love at Mid-Autumn, we witness how culture can be both a mirror and a bridge, honouring our heritage while actively contributing to the community. Showing care is both simple and powerful. It’s time to be part of it.
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