Taiwan and Canada : A Past and Present of Rich Cultural Ties

Remarks by the Hon. David Kilgour,

Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) & MP for Edmonton Southeast

at the Taiwan Night Cultural Gala

National Press Club, Ottawa

February 11, 2003

More than 130 years ago, my church, the Canadian Presbyterian Church, sent missionary George Leslie Mackay to Swatow. However, when he stepped off his ship, he explained that “invisible cords” had diverted his course and drawn him into the harbour of what is now known as Taiwan.

Apparently, he got off to a somewhat difficult start. He was named the ‘bearded barbarian’ and began pulling teeth for free as a way to get to know the people of Taiwan. In his 29 years on the island, Mackay not only pulled more than 20,000 teeth - he founded churches, schools, and a hospital system and left a deep and lasting influence in religion, medicine, education, and culture.

It is perhaps these same ‘invisible cords’ that have been drawing Canadians and Taiwanese together ever since. Canada’s vibrant Taiwanese community has made invaluable contributions to our national mosaic and have highlighted our shared values of democracy, peace, and respect for human rights.

These ties have also helped create cultural, social, and economic links that now run deeper than ever before. Taiwan is Canada’s seventh largest source of both tourists and foreign students. In any given year, there are reportedly more than 2,400 Taiwanese students studying in Canadian universities and post-secondary institutions.

Taiwan was Canada's 10th largest trading partner in 2001- and we hope to be a part of Taiwan's continuing transformation into an economic powerhouse as it embarks on its newest goal of becoming known around the world as the "Green Silicon Island".

From promoting trade to creating study scholarships for Canadian students to establishing research funds for Canadian academics, Tom Chen and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) are doing exceptional work. I’m told that TECO has even begun a new partnership between libraries in Taiwan and Canada and kicked off the relationship by donating the 42-volume complete works of Archbishop Lokuang, past president of the Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan, to the National Library of Canada.

We have a wonderful night ahead of us. Let me extend a hearty congratulations to the tonight’s organizers and performers.
Shin nien kuai lo.

Kong shi fa tsai.