Even while celebrating his bachelor party in Ontario’s Muskoka region, Simu Liu had his sights set on Markham.
Ahead of his wedding to fiancée Allison Hsu, the Marvel actor briefly stepped away from jet skiing and lake swims to share some news. ARC World, the annual Asian Roots Collective festival, is heading back to the Toronto suburb where it first launched.
The event, which celebrates Asian culture through food, music, speakers, and a celebrity basketball game, will take place on Sept. 12. Liu is headlining the event alongside former NBA player Jeremy Lin.
Returning to the Roots
“It’s such a big part of the Asian Canadian community,” Liu says of Markham. “First of all, it’s got the best Chinese food in the country, in my opinion.”
Speaking over the phone from a Muskoka cottage, Liu explained that moving the festival back to Markham is a deliberate nod to the non-profit’s origins. It also helps organizers dodge the heavy traffic of downtown Toronto, where recent editions were held.
Originally known as the Chinese Canadian Youth Athletic Association, the Asian Roots Collective was founded in 1995 to provide basketball programming. Today, the organization runs its own athletic center in Markham and serves the broader Asian community.
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A Partnership Built on Representation
The collective first partnered with Liu in 2019 for a celebrity basketball game raising funds for Lin’s foundation. At the time, Lin was playing for the Toronto Raptors.
Since then, the event has expanded into a full-day festival. It now highlights Asian excellence across various industries, gathering actors, athletes, chefs, and entrepreneurs in one space.
Liu notes the primary goal is to expose young Asian Canadians to successful role models they might not otherwise see. He hopes to expand their worldview beyond traditional, predetermined career paths.
“We knew some of our friends got sent to Kumon or that all our parents wanted us to be doctors,” Liu says. “If I could’ve attended an event where so many of my favourite actors or athletes or creators or entrepreneurs were there… my entire worldview would’ve been very different.”
Pushing Back Against Shifting Rhetoric
According to Liu, showcasing representation is crucial right now, especially as public support for marginalized communities occasionally wavers.
“There’s a lot of rhetoric that comes south of the border that unfortunately, because we’re so close by proximity, permeates into our discourse,” says Liu. “It’s really important in those moments to just stand ten toes down and really support what you’re passionate about.”
Lin echoed this sentiment from his home in the Bay Area. He views the recent cultural backlash against diversity efforts as proof that events like ARC World remain essential.
“It is telling of the barriers we’re up against and why we need to continue to do this year in and year out,” Lin says.
Deep Ties to Toronto
For Lin, returning to Toronto is an easy decision. The city holds a special place in his career, driven largely by the fan base.
“Even when I was playing for the Knicks, it felt like Toronto fans were cheering for me and it felt like a home game,” says Lin, who operates a basketball school in Toronto with ARC. “All through my career, when I went back to Toronto, I always received so much love.”
Lin and Liu have maintained a close bond over the years. During the virtual call, ARC co-founder Clement Chu pivoted the camera to show Liu and his friends flashing peace signs from the cottage.
“I’m midway through glazing you, bro!” Lin laughed.
While Chu confirmed that the full celebrity lineup for this year’s ARC World will be announced soon, Liu was ready to return to his bachelor weekend.
“We’re hitting the hot tub right now,” Liu says. “We’re probably going to jump in the lake and then play some board games.”
