TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan will soon host what organizers call the world's largest overseas celebration of Canada's national day, a testament to the deepening but unofficial ties between the self-governed island and the North American nation. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (台灣加拿大商會) announced Wednesday (Jun 4) plans for its "2025 Canada Day" festivities scheduled for June 28 at Taipei Hakka Cultural Park (台北市客家文化主題公園), a prominent cultural venue showcasing the heritage of Taiwan's Hakka ethnic minority. Jim Nickel, who leads the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, Canada's de facto embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, described the celebration as a meaningful symbol of bilateral friendship expected to draw several thousand attendees.
The ambitious celebration will showcase Canadian culture through multiple attractions, according to Brandon Thompson, who chairs the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. Visitors can expect an array of entertainment options including live musical acts, a diverse food marketplace featuring both Canadian specialties and international cuisine, and dedicated areas designed for family participation. The event will also introduce attendees to distinctively Canadian sporting traditions, offering hands-on experiences with hockey, curling, and lacrosse, Canada's national summer sport. During the announcement, Nickel pivoted to geopolitical considerations, responding to questions about recently reimposed U.S. tariffs by emphasizing Taiwan's strategic importance to Canada as a key Indo-Pacific partner and critical component in global technology supply networks.
The Canadian representative emphasized his country's determination to deepen commercial and technological collaboration with Taiwan, a strategy that has gained additional relevance amid evolving American trade positions. Nickel highlighted significant Canadian capital flows into Taiwan's green energy sector, particularly noting the substantial Hai Long (海龍) offshore wind development as Canada's single largest investment on the island. This project represents a notable commitment from Canadian institutional investors, with pension funds deploying considerable resources toward the construction of Taiwan's expanding wind power infrastructure as part of the island's energy transition efforts.
Looking beyond current investments, Nickel outlined Canada's broader energy priorities, which encompass multiple clean technology sectors including advanced renewable energy systems, carbon capture technologies, hydrogen development, liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, and geothermal power generation. The Canadian representative identified particularly promising collaboration opportunities stemming from the similar decarbonization schedules adopted by both Taiwan and Canada, noting that this synchronization creates natural partnerships for joint initiatives aimed at transitioning away from carbon-intensive energy sources. These parallel climate commitments, Nickel suggested, provide a foundation for expanded cooperation in developing and implementing sustainable energy solutions across both economies. ◼