DM Blog

Taoist Tai Chi International Awareness Day

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On my way to the Eaton Centre Apple Store , as I was about to cross the street at Yonge & Dundas, I saw that a parade was just starting to leave Yonge-Dundas Square and heading east on Dundas. It turns out it was for the Taoist Tai Chi International Awareness Day. Coincidentally, I happened to have my camera on me, so I decided to take some photos as well as a short video:

Bagpipe Marchers
Parade Marchers
Parade Marchers
Canadian Taoist Tai Chi Society
Parade Dragon
Parade Dragon
Parade Dragon
Parade Marchers
American Taoist Tai Chi Society
Taoist Tai Chi at Yonge-Dundas Square
Taoist Tai Chi Awareness Day Parade Marchers
St. Andrews Bagpipe Marchers
St. Andrews Drum Marchers
Taoist Tai Chi Association Flags
Parade Marchers
Canadian Taoist Tai Chi Society
Taoist Tai Chi at Yonge-Dundas Square
Parade Dragon
Taoist Tai Chi Parade Banner
Samba Band at Yonge-Dundas Square
Samba Drums
Samba Drums
Samba Drums
Samba Drums
Samba Drums
Agogo Bells
Samba Drums
Pandeiro Player
Samba Shakers
Samba Drummers
Dragon Dance at Yonge-Dundas Square
Taoist Tai Chi at Yonge-Dundas Square
Taoist Tai Chi at Yonge-Dundas Square
Dragon Dance at Yonge-Dundas Square
Taoist Tai Chi at Yonge-Dundas Square
Taoist Tai Chi Association Flags
Taoist Tai Chi Awareness Day Speaker
Taoist Tai Chi Association Flags
Dragon Dance at Yonge-Dundas Square
Dragon Dance at Yonge-Dundas Square
Taoist Tai Chi at Yonge-Dundas Square
Dragon Dance at Yonge-Dundas Square
Samba Band at Yonge-Dundas Square
Samba Band at Yonge-Dundas Square

It was a very short parade just around the block (under 15 minutes total) but the highlight of the festivities was definitely the Samba band that I think was there to provide music for one of the dancing dragons.

It was odd to see people practicing Tai Chi on the square to a backdrop of loud Samba in one corner, a bagpipe band playing in another corner, a haphazard dragon dance taking up the majority of the space on the square, all while unprepared monotonic speeches that no one was listening to were also going on. It all appeared very under-organized but I don’t think anyone minded since the majority of the people there were not spectators, but participants in the parade.

Regardless, it’s great to see people getting together to do their thing, whatever that may be!