A coalition of Toronto-area community organizations has launched a major fundraising effort in Markham to help families recover from last month’s devastating highrise fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district.
The campaign, titled Toronto Responds: Support for Hong Kong Fire Victims Fund, unites several well-established cultural and charitable groups, including the Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation, the CPAC (Chinese Professionals Association of Canada) Foundation and the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto. Business associations and Lions Clubs from across the region are also taking part.
Organizers aim to raise $500,000 over the next six weeks, with a goal of collecting at least $250,000 before Christmas to ensure aid reaches affected families as quickly as possible.
The Tai Po fire ranks among Hong Kong’s deadliest in recent years, killing 159 people — many of them seniors — leaving 31 missing and forcing thousands of residents from their homes. The tragedy has resonated deeply within the Greater Toronto Area, where many residents maintain close family and cultural ties to Hong Kong.
“People here have been calling and messaging us for days asking how they can help,” said Helen Cao, president of the CPAC Foundation. She explained that organizers chose to partner with The Community Chest of Hong Kong, which supports more than 160 social service agencies, to ensure donations are delivered in a transparent and accountable manner. All funds raised in Canada will be transferred directly to the Hong Kong-based charity.
More than $70,000 was pledged at the campaign’s launch event Monday at Markham City Hall, which drew community leaders, business representatives and elected officials.
Richmond Hill Mayor David West said the scale of the disaster has deeply affected local families with Hong Kong connections, while Deputy Mayor Godwin Chan described the images of seven residential towers engulfed in flames as unforgettable. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti shared a video message offering condolences, though he was unable to attend the event in person.
Organizers say the outpouring of early support underscores the strong ties between the GTA and Hong Kong — and the community’s determination to help families rebuild after tragedy.
