The Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Confuscius Institute at Saint Mary’s University co-founded and hosted Canada’s First Traditional Chinese Medicine Festival at CCATCM on Feb. 8, 2020 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The events included speeches from CCATCM co-founder Dr. Franklyn Shi Chen, CCATCM CEO Ravee Chen, CCATCM Dean of Acupuncture Lucy Griffith, Green Party of Canada Deputy Leader Jo-Ann Roberts, Chinese Society of Nova Scotia President Wilber Huang and Ji Wu from the Confuscius Institute at Saint Mary’s University.
Prior to the event’s festivities a letter provided by Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil was read to the crowd. You can click here to see the letter.
The event saw hundreds of people come through the door and witness demonstrations by CCATCM students in acupuncture, acupressure massage, fire cupping, and gua sha. Those in attendance were able to take part in Qi Gong demonstrations done by CCATCM instructor Dr. Omri Broadnax. In addition to that there was an art on display, people were able to try on traditional Chinese attire and see a demonstration in traditional Chinese dance.
The festival plants the seed for the coming years when concurrent events will happen on the same day across the country. TCM associates all over Canada agreed that Nova Scotia would be the ideal launching pad for this festival because of our province’s success in building economic ties with China.
First-year CCATCM students did the event as part of a class project, and with a little help from staff, worked tirelessly on the event in the weeks leading up to it. The week prior to the event while on break the students were in the college cleaning, setting up tables, making decorations, purchasing supplies and more in order to prepare for the event. On the day of the event CCATCM students were also doing demonstrations, serving food, taking photographs, doing nutrition consultations, directing people where to park and more.
Other sponsors for the event include the S-T Life-Care Acupuncture and Natural Medicine Clinic, Hello Herb Nutrition Store, The Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine College of Canada and The Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada.
