Markham Welcomes Simu Liu and Jeremy Lin for Basketball Event

Even while celebrating his bachelor party in Ontario’s Muskoka region, Simu Liu was thinking about Markham.

Before tying the knot with his fiancée Allison Hsu, the Marvel actor took a break from jet skiing and swimming with friends this week to discuss bringing ARC World – the annual Asian Roots Collective festival – back to the Toronto suburb where it all started.

This celebration of Asian culture – featuring food, music, speakers, and a celebrity basketball game with Liu and former NBA player Jeremy Lin – is set to return on Sept. 12 after recent events held downtown in Toronto.

“It’s such a big part of the Asian Canadian community,” Liu says regarding Markham.

“First of all, it’s got the best Chinese food in the country, in my opinion.”

Speaking over the phone while looking out at a lake in Muskoka, Liu expresses that coming to Markham is important because it’s where the non-profit behind ARC World was established.

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“We wanted to bring the event back to the community and back to its people, maybe avoid the traffic of downtown a little bit.”

The organization originally known as the Chinese Canadian Youth Athletic Association was founded in 1995 to provide basketball programs for Chinese Canadians. Today, it runs its own athletics center in Markham and serves a wider Asian community.

The group teamed up with Liu in 2019 for a celebrity basketball game that raised funds for Lin’s foundation when he was still playing for the Toronto Raptors. The event has since grown into a one-day festival that honors Asian excellence across various fields, bringing together athletes, actors, musicians, entrepreneurs, chefs along with local businesses and community groups.

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Liu mentions that a main goal is helping young Asian Canadians find role models they might not meet otherwise.

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“An event like this is necessary today because I think you still have kids that grow up a little bit unsure of how to feel about their identity,” says Liu, who starred in 2021’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and will be featured in this winter’s “Avengers: Doomsday.”

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Liu emphasizes how vital this is at a time when progress on representation can seem shaky and “public opinion shifts as to whether or not support for marginalized communities is important.”

“There’s a lot of rhetoric that comes south of the border that unfortunately 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. And for me, I’m never not going to be Chinese; so this community is always going to mean a lot to me.”

Lin notes that recent pushback against diversity efforts “is telling of the barriers we’re up against and why we need to continue doing this year after year.”

The Asian American guard shares he keeps returning to Toronto for ARC World because he feels supported by its Asian community.

“I always say Toronto is easily one of my favorite cities and one of my favorite teams that I’ve ever played for mainly because of the fans,” he states during a virtual call from California’s Bay Area.

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“Even when I was playing for the Knicks, it felt like (Toronto fans) were cheering for me; it felt like home,” adds Lin who operates a basketball school in Toronto alongside ARC.

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“All through my career when I went back to Toronto I always received so much love.”

Liu and Lin became friends during Lin’s stint with Raptors; even if they don’t see each other often now, Lin states their bond remains strong over time.

“Our mutual respect our love for each other our friendship is understood. And every time we see each other we just pick up where we left off.”

A moment later Clement Chu co-founder of ARC calls from Liu’s bachelor party showing him having fun with friends as they pose peace signs from their cottage.

“I’m midway through glazing you bro!” laughs Lin at Liu on screen.

Liu wishes more young people could explore their potential beyond traditional paths.

“Growing up around Greater Toronto area didn’t see many people succeeding outside some ‘predetermined paths’.”

“We knew some friends got sent off Kumon or all parents wanted us become doctors,” he reflects.

“If I’d attended an event where numerous favorite actors athletes creators entrepreneurs were present absorbing advice wisdom would’ve altered perception possibilities entirely.”

Chu shared details celebrities attending year’s ARC World will soon be revealed.

But until then it’s back festivities celebrating buddy’s upcoming wedding.

“We’re hitting hot tub right now,” shares Liu excitedly.

“Probably jumping lake playing board games next.”

This report by The Canadian Press first July 31 2026.

& copy 2026 The Canadian Press

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