2017 Ottawa (Canada)
From July 27 to 30, 2017, the city government
of Ottawa invited, with the support of the Chinese embassy in Canada, Long Ma
as an envoy of the Chinese people. It traveled thousands of miles to the
Canadian capital of Ottawa to take part in the ceremonial performance held to commemorate
the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Canadian Confederation.
Ottawa saw a massive turnout, and the Canada
National TV reported that “In 4 days’ time, a total of 750,000 citizens took
part in and admired the event, breaking a record for outdoor activities in
Ottawa.”
Prior to this ceremony, Ottawa’s city
government had publicly announced the following: “In 2017, we will celebrate
the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Canadian Confederation. To this
purpose, Long Ma will serve as a cultural envoy: by participating in crucial
global events, it has shaped a positive Chinese outlook, and we’re proud that
Ottawa can be the first stop on the North-American continent to be visited by
Long Ma.
The Ottawa Citizen reported on the visit as
follows: “Long Ma is a successful attempt at establishing a collective sense of
confidence. As a non-commercial event, all of its performances were free of
charge.”
The Ottawa Sun reported as follows: “A total of 600
vendors from the Byward Market in the Ottawa city center have jointly published
an open letter to thank the city’s governmental organizations for the
commercial opportunities in the wake of the Long Ma tour. In four days’ time,
total spending by residents (on accommodation etc.) amounted to 320 million
Canadian dollars, which caused the market to regain its long-lost vitality.”