2016
December 1, 2016. The Embassy of China hosts a reception to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding Canada-China Friendship Society. The reception was hosted by Chargé d’affaires Wentian Wang. Speakers included the founding President of CCFS Peter Larson and the one of the current co-Presidents, Roy Atkinson. For more information and photos see archive of past events.
February 2, 2016. Members of the CCFS note the passing of Honorary Life Member Jacqueline Major. Jacqueline was a pillar of the CCFS-Ottawa for several decades, since its inception in 1976, having served as a one-time VP and several times on the executive committee. Even before the founding of CCFS-O she was very involved in assisting Chinese students in getting settled in Ottawa and through the years made many friends with the Chinese Embassy and a succession of ambassadors. In fact, Jacqueline was the real estate agent who handled the sale of the Catholic convent building to the Chinese government in 1970-71 to house its present embassy.
2015
August 22, 2015. Several members of the Executive held a half day strategy session to discuss future plans for the Society. The session was facilitated by Lyle Makosky.
July 22, 2015. Some members of the CCFS Executive attended a reception at the Chinese Embassy to mark the 88th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. The host was the Military, Naval and Air Attaché Senior Colonel Haitao Zhu and Mme Yu Wang.
July 20, 2015. Several members of the CCFS Executive met with four students from the Telfer MBA Programme at the University of Ottawa. They were working on a marketing plan for the CCFS with the goal of making the Society better known and helping to reach its core audience.
June 18, 2015. The CCFS-O was invited by the Chinese Embassy to attend a ceremony to honour Canadians killed in the battle of Hong Kong and the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The ceremony was held at the site of the monument to Canadians who died in the battle located on Sussex drive near King Edward avenue in Ottawa.
Ambassador Luo Zhaohui gave a Chinese perspective on the war known as the World Anti -Fascist War which began in 1937 with a Japanese invasion of China and ended with the Allied defeat of Japan in 1945. He outlined the tremendous losses China suffered during nearly a decade of war but he also emphasized the links created between China and various allies including Canada. He paid special recognition to Dr. Norman Bethune and to the 2000 Canadian soldiers sent to Hong Kong to defend it against the Japanese. After a 17 day battle fighting alongside Hong Kong volunteers nearly 500 Canadian soldiers were killed and the rest spent the remainder of the war in Japanese prisoner of war camps. Remarks
The Ambassador presented a document of thanks on behalf of the Chinese government to one of the survivors of the battle, George MacDonell.
Senator Joseph Day, Chairman of the Senate Sub Committee on Veterans Affairs also spoke as did Frank Ling a former head of the Hong Kong Canada Business Association.
The highlight of the event was the speech by George MacDonell, who described his personal experience during the fight for Hong Kong. The speeches were followed by laying of five wreaths by Ambassador Luo, Senator Day and three Hong Kong groups. Everyone else was given a yellow flower to leave at the site of the monument.
The ceremony ended with a photograph of representatives of all the organizations present with Ambassador Luo and Mr. MacDonell.
June 9, 2015, A delegation from the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries visited Ottawa to meet with officials from the Ottawa Carleton District School Board and with the CCFS.
A meeting was held at the Office of the OCSBD at 133 Greenbank and included presentations by Renaud Cousineau Director of Curriculum Services and Kathy Scheepers International Education Co-ordinator.
Following the meeting the delegates were given a tour of Sir Robert Borden High School by Principal Wendy Verreault and several teachers. Discussion were held about the possibility of student/teacher exchanges as well as possible visits by Shanghai arts and cultural youth groups.
Members of the Shanghai delegation included: Mr. Yu Jianhao, Vice President of Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries , Mr. Hao Qinghua, Director, General office, Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. Zhu Lianghu, Deputy Minister of Organization Department of CPC Changning district committee, Mr. Liang Yong, Deputy Director of External Relations Department of Shanghai United Media Group, Mr. Ling Xiang, European and American Affairs Division, Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
Several members of the CCFS participated in the event including Gary Levy, Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, Nataly Azzi, Qing (Lacey) Shen, Tracy Tian and Helen Moscicky.
Following the meetings the CCFS hosted lunch for the delegation at the Bambu Restaurant after which the Shanghai delegation left for the United States.
June 3, 2015.
On June 3, 2015 the Co-President and Past President of the Canada-China Friendship Society attened a reception hosted by the Canada-China Legislative Association in celebration of the 45 years of diplomatic relations between China and Canada. The CCLA co-chairs, Senator Victor Oh and Mrs Wai Young MP welcomed nearly 300 guests including Ministers and Members of Parliament, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, representatives of Chinese communities, academia, Canadian based enterprizes, media organizations, diplomatic envoys and representatives of people to people exchange organizations.
May 21, 2015
On May 21 the Co-President of the Canada China Friendship Society was among the 60 invited guests at a ceremony to unveil a commemorative plaque in front of the Chinese Embassy. The plaque tells a brief history of the embassy chancery building.
It was unveiled by Ambassador Luo Zhaohui, Colunsellor Wang Wentian, Mayor Jim Watson and Ambassador Graham Shantz
2014
September 24, 2014, Ambassador Luo Zhaohui invited the Co-Presidents of the CCFS to discuss future projects and co-operation.
From l-r Gary Levy, Ambassador Luo Zhaohui, Roy Atkinson, and Li Dongwen, Minister Counsellor for Cultural Affairs
David Burke, Maggie Yan, Vice Admiral Norman and Penny Burke
July 30, 2014, Several members of the CCFS were invited to a reception on the 87th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army hosted by the Military, Naval and Air Attaché of the Embassy Senior Colonel Haitao Zhu and Mme Yu Wang.
June 3, 2014, Amnesty International, the Centre for International Policy Studies and the Human Rights Research and Education Centre at the University of Ottawa, presented a panel on the 25th anniversary of the events in Tiananmen Square. Speakers included Alex Neve, Secretary-General, Amnesty International Canada, Cheuk Kwan, Chair, Toronto Association for Democracy in China and Liane Lee and Chen Yuguo, Eyewitnesses to the events of June 4, 1989
June 1, 2014 Members of the Canada China Friendship Society attended the Community Welcome Fair organized by the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre.
Shown here are CCFS-O members Zaihan “Daisy” Deng and Tracy Tian.
Other members who volunteered their time at the Open House were Qing (Lacey) Sheng, Roxanne Hamel, Vincent Lacroix-Cuerrier and Sam Gendreau.
May 15-18, 2014, The China Jingdezhen Porcelain Art Collections Exhibition took place at the Nepean Sportsplex.
April 29, 2014, Farewell reception for Ambassador Zhang Junsai at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
On behalf of the CCFS-O 
the members of the Executive presented Ambassador Zhang with a small gift in appreciation of the hospitality extended to the CCFS-O during his three year as Ambassador.
April 24, 2014, Bromley Memorial Lecture
Professor Mu Rongping Director, Institute of Policy and Management of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Vice President of the Chinese Association for the Advancement of Science of Science Policy and S&T Research. He spoke at the University of Ottawa on Policy Framework for Innovation Driven Development in China.
2013
November 29, 2013, Mayor Jim Watson hosts reception after his trade mission to sister city Beijing.
On behalf of CCFS-O Margaret McCuaig-Johnston attended, a presentation at City Hall by Mayor Jim Watson on the mission to China that he led in October, featuring business, technology, tourism and education partnerships. This mission to Ottawa’s sister city of Beijing was Ottawa’s biggest mission ever; forty business people participated along with representatives of University of Ottawa, Algonquin College and Elmwood School. Invest Ottawa was a key organizer of the mission along with Tourism Ottawa, and local companies will invest and start businesses in their sister city while Chinese companies such as ZDG and Jianwei Health Products will set up facilities in Ottawa. Governor General David Johnston was in attendance with the Mayor for the signing of an agreement between U of O and Jiatong University for a new medical research centre. The trade mission coincided with Innovation Conference organized by the Canada/China Business Council at which Mayor Watson gave the keynote address.
2012
June 3, 2012, CCFS-Ottawa Statement on the death of Chinese student Jun Lin
June 23, 2012, Lolan Merklinger receives The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
At a ceremony at University College, University of Toronto, Lolan Merklinger received The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work with CCFS-Ottawa and the Federation of Canada-China Friendship Associations(FCCFA). Lolan Merklinger was President of CCFS-Ottawa from 2005-2009 and also President of the FCCFA for the same period. She received the award at the ceremony together with 29 other recipients nominated by Senator Vivienne Poy, the first Canadian senator of Asian descent. The letter accompanying the medal states that “Lolan Wang Merklinger is a scholar, who is committed to building bridges between Canada and China through her scholarly and community activities, and in particular, as past president of the Canada China Friendship Society……(which) over the last decade as China has grown in importance on the world stage, has taken on an increasingly important role in the National Capital Region in helping to promote a better understanding of China among Canadians. Lolan helped organize a series of formal exchange visits, and continues her involvement with the Society’s commitment to furthering academic knowledge, and public awareness”.
2011
April 23, 2011, CCFS-Ottawa Statement on the death of Chinese exchange student Qian Liu
2010
June 24, 2010, Luncheon for Chinese President. CCFS President, Lorraine Farkas, had the pleasure of meeting President Hu Jintao at a state luncheon of the Governor General in honour of the Chinese President.
She was among about 65 other guests, including university presidents, politicians, professors, heads of various not-for-profit organizations and business people. A surprising number of attendees had just returned or who were going to China in the near future, including the Governor General herself and Mr. Allan Rock, University of Ottawa President.
October 13-14, 2010. Commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and the People’s Republic of China.
CCFS-Ottawa was well represented at the 40th Anniversary Conference on Canada-China Relations, and the Canada-China Cultural Dialogue Conference, both at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. Executive committee members from l. to r. are Lorraine Farkas, James Steele, Gilliane Lapointe, Lolan Merklinger, Shiyou Li
2009
August 29, 2009, Farewell Reception to Counselor Zhao Haisheng and his wife Ms. Lu Yongjiu and Welcome to Counselor Lin Difu and his wife Ms. Zhang Haiyun. Reception was attended by Chinese Embassy guests and a number of CCFS-Ottawa executive committee members and guests and took place at the home of Executive member Dr. Wang Yong-Zhi and his wife Dr. Joanne Xiong.
2008
October 29, 2008, Conference on Re-inventing Canada-China Relations. Senator Hugh Segal was moderator; principal speakers were former Chinese ambassador to Canada Mei Ping, former Chinese ambassador to the U.K. Ma Zhenggang, current Chinese ambassador to Canada Lan Lijun, Gordon Houlden of China Institute University of Alberta, George Haynal of Bombardier. Ottawa chapter president Lolan Merklinger (and then FCCFA president) spoke at the reception on behalf of FCCFA. Ottawa chapter VP Gilliane Lapointe also attended.
2006
March 23, 2006, City of Ottawa’s Gala for Dashan (Mark Rowswell), Jeffrey de Fourestier, Vice President of the CCFS acted as marketing director for the event organizing committee. Proceeds benefited Chinese seniors at The Glebe Centre’s Senior Citizens Home. Ben Franklin Place