More than 4,000 Chinese Canadians staged their largest ever parade in Toronto on October 2 in the culmination of the week-long celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

　 Heading the parade that stretched over one kilometer in downtown streets were Toronto Chinese Canadian organization leader, professor Boon N. Cham, Chinese Consul General in Toronto Zhou Xingbao and Tony Ianno, member of the Canadian parliament.

　 Young Chinese and non-Chinese Canadians were seen dressed in traditional Chinese costumes, playing drum dance, dragon dance or lion dance, attracting large crowds down the streets.

　 The hour-long parade of more than a hundred Chinese Canadian groups ended at Metro Square.

　 Professor Cham said that the parade is successful in uniting Chinese Canadians, who are proud of China's brilliant achievements in her past 50 years. Canadian parliament member Ianno expressed his warm congratulations on China's 50th birthday and his hopes for strengthened Sino-Canadian ties in the new millennium.

　 Toronto, Canada's largest city with a Chinese population of over 400,000, saluted to the Chinese national flag on Friday as the five-starred red flag was solemnly raised at Nathan Philips Square in the center of the city. Hundreds of local Chinese Canadians attended the flag raising ceremony, where several Canadian officials were also present. (Xinhua)