The Historical Legacy
Helping Bring Communities Together Since the 1980s
The story of Chinese Canadian participation in Montreal's Canada Day Parade — and of the community leader who made it happen.
A place in the parade
Montreal's Canada Day Parade was founded by Dr. Roopnarine Singh. Jimmy Chan brought Montreal's Chinese community into that celebration — and has kept it there for decades.
A pioneer
In the 1980s, while still a young man, Jimmy Chan became the first Chinese community leader to organize a Chinese group in Montreal's Canada Day Parade. As president of the Montreal Chan's Associations, he has led the community's contingent ever since, and was honoured by parade founder Dr. Roopnarine Singh with a Canada Day Parade Certificate of Recognition for this work.
A collective effort
No single person carries a contingent of hundreds down a parade route. Chinese cultural associations, family associations, martial arts and lion dance schools, drummers, float decorators, sponsors and volunteers have all shaped the community's presence — brought together each year under Jimmy Chan's leadership.
What participation means
For immigrant families, marching on July 1 is a public statement of belonging: Chinese heritage and Canadian identity carried together. Lion and dragon dances, drums and banners bring traditions with thousands of years of history into Montreal's streets, while parents and children march side by side — passing those traditions from one generation to the next.
Interactive timeline
Four decades on the parade route
From a first community group in the 1980s to leading the parade in 2016 — and looking ahead.
1980s
Early Community Involvement
As a young man, Jimmy Chan steps forward to organize the very first Chinese community group to march in Montreal's Canada Day Parade — becoming the first Chinese community leader to bring the community into the celebration.
1980s
Jimmy Chan organizes the first Chinese community group ever to march in Montreal's Canada Day Parade.
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1990s
Continuing a Tradition of Participation
Year after year, the Chinese community returns to the parade route. Family associations, martial arts schools and lion dance teams join the contingent, and Chinese Canadian participation becomes a July 1 tradition in Montreal.
1996
Jimmy builds Dragon Knights, the first dragon boat team in Montreal and the Chinese community — another Chinese tradition he shares with all Montrealers.
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2000s
Celebrating Culture Across Generations
A new generation takes up the drums and the lion. Jimmy Chan encourages newly arrived Chinese immigrants to march alongside long-established families, celebrating together as proud Chinese Canadians.
2003
Jimmy forms his second dragon boat team, the Phoenix Warriors.
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2010s
Leading the Parade
July 1, 2016: more than 680 Chinese Canadians from many cultural associations and schools march in Section B, leading the parade, with a dragon float, lion and dragon dancers, and Jimmy Chan on the big dragon drum.
2016
July 1 — The Chinese community leads the parade from Section B with more than 680 participants, a dragon float, lion and dragon dancers. Jimmy drums as Dragon Master and joins the VIP stage with the mayor of Montréal.
Source2017
July 1 — For Canada's 150th birthday, Jimmy organizes the Chinese community's associations, schools, lion and dragon dancers to march in Montreal's Canada Day Parade.
2018
July 1 — Jimmy again organizes the Chinese community contingent in the parade, with lion dance, dragon dance and drumming.
2019
July 1 — Jimmy leads the Chinese community in the parade once again and, as president of the Montreal Canada Day Drumming Celebration team, gathers a large group of drummers to celebrate. La Presse Chinoise covers the day.
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2020s
Continued Community Leadership
The parade was cancelled from 2020 to 2022 because of the pandemic, returned in 2023, and was cancelled again by its organizer in 2024 and 2025. Through it all, Jimmy Chan has kept the Chinese community at the heart of Canada Day, founding Montreal's first multicultural drumming festival in Chinatown, leading Lunar New Year and Chinatown Day celebrations, and working with other community leaders to revive the parade.
2020
July 1 — With in-person celebrations paused by the pandemic, Jimmy leads Montreal drummers in the Canada Day Drumming Virtual Celebration alongside 28 cities across six time zones, honouring frontline and healthcare workers.
Source2021
Jimmy brings lion dancing back to Chinatown after the pandemic pause (CBC News).
Source2022
July 1 — Jimmy leads Montreal's Canada Day Drumming Celebration. That May, he also launches Drum for Unity in Chinatown.
Source2023
July 1 — The Canada Day Parade returns after the pandemic, and Jimmy organizes the Chinese community to march once more, with floats, lion dancers and drummers on Sainte-Catherine Street.
Source2023
Jimmy receives the Medal of the National Assembly of Québec for 40 years of community service.
Source2024
The parade's organizer cancels Montreal's Canada Day Parade, which does not take place again in 2025. Jimmy carries the spirit of July 1 into Chinatown through Drum for Unity and Chinatown Day.
Source2025
Jimmy is presented with the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Source2025
Jimmy works actively with other community leaders to revive Montreal's Canada Day Parade and bring it back to the streets.
2027+
Looking Toward the Future
The next chapter: encouraging new generations of Montrealers to take part in shared Canadian traditions.
Looking toward Canada Day 2027
Continuing the Spirit of Unity
Jimmy Chan is involved in the revival of Montreal's historic Canada Day Parade for July 1, 2027, working with other community leaders to bring back a celebration cherished in Montreal for over four decades. His vision is to bring all communities and all immigrants together to celebrate culture, heritage, diversity and inclusion.
Jimmy Chan remains committed to the values that have guided his community work for decades: cultural pride, inclusion, volunteerism, and bringing people together.
The next chapter offers an opportunity to celebrate Montreal's diverse communities and encourage new generations to participate in shared Canadian traditions.
Get involved
Want to march, volunteer or help bring back Montreal's Canada Day Parade? Email Jimmy Chan: jimmy@jimmychan.ca