THUNDER BAY -- A world record Tai Chi demonstration was underway in China on Sunday morning when around 60 people took to the local harbour to express their solidarity.
Jiouzou, China is expecting 50,000 people to be moving in Tai Chi rhythms at once and cities across the world stepped in time, including Toronto, Vancouver and Thunder Bay.
"We are the most popular Tai Chi city in North America," said instructor Peng You.
"They call us 'Tai Chi City.' In 2003, we had 1,200 people doing Tai Chi for Canada Day. Per capita, that's one per cent of the population. So we are good and we don't want to be shy about that."
There's a deeper connection in the fledgling relationship with Jiouzou and the potential that exists to embrace the birthplace of Tai Chi as one of Thunder Bay's sister cities. Thunder Bay has already developed a Tai Chi agreement and next month, local dancers and drummers will perform the first-ever powwow within China's borders.
Jingle dress and fancy shawl dancers circled a drum to kick off Sunday's event as a taste of what the demonstration will look like when it takes place on the Great Wall of China next month.
A fundraising campaign to send the 11-member delegation has been slowly attracting the public's support but sponsorships are still being welcomed until the flight leaves to Jiouzou on Nov. 16.
"It's very exciting," said Thunder Bay Aboriginal liaison, Ann Magiskan.
"Having been involved in coordinating and putting together powwows for 10 years when I worked for Fort William Historical Park, this is an opportunity to take it overseas and not only demonstrate but share our culture."
