Website:  CMC Asians

Singing contests in the community is a nice entertaining way to promote talent and network within members of the community.  Canadian Multicultural Council is hosting and co-sponsoring a singing contest including these Asian groups:  Afghan, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, Tibetan, Thai and Vietnamese.   The Heart and Stroke Foundation are the co-sponsors with an aptly titled contest 'Sing For Your Heart 2009' to celebrate Asian Heritage Month from May to June.  Singing is a wonderful way to express emotions and promote culture and television shows such as 'American Idol' or 'Canadian Idol' are popular enough that this contest can be the 'Asian Idol' equivalent.  Most of the songs will probably be from popular North American radio or stage since a lot of singers like copying their idols, and are not song writers with their own original compositions.  To sing in English, the main language in Canada, and not in an Asian language, is probably going to be the easiest way to understand and gauge the singer's talent within a common language, although there are no restrictions that the songs be only in English.  It can be a hot challenge to the organizations and communities to sponsor the singers until the winner is chosen.  The judges will probably be from multicultural backgrounds to be fair.  The prizes are: 1st place $1000 cash plus a trip to Asia, 2nd place $500 cash plus a trip to London England, and 3rd place $250 cash plus a trip to Orlando Florida USA.  Participants have to be:  Asian heritage background, ages 14 to 25 years old, register before March 31, and agree to competition rules and regulations.  There will be an Open Audition, Open Competition, Pre-Final Competition and Final Competition on June 14, 2009 at P.C. Ho Theater, Chinese Cultural Center of Greater Toronto in Scarborough Ontario.  There are community selection contacts for each Asian community with names and phone numbers of those from the same community backgrounds.  This contest should be televised, on radio and video websites to broadcast into the ethnic and mainstream viewing public to bring attention to talents from these Asian backgrounds living in Canada, promoting multiculturalism at the community level.  For those who want to watch them live and applaud, there will surely be tickets sold for the theater.  Maybe through such an opportunity and support, there will be more young stars from Asian Canadian backgrounds, who will bring pride and joy to both Asians and the mainstream.