Many ways to help victims of natural disasters in China, Burma
Chinatown BIA set to host fundraising banquet on May 31
The Chinatown Business Improvement Area is doing its part to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in China and cyclone in Burma by hosting a fundraising banquet at the Bright Pearl Restaurant, 346-348 Spadina Ave., second and third floors. 
The fundraiser is set to take place Saturday, May 31.
Stephen Chan, the BIA's chair as well as the restaurant's owner, is hosting the event. Proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross for its relief efforts in Suchian, China, and Burma. A table of 10 costs $388.
Call the Chinatown BIA at 416-260-9800 for details.
This week the National Congress of Chinese Canadians also launched the China Suchian Earthquake Relief Fund to help the victim's of the devastating earthquake, which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. Officials estimate that nearly 20,000 people have died as a result of the disaster.
"We're appealing to everyone across Canada to help with our campaign to help the victims in China," said Ping Tan, the organization's executive co-chair at a recent press conference.
Bang-Gu Jiang, chair of the Chinese Association of Canada, said the initial shock of hearing about the disaster has now changed into a desire to help.
"I'm sure everyone coming here from China shared one fact, the last 20 to 30 hours we were very emotional. We had to accept the shocking news and we had to find out if our families, relatives and friends were safe," she said. "Very quickly, we came to a sense of action and duty. We have to do something. We have to do something now. We're committed to doing whatever we can."
A fund has been set up at the Bank of China to collect donations. The account number is 04009072. Money will also be given to the Red Cross in China.
Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow commended Canadians for coming together so quickly to help.
"Many of the immigrants residing in Toronto have friends or relatives there. Canadians have shown that we are incredibly generous," said Chow, whose riding encompasses downtown Chinatown.
Chow said that she's also lobbying the federal government to help the thousands of missing and displaced Suchian Chinese with funding and emergency assistance though the government's Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team.
"I believe Canada has a role to play in lending a helping hand," she said, pointing to the need for Canada to help the victims of the recent Burma cyclone as well.
She also said the City of Toronto could lend its underground detection equipment to Suchian, China, to assist in finding people trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Mayor David Miller, who recently returned from a business mission to China, expressed his sympathies for the earthquake victims and their families on behalf of all Torontonians.
"Toronto is proudly home to nearly 300,000 Canadians of Chinese descent and our thoughts and prayers are with all people with family and friends in the affected areas," he said in a statement.
"Toronto has a long-standing positive and healthy sister-city relationship with Chongqing, which is a few hundred kilometres from the epicentre but which still sustained serious damage. I have initiated direct contact with Mayor Wang (Hongju's) office in Chongqing to offer the support and condolences of Toronto in this time of crisis."
-with files from Lisa Queen
