Our Stories Co-creating – Sureway Cultural Services

Meeting the wonderful sponsor: Zelko Odorcic at Nova Open Table Tennis Games

Zelko Odorcic from Nova Marketing Group sponsored this open table tennis competitions from Aug 9-12, he also sponsored Anna Yin’s Poetry and Music project, so here Anna is in My Table Tennis club to watch games and take photos! She also brought her books as gifts for Zelko to thank him for his support.

Today she also got other sponsors sending nice words about Poetry and Music project here shared some:
——Hi Anna, This is really good. You have talents across many art forms. Dennis
——Dearest Anna, these are beautiful samples, I believe they will be treasured by many. It is a gift to reach out in music and words to the universal heart. You are so worthy of success, I am so happy to be a part of it, we both want to bring comfort to every needy spirit in these very difficult times. The common bond is so appreciated now.. Much love and support from Katherine.
—-Also got Bunny’s email for her kind and sweet support… Cheers!

Poetry and Music Project is proudly supported by our sponsors: Nova Marketing Group, Triple J Canada, Sureway Press, Mississauga Arts Council , and Canadian poets Katherine L. Gordon and D.C. Reid.

Poetry and Music samples (in Chinese and English)

Canada-China Symposium on Chinese and Western Poetry Creation on July 27, 2025

On July 27, 2025, the Canada-China International Cultural Artists Association and the Canada-China International Cultural Arts Center co-hosted their First Canada-China Symposium on Chinese and Western Poetry at the New Time Club.
Ten Canadian poets and forty Chinese writers and artists were brought together to explore how poetry can preserve Chinese cultural heritage while fostering dialogue with Western traditions. The gathering emphasized mutual understanding and cultural exchange through poetic expression.

Albert Moritz, former Toronto Poet Laureate, opened with reflections on cultural differences and his visits to China. Anna Yin presented original multimedia works from her Poetry and Music project with guitarist Mark Harry. Gutu gave a talk titled “Images and Sounds” on poetic expression across cultures and languages.

Poets including Allan Briesmaster, Bunny Iskov, Diana Manole, Patrick Connors, Paul Edward Costa, Renee M. Sgroi, and other Chinese poets shared their work and insights. The event also featured performances by musicians, educators, and artists. Sincere thanks to all the guests and participants for contributing their artistic voices to foster a shared sense of connection and celebration of the arts. Many thanks to more than ten Chinese media outlets covering this event!

Chinese media/中文报道：
北美之声
中国国际新闻网
轻松加拿大
 今日头条
 华人头条……

Keynote Speakers: Biographies and Presentation Topics
（主旨发言人：简介与演讲主题 ) Photos included

First Canada-China Symposium on Chinese and Western Poetry Creation on July 27

My Accent and Breaking into Blossom (Poetry and Music update)

We tried a few poems with music at MAC studio. Here is one of the videos Anna Yin made. Thanks Mississauga Arts Council. Check our other samples.

This Poetry and Music Project is proudly supported by our sponsors: Nova Marketing Group, Triple J Canada, Sureway Press, Mississauga Arts Council , and Canadian poets Katherine L. Gordon and D.C. Reid. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of them!

Poetry and Music Open Mic & Live in June & July

We’re excited to be working on our Peace and Harmony Through Poetry and Music project. Our goal is to share messages of peace with communities through radio broadcasts, YouTube, and live performances.
Our first try of Midnight’s Mystery is on HOWL – CIUT 89.5FM June Open Mic, A Chinese Nightingale and Short Song from Breaking into Blossom were aired on HOWL July Open Mic.
The Seeking Heart (Anna Yin, Ming Li and Wendy Zhu), A Chinese Nightingale & Midnight’s Mystery (Anna & Mark Harry) at Open Mic Cineplex Junxion at Erin Mills Town Centre on July 5, 2025
The Seeking Heart, Midnight’s Mystery and Some Trees Come to me are on World Poetry Cafe Radio on July 10, 2025
My Accent, A Chinese Nightingale, Some Trees Come to Me showcased at Chinese and Canadian Poetry Symposium in Scarborough on July 27, 2025

Mark and Anna at Cineplex Junxion at Erin Mills Town Centre

The Seeking Heart (Anna Yin, Ming Li and Wendy Zhu)

We will share new piece: Walking with Star, My Accent, Poetry and Music, There Must Be Something & Beautiful Hope in Aug
Aug 6, Amphitheatre Unplugged (8-9pm) Celebration Square, Mississauga)

Check the whole Poetry and Music project. We thank our sponsors: Nova Marketing Group, Triple J Canada, Sureway Press, Mississauga Arts Council and Canadian Poets: Katherine L. Gordon & DC Reid.

Peace and Harmony through Poetry and Music Project 2025

Peace and Harmony through Poetry and Music is a cross-disciplinary collaboration uniting poets and musicians to explore language, sound, and cultural expression. Through compositions, performances, and filming, the project weaves poetry and music into a unified experience, fostering cross-cultural dialogue, creative exchange, and a shared vision of peace and harmony.

Poet Anna Yin will lead this project and collaborate with three to four musicians from diverse cultural and musical backgrounds. Please click here to see steps and details.

We are very happy that this project won a Matchmaker Microgrant from MAC in 2025!

MAC selected Polyphonic celebration for Mississauga’s 50th Anniversary project as 2024 success

“Poet and author Anna Yin used her Matchmaker MicroGrant to produce the ebook Polyphonic celebration for Mississauga’s 50th Anniversary – 2024. This heartfelt, community-engaged work captures the essence of local artists, particularly writers, celebrating Mississauga’s 50th anniversary through poems, stories, paintings, and photos. The ebook can be served as a “yearbook” of 2024, and captures writing in English, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and Persian.
The book is written in three parts – the first explores the friendship between Mississauga and its sister city, Kariya, Japan, through poetry, particularly haikus. The second section features interviews with Mississauga community leaders and poetry writing on events that took place in Mississauga in 2024 and prior. Highlights include tributes to long-running Mayor Hazel McCallion and insights into what the future of Mississauga will hold. The final part showcases haikus written by students at Clifford International School in Guangzhou, China, guided by Anna during her 2024 travels. ” — Mississauga Arts Council, Oct 24, 2024

MicroGrant Success: Anna Yin, Spring 2023

Congratulations on the launch of “Awakening,” a poetry film inspired by the public art in Mississauga!

“Awakening”, a poetry film inspired by public art in Mississauga now has been released. The short film was produced and directed by Anna Yin with her film crew members Sarah Hei and Roy Marques. The film covers more than 10 pieces of public art in Mississauga and reveals the city’s unique history and culture with beautiful natural scenes. This project won a 2023 Micro Matchmaker grant from Mississauga Arts Council and was supported by local art groups and businesses. Here is the film link for you to enjoy:

Special thanks to the Mississauga Arts Council, the Mississauga Nation, Triple J Canada, and Kaideed Education. Congratulations on this exciting release! Check more about this project.

Video of Poets & Painters-Arts in Translation: Armand Garnet Ruffo, Yan Li and Anna Yin on Dec 9, 2022

Thank you all for joining us for a special event. Thanks Dr. Ruffo and Yan Li for sharing their work and knowledge. The video is ready! We wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season and a great new year!

This is a part of Anna Yin’s project: To explore poetry/painting from Indigenous and Chinese sources with analyses and translations for cross-cultural bridging. We thank the Canada Council for the Arts and CPAC for support!