In 2021, amidst the severe COVID-19 pandemic, when everyone was confined to their homes and experiencing a great deal of frustration, the Alumni Association took notice of this and organized an "Online Book Club" in May. Alumni were able to meet online, engage in casual discussions, and promote their mental well-being. It was made clear from the outset that this initiative was not intended for academic research, but rather for the relaxed sharing of good books. Due to the pandemic, borrowing books from libraries was not possible, so we resorted to using free online book platforms.

​

The primary focus was on books written by authors from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, although we also explored translated works by Canadian and Japanese authors. We specifically selected shorter works, not necessarily the authors' magnum opus, in order to make reading more manageable without straining our eyes on lengthy pieces.

One year later, in May 2022, the book club underwent a name change to "Casual Cultural Salon." This brought about various changes in content. In addition to book discussions, we began to incorporate elements such as film viewing, travel narratives, and historical anecdotes. In-person gatherings became a part of our routine, with events like "Nostalgic Toronto and Hong Kong Years," where Alfred displayed his precious collections, and Wilson shared his philatelic hobbies.

​

By May 2023, as the pandemic had largely subsided, and normal life had resumed, we realized that the original objectives of this online gathering, set two years prior, had been achieved. Consequently, we decided to conclude our activities. The "Casual Cultural Salon" organized one final event to serve as a summary, where Boman Chen spontaneously demonstrated calligraphy for everyone, teaching us how to copy a painting using brush and ink.