What an incredible weekend at the 81st NACIVT in Montreal! As members of the tournament organizing committee, our Montreal Chan Lion Dance Club helped coordinate the opening ceremony; we brought in Louese Hu to sing the Canadian National Anthem, and we proudly brought our energetic Chan lions to the floor alongside the Montreal Chinese Lion Dance Club (representing the Wong Association). Together, our combined teams opened the ceremony with lion dance and song, shaking the convention floor in an amazing display of unity and tradition.
Our organizing committee continued to support the event throughout the entire weekend, capturing the energy from the courts to the community.
Very few events have the power to truly unite different community groups and Chinese family associations to represent Montreal together. Beyond the sportsmanship, hosting the 81st North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament (NACIVT) brings incredible cultural significance to our city, connecting generations and honoring our roots. With a historic gathering of over 5,000 participants from across North America, the tournament drives a massive wave of foot traffic and economic vitality straight into Montreal Chinatown’s local businesses and restaurants!
The Canadian National Anthem
Louese Hu, 2025 Queen of the Miss Chinese Montreal Pageant, beautifully sang the Canadian National Anthem at the opening ceremony.
Video: Louese Hu sings O Canada at the 81st NACIVT opening ceremony.
Lion Dance Performance
Following Louese Hu’s moving performance of O Canada, our Montreal Chan Lion Dance Club took the floor alongside the Montreal Chinese Lion Dance Club in a breath-taking collaboration of lion dance at the opening ceremony of the 81st NACIVT in Montreal.
Video: A breath-taking collaboration between our Montreal Chan Lion Dance Club and the Montreal Chinese Lion Dance Club at the 81st NACIVT opening ceremony.
Covered By CTV News Montreal
Video: CTV News Montreal.
Covered By CityNews Montreal
The tournament was covered by CityNews Montreal in a report by Adriana Gentile, Montreal hosts 81st North American Chinese Invitation Volleyball Tournament.
Video: Adriana Gentile, CityNews Montreal.
Held at the Palais des Congrès from Sept. 5 to 7, the 81st edition of the North American Chinese Invitation Volleyball Tournament (NACIVT) brought together thousands of players, families and friends from both sides of the border; a tradition that has now lasted more than eight decades. The official opening ceremony was held Saturday afternoon, with local dignitaries, community leaders and diplomats in attendance, a dragon dance performance, and the singing of the Canadian and American national anthems.
“We have over 3,700 players in this tournament, both men’s and women’s combined. Plus all the coaches involved, plus all the spectators involved, plus all the relatives involved. We’ll have over 5,000, 6,000, 7,000 people during the course of the tournament.” — Edmund Chan, tournament director (CityNews)
The tournament runs separate divisions; the men play nine-man volleyball under a distinct set of rules shaped by the tournament’s Chinese and Asian heritage, while the women play traditional six-player volleyball. It is hosted every Labour Day in a different major North American city, with Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boston and Toronto all part of the circuit.
“We want as many people we’d like to participate in our event. We want to share our culture, we want to share our community and we want to share the cities that are involved as well.” — Edmund Chan (CityNews)
Our Weekend On The Floor
Photo Gallery
Moments from the floor, the ceremony and the celebrations.
Huge congratulations to tournament organizers Nick Nei, Edmund Chan, and their team, as well as our dedicated opening ceremony and community organizing committee members, including Sifu Jimmy Chan, Bryant Chang of the Chinese Association of Montreal, Sifu Johnny Wong (Founder of Montreal Chinese Lion Dance Club), the CRARR, the Cambodian Community Centre Foundation, Chin Wing Chun Tong Family Association, Gee How Oak Tin Association, Wong Wun Sun Association, Bureau Économique et Culturel de Taipei à Montréal, Roddy Chung (Founder, Hung Yung Volleyball Club), Chao Hong Tan, Bill Wong (Director General Montreal Chinatown Development Council), and all community leaders involved, for making this historic gathering of over 5,000 participants such a towering success!
Thank you for having us and for letting us share our culture to welcome athletes and visitors from across North America with class and dignity.