On June 18, 2022, the Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACATCM) hosted a special graduation and 25th anniversary celebration. More than 200 guests attended the wondrous occasion, including 50 graduates and their families, government officials, over 150 community leaders, friends, and distinguished guests. What a celebration!
To kick off the evening, guests were treated to an exciting lion dance performance followed by an opening video sharing 25 years of ACATCM memories.
Our Executive Director and founder, Dr. Benny Xu, delivered a heartfelt speech – beginning by praising and congratulating the graduates for all the hard work and incredible effort they put into their studies over the past few years. He wished them the greatest success as they begin the next part of their journey, and welcomed the graduates to the profession as colleagues!
As the founder of the first acupuncture and TCM school in Alberta, Dr. Benny Xu shared his reasoning for building this college and his fundamental dream of bringing Chinese medicine to Canada. He discussed the initial challenges, along with the incredible growth of the field over the past 25 years. Dr. Xu continues by thanking all the faculty and administration who have worked together over the past 25 years to help bring ACATCM to where it is today. In closing his speech, Dr. Benny Xu thanks his friends and family, acknowledging all their love and support over the past 25 years.
Following Dr. Benny Xu’s opening remarks, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Calgary sent a video congratulating ACATCM’s 25th anniversary. She expressed great appreciation for the achievements of the Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine over the past quarter of a decade. She warmly praised the college’s contributions to promoting Sino-Canadian cultural exchange via traditional Chinese medicine. She also wished the college a brilliant future.
Travis Toews, the former Minister of Finance of Alberta, running in the next leadership election of the United Conservative Party of Alberta, warmly congratulated the graduates on their success and wished them the absolute best in their endeavours. Toews then offered his congratulations to ACATCM for its 25 years of success and thanked Dr. Benny Xu for his contributions to the field of Chinese medicine. He remarked on the importance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and acknowledged the important part it serves in Alberta’s health service system. Toews also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Chinese people in Alberta for their contributions to the local community.
The Minister of Community and Social Services of Alberta, hounerable Jason Luan, acknowledged the abundant achievements of the college, and praised the college’s contribution to the health of the community and expressed his deep gratitude.
Hounerable Demetrios Nicolaides, the Minister of Advanced Education of Alberta. He also congratulated the school for providing quality education over the past 25 years and wished it continual success in the years to come.
During the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, ACATCM stepped up and helped provide relief to the community. ACATCM along with its affiliated clinic, the Huatuo Clinic, organized projects and programs reaching many members of the community, providing more than 8,000 complementary treatments of acupuncture and moxibustion, along with diet supplements, and qigong courses.
ACATCM teamed up with the University of Calgary and the Alberta Government to create a first-of-its-kind research project—the Alberta Complementary Health Integration Project (ABCHIP). ABCHIP was a community-based research project focusing on helping Covid-19-related mental health, pain, and addiction issues by using CAM methods of acupuncture, diet therapy, and mind-body exercise. The results were nothing short of stunning.
Mr. Yang Gongliang, the project manager of ABCHIP, shared the phenomenal achievements of the project, and the rigorous and detailed data showed the incredible effectiveness and community impact of acupuncture.
Mr. Colton Oswald, co-president of ACATCM, was the final speaker of the evening. He spoke about his heartwarming experience as a professor and doctor at the college, joining the institution in 2001. After extending a congratulations to the great achievements of the graduates, he spoke about how the school has flourished over the years and is excited for the future of ACATCM.
The Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine has worked hard to provide excellent education of acupuncture and TCM, and has worked hard to serve and build the community these past 25 years. Gazing into the future, ACATCM continues to be a leader as it paves the path to tomorrow’s success.
