Our story
A club built for belonging.
Born from community, strengthened by every stroke, and proud to call Toronto home.
Our roots
From an Idea to a club
Founded by the Toronto Hong Kong Parent Group alongside a dedicated circle of friends, our club began with a shared mission: to bring Hongkongers together through dragon boat paddling, building a vibrant and supportive community as we establish new roots in Canada.
Dragon boat racing is all about moving in sync and working together as one team. Regardless of their background or paddling experience, once they step into the boat, every team member becomes an essential part of the team.
Leadership
TOHK Garlic Coach - Matthew Ma
Former Canadian National Team member · Over 23 years of dragon boat experience
As a former member of the Canadian National Team, Coach Matthew brings an elite, high-performance standard to TOHK Garlic. He is a fiercely results-driven coach who excels at extracting maximum boat speed through technical precision and highly efficient training protocols. His leadership continues to drive strong competitive milestones for our crews.
“One boat. One rhythm. One team.”
Paddler voices
Different stories. Shared rhythm.
“This team gave me a sense of home again. We push hard, laugh harder, and carry the same fire.”
— Hei
“I was new to both the sport and the community. Every instruction was patient, and every win felt shared.”
— Shreya
“Language stopped being a barrier the moment we got in the boat. Rhythm, effort, and trust connected us.”
— Jan
Our Community Roots & Partners.
TOHK was proudly founded alongside the Toronto Hong Kong Parent Group (多倫多香港家長會). As our founding partner and community pillar, they continue to support newcomer integration, family connection, and cultural heritage across Ontario.