Chinese Canadians have come up with an idea to drum up enthusiasm for the 150^th celebration of confederation next year.

Through the Vancouver-based Legacy 150 Celebrations Society, Chinese Canadian communities across the country are organizing a simultaneous drumming event from coast-to-coast on Canada Day on July 1, 2017.

Called the Canada 150 Atlantic to Pacific Celebration, the project launches Friday (November 25) at the SUCCESS Social Service Centre at the Dr. Dorothy Lam Building (28 West Pender Street).

Organizers are hoping to get 500,000 people drumming together at around 10 a.m. Pacific Time on July 1 to set a Guinness Book of World Records mark.

Retired Canadian Army man Alfred Woo is a member of the national committee preparing for the drumming event.

Woo recalled that organizers wanted something that will celebrate diversity, inclusiveness, integration, and “all the good stuff” for Canada’s 150^th birthday.

“We thought, ‘let’s have some big, fun celebration … that’s easy to join and everyone is invited to participate’,” Woo told the Straight in a phone interview about how the idea was born.

Woo said organizers will be providing a website for drummers to sign in and register.

According to a media release, the project has received support from over 200 community organizations across Canada. These include the Port of Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Foundation, and Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia.