Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China   

    OTTAWA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese communities across Canada are actively taking part in a campaign to raise donations for quake-stricken Sichuan province in China.

    The Sichuan Community and other Chinese associations in Toronto set up a bank account Tuesday to help manage donations from the Canadian public. Money can be donated through the Bank of China branches in Toronto.

    "The past 30 or 40 hours has been very emotional as we had to find out if our family and friends and relatives were safe," said BangJu Jiang, president of the Sichuan Community. "But we have to do something and we have to do something now."

    The Sichuan Community also sent a letter to the quake-stricken areas to express condolences to and support for the victims and their families.

    "The Sichuan Community will do its best to help with the reconstruction of our homeland," said the letter.

    The Henan Hometown Fellow Association in Toronto has decided to donate 100,000 U.S. dollars immediately to Sichuan, said spokesman Liu Chenxi Tuesday after attending a meeting with fellow members.

    In Vancouver, the Chinese community set up a special committee Tuesday to raise donations, with the goal of raising 500,000 Canadian dollars (500,000 U.S. dollars). Volunteers will go out on the streets to raise funds from the public.

    Chinese communities in Calgary, Ottawa and Montreal have also started to raise donations.