Two years after its launch, the Asian Toronto Running Club (ATRC) is more than an ordinary sports meet-up.
For our June 2026 Changemaker interview, we spoke with the Asian Toronto Running Club co-founders Alex and Vince Huynh about how an ambitious vision, consistency and a welcoming vibe can lead to a flourishing community centered on movement.
Twin brothers Alex and Vince Huynh started ATRC in 2024. Today, it’s a bigger movement than they had expected.
Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10:00 a.m., as many as 100 runners — both beginners and advanced athletes, Toronto natives and newcomers to Canada — meet at Canoe Landing Park, at 95 Fort York Blvd., to run between five to ten kilometers.
More than a run club, ATRC is a community where “people can connect through movement while celebrating Asian culture and identity,” Vince told The Green Line.
Outside of its weekly meet-ups, the club hosts monthly socials, trains for races as a team and shares meals together.
If you’re curious about how a running community tied to cultural identity gets off the ground, or if you’re interested in starting a run club yourself, the Huynh brothers have a wealth of knowledge to answer your questions.
📸: Provided by Alex and Vince Huynh.
I want to start with the basics. Why did you create ATRC? What prompted the vision?
Vince: Back in 2024, I noticed that there weren’t many spaces where people could connect through movement while celebrating Asian culture and identity. I thought of this idea where we could have that for Toronto. Ever since it’s become such a bigger movement than I had expected.
Alex: It’s more than just running, right? It’s a community. The real goal was building friendship and a sense of belonging among the Asian community in Toronto. There was a gap that was missing and that’s what inspired us to do this.
📸: Provided by Alex and Vince Huynh.
I’m also curious about what sets your run club apart from other cultural run clubs in Toronto. Why do you think people keep coming back to your community?
Alex: We have different types of things that we do outside of the run club, you know, such as monthly socials. Whether it’s through food, events, tradition or shared experience, I think it just gives people another way to connect beyond running and that’s what sets us apart. I think the sense of connection is what brings people back.
We also set goals, like running marathons and races, which is one of the big things that helps us differentiate ourselves. People trust communities that show up regularly and create a welcoming experience at the same time.
I’m interested in your vision for the future of your run club. Five, 10 years down the road, how do you want to grow ATRC?
Alex: One of my visions for the run club is to expand nationwide from Montreal to Vancouver, building the largest Asian running community in North America. Toronto is only the start. The goal is a deeper connection and lasting impact. I’ll tell you, in five years, I hope that people don’t just say that AHRC is a run club, but I hope they say it’s where they met their best friends, found confidence, discovered new opportunities and built a community they can call home.
Vince: We also want to have a social impact. What I mean by that is, we want to do something more for youth, with scholarship awards and community grants. We also want to make this more of a lifestyle brand where people can come to us if they have any questions about wellness events, cultural events and training plans.
📸: Provided by Alex and Vince Huynh.
If a young Torontonian wanted to create their own run club in their community tied to cultural identity, what advice or tips would you give them?
Vince: You know, starting your own cultural run club, I would say, start with a true identity — what makes this run club different from other run clubs? My advice is to start with a story as to why you’re doing it. Is it for the community, for the people? Also try to build your own team. Run leaders, pacing groups or ambassadors can be very helpful in creating a successful run club. Don’t try to do everything by yourself.
Alex: My advice is, don’t overcomplicate things. Pick a consistent date, time and location, invite a few friends. Communities aren’t built through a big launch. They’re built by showing up week after week. Consistency is a must in order to really build belonging. I think consistency builds trust, right? And trust builds a community.
That’s great concrete advice. If a reader wants to become involved in or support your running community, how could they do that?
Vince: They can find us on social media, specifically through Instagram at @asiantorontorunclub, and they can also reach out to us directly. But coming out and actually trying the run club for the first time would be a lot more beneficial, seeing the faces and getting to know everyone.
Alex: You don’t need to know anyone or be a fast runner. Just show up, say hello and be part of the community. I think the hardest part is taking the first step, but once you meet people there, you’re going to feel a friendly environment where you show up once, and then the next thing you know, it becomes a consistent routine.
This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
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