Vancouver celebrates Year of the Dragon at 50th Chinatown Spring Festival
Dragons danced to the beat of drums through the streets of Vancouver's historic Chinatown neighbourhood Sunday morning.
The spectacle was part of the 50th Anniversary of the Chinatown Spring Festival Parade.
The procession began at 11 a.m. at the newly refurbished Millennium Gate and thousands lined the 1.3 kilometre route to watch.
Chinese-Canadian veterans, dancers wearing traditional Chinese garb and politicians including British Columbia Premier David Eby, who handed out envelopes of chocolate coins, were in attendance.
Carol Feng of the Hanfu Culture Association was also among those dressed in traditional Chinese clothing to walk in the parade.
She said in an interview that, for her, the Lunar New Year serves as a reminder of where she comes from and walking in the parade is a way for her to connect to her heritage and practice tradition.
“Chinese New Year is a way for us to think of our hometown and our parents, and (serves as) a reference for thinking and tradition,” she said.
Kunyue Liu said it was her first Lunar New Year Parade in the city. She along with her two friends Cecilia Lam and Bella Chan also dressed in traditional clothing, specifically from the Ming Dynasty.
“The traditional colours for New Year are red and green, so they symbolize good fortune for the new year,” she said referencing their clothing.
Rose Wong and Samantha Lau brought their children to see the parade, who had been patiently waiting in the rain for the parade to begin.
“We went when we were kids, so we thought would be nice to bring them out for them to experience it,” Wong said of the parade, adding she was most looking forward to seeing the dragon dance.
Eby issued a statement ahead of the parade saying he would be taking part. The statement said the Lunar New Year is a “reminder of the incredible contributions Asian Canadians make” to the province, and the parade also celebrates the role of the historic Vancouver neighbourhood.
“It documents our past and brings people together today to share and learn and work together to build a better tomorrow,” the statement said.
Eby said that is why the government pledged $2.2 million in provincial funds last May to reshape and revitalize Vancouver's Chinatown and why the province helped create Canada's first Chinese Canadian museum, which opened last year.
He said the province is also introducing new anti-racism legislation this year that aims to “address the gaps and barriers in government services and providing supports for those affected by racism.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's response to Trump deportation plan a key focus of revived cabinet committee
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's promise to launch a mass deportation of millions of undocumented people has the Canadian government looking at its own border.
Who should lead the Liberals? 'None of the above,' poll finds
As questions loom over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership, a new Nanos Research poll commissioned for CTV News says a quarter of Canadians say none of the potential candidates appeal to them.
New technology solves mystery of late First World War soldier's flower sent home to Canada
In 1916, Harold Wrong plucked a flower from the fields of Somme, France and tucked it into a letter he mailed home to Toronto. For decades, the type of flower sent remained a mystery.
U.S. election maps: How did 2024 compare to 2020 and 2016?
Though two states have yet to be officially called, the U.S. election map has mostly been settled. How does it compare with the previous two elections?
Canada rent report: What landlords are asking tenants to pay
Average asking rents declined nationally on a year-over-year basis for the first time in more than three years in October, said a report out Thursday.
N.S. school 'deeply sorry' for asking service members not to wear uniforms at Remembrance Day ceremony
An elementary school in the Halifax area has backed away from a request that service members not wear uniforms to the school's Remembrance Day ceremony.
Remembrance Day: What's open and closed in Canada?
While banks and post offices will be closed nationwide on Remembrance Day, shops and businesses could be open depending on where you live in Canada.
Judicial recount for Surrey-Guildford confirms B.C. NDP's majority
The B.C. New Democrats have a majority government of 47 seats after a judicial recount in the riding of Surrey-Guildford gave the party's candidate 22 more votes than the provincial Conservatives.
48,584 space heaters recalled in Canada after burn injury in U.S.
Health Canada has announced a recall for electric space heaters over potential fire and burn risks, a notice published Thursday reads.