Vaughan celebrates the Lunar New Year
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City hosts community event to usher in the Year of the Pig
Families
and dignitaries from Vaughan and across the Greater Toronto Area joined Mayor
Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council for the City’s popular annual Lunar
New Year event.
The
festivities took place at Vaughan City Hall and featured an eye-dotting
ceremony, a traditional lion dance and a visit from the God of Fortune. Stage
entertainment included performances by the Singing School, the Vietnamese
Cultural Group Dance and acclaimed singer Winona. Children took part in a
variety of fun-filled games, colouring activities, a magic show by Henry Cheng,
Chinese calligraphy and button making. Participants also enjoyed bodhi
meditation, energy healing and a cooking demonstration by the talented chef Leo
Chan.
Mayor
Bevilacqua delivered a keynote address that paid tribute to the outstanding
contributions the Chinese community has made in the city of Vaughan and beyond.
Remarks were given by Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco as well as Dr. Ken
Ng, Chairman of the Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham and York Region.
Consul Zhao Wei, Head of Intergovernmental Relations and Press Affairs,
extended greetings on behalf of the Consul General for the People’s Republic of
China in Toronto. Joseph Tsang, radio host from A1 Chinese Radio, served as
master of ceremonies. This year, the event is organized in partnership with the
Federation of Chinese Canadians in Vaughan (FCCV) and the Markham Richmond Hill
Vaughan Chinese Business Association (MRVCBA).
Lunar New
Year is a vibrant cultural holiday that commemorates the beginning of a new
Asian calendar in late January or early February every year. It is also known
as the Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year. This 15-day festivity is
observed with a variety of traditions, including thoroughly cleaning one’s
house to bring good luck and exchanging red money envelopes to encourage
prosperity – it is a time to welcome new beginnings, fortune and well-being.
QUOTE
“I want to
thank everyone who came together to organize, plan and take part in another
memorable annual Lunar New Year celebration. These festivities are an
opportunity for all people to reflect on the important city-building
contributions the Asian-Canadian community continues to make as dedicated
volunteers, committed public servants, successful entrepreneurs, accomplished
academics and renowned artists. In 2019, Vaughan joins communities from around
the world to mark the Year of the Pig. It is said that this animal embodies
affability, camaraderie and affluence. These are important characteristics that
can help guide all of us toward having a promising year ahead. Lunar New Year
is a reminder of how diversity is truly one of our greatest strengths. We are
further blessed and enriched because of the many vibrant, thriving and
different cultures that make up this great city we proudly call home.”
- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
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