Welcoming the Year of the Rabbit — BC style
By Nelson Daily Staff
British Columbia is set to welcome the Year of the Rabbit, which kicks off Thursday, along with a variety of Lunar New Year events reflecting the Asia-Pacific influence that has helped build this province over the past 150 years.
Here are a dozen suggestions to help you take part in the festivities:
1. Enter Canada’s oldest Chinatown through the Gates of Harmonious Interest.
In Victoria’s Chinatown – the second-oldest in North America – explore the vibrant galleries, restaurants, sidewalk stands and shops.
Don’t miss Fan Tan Alley – the narrowest street in Canada. www.hellobc.com/en-CA/RegionsCities/Victoria.htm
2. Explore Chinese history at Barkerville Historic Town.
Chi Kung Tong – Canada’s oldest Chinese Freemason building – pays tribute to the vital role early Chinese immigrants played in establishing B.C. during the gold rush.
Barkerville’s Chinatown contains the largest collection of pre-railway Chinese buildings in North America, with one of Canada’s largest Chinese archival collections. www.barkerville.ca.
3. Take in a tour of the Revelstoke Museum with its artifacts from the area’s Chinese settlers at 11 a.m. on Feb. 13.
Then join a lantern parade to the Third Annual Chinese New Year Luncheon, which starts at 12:30 p.m. and winds its way to the Hong Kong Restaurant. – http://www.revelstokecurrent.com/2011/01/28/whats-on-this-week-2/
4. Park yourself on the parade route for Chinatown Vancouver’s signature event.
Visit the largest Chinatown in Canada, and second-largest in North America, to see the annual Lunar New Year parade.
The fun begins at noon Sunday, Feb. 6, and will include lion dances, marching bands, martial arts and a 100-metre-long dragon. www.vancouver-chinatown.com
5. Find fun at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden on Feb. 6 when you’ll learn the traditions of this thousands-year-old holiday.
Expect firecrackers, red couplet calligraphy, lion parades and red envelope gifts. www.vancouverchinesegarden.com
6. See the world’s first Lantern Aquarium at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
What began as a 2010 Winter Games legacy event is now known as Canada’s premiere display of contemporary Asian arts and culture.
This year, the gallery plaza is transformed to celebrate the sea. Bring lanterns and enjoy free workshops, processions and concerts from Feb. 3 to 13. http://lunarfest.org
7. Attend a Chinese New Year’s Celebration at the International Buddhist Temple at 9160 Steveston Highway in Richmond, from 10 p.m. to midnight on Feb. 2.
The temple’s abbot will lead a chant and group prayer to bless all sentient beings as the New Year begins. www.buddhisttemple.ca
8. Take your Chinese tea at Richmond’s London Heritage Farm Feb. 5 and 6, or at Victoria’s Crystal Garden, which is hosting North America’s largest public tea exhibition Feb. 13 and 14.
You’ll find other specialty tea rooms throughout the province. www.victoriateafestival.com / www.londonheritagefarm.com/events.html
9. Dine at Canada’s largest Chinese restaurant: Vancouver’s Floata Restaurant.
Find a seat among the 1,000 available to enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine – like clams, said to symbolize prosperity in Chinese culture, or scallions, whose hollow shoots represent open mindedness. www.floata.com
10. Hit Richmond for dim sum, where popular restaurants include the Jade Seafood, Fisherman’s Terrace Seafood, Shanghai River, Dinesty Chinese, and Shiang Garden Seafood.
11. Visit Vancouver’s International Village to celebrate cultures of Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and more.
This showcase of arts, crafts and cuisine is expected to draw 150,000 Lunar New Year revellers from Feb. 4 to 6.
www.henderson-development.ca/theinternationalvillage
12. Create your own Year of the Rabbit medallions at the Royal Canadian Mint’s Vancouver Boutique, Feb. 3-6, at 752 Granville St.
Take photos with a gold bar, and purchase the $15 Silver Lunar Lotus Year of the Rabbit coin. www.mint.ca
