Thousands attend Vancouver’s Lunar New Year parade as debate persists over Chinatown’s future

Breadcrumb Trail Links

NewsLocal News

Article content

The sounds of rhythmic drumming, cymbals clanging and the rat-tat-tat of firecrackers reverberated through the streets of Vancouver’s Chinatown Sunday during the 50th anniversary of the Spring Festival Parade.

Despite persistent rain showers, throngs of people — sometimes three or four rows deep — lined the streets to soak in the sight of luminescent yellow and pink dragons, acrobatic lions, red lanterns hanging from trees, and dance troupes twirling rainbow-coloured umbrellas and fans.

Article content

Coco Kao, who lives in Powell River, said the parade, coinciding with the Lunar New Year, reminded her of her native Taiwan.

“It reminds me of my hometown, which is thousands of miles away,” she said.

“The parade is always phenomenal. I love the energy.”

Surrey couple Danielle De Leon and Emil Sarmiento said it was their first time attending the parade.

“It’s nice to see how diverse the culture is within the Chinese community itself,” De Leon said.

Article content

Toggle full screen modePrevious Gallery Image

Next Gallery ImageToggle gallery captions

All 22 Photos for Gallery

Function Not Available

Full Screen is not supported on this browser version.

You may use a different browser or device to view this in full screen.

OK

Lunar New Year is celebrated across several Asian countries. Its timing varies as it is based on cycles of the moon. This year is the Year of the Dragon.

Starting at the Millennium Gate and snaking its way down Pender, Gore and Keefer streets, the parade featured a variety of participants including military veterans, members of the St. John Ambulance youth cadet program, martial artists, seniors folk dance troupes, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, various Canada-China friendship associations, and numerous dignitaries handing out lucky red envelopes.

In the lead-up to the parade, organizers came under scrutiny for excluding certain groups from participating, citing, in part, their “political activism.” But organizers reversed course and allowed two of the groups, Chinatown Together and Lunar New Year For All, to participate.

“We understand it likely took a lot of courage for the organizing committee” to change their minds, said Melody Ma, a community activist and vocal critic of gentrification in Chinatown, ahead of the parade.

“For that, we want to say thank you to the organizing committee.”

Sunrise

Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

Article content

Article content

While the groups are still seeking an apology and a more transparent eligibility process for future parades, they decided to put politics aside for the day “for the sake of community unity,” Ma said.

While Sunday’s festivities were an opportunity for Chinatown to showcase the best of what it has to offer, the neighbourhood continues to wrestle with many challenges: how to find more culturally appropriate housing for its seniors; how to address the rapid decline of greengrocers and butchers; and how to revitalize the local economy while also preserving its tangible and intangible cultural and heritage assets.

The issues were not far from the minds of many parade watchers.

“I came here as a kid and this was the hub to get Chinese products. Now everything is out in the suburbs. … A lot has changed,” said David, who declined to give his last name.

David said he had recently travelled to San Francisco and was struck by how that city’s Chinatown was still “thriving.” He lamented how some of the social challenges confronting the Downtown Eastside had spilled over into Chinatown.

Article content

Coquitlam couple Eloise Loo and Raymond Sheh said they’ve been parade regulars for more than 50 years.

“We come rain, sleet, snow or hail,” Loo said.

Loo fondly recalled how her grandfather would bring her to the parade and how they’d grab steamed buns and egg tarts. Parade participants were a lot less political and corporate than they are now, she added.

While she misses seeing some of the older businesses, such as the Chinese-language printing press on the corner and the Pender Street bakery famous for its apple tarts, she acknowledged that the neighbourhood can’t remain as it once was.

“Life is changing. … Just with diversity, it’s OK.”

With files from Canadian Press

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.

Article content

Share this article in your social network