More than 850 people attended the fourth annual Chinese New Year Spring Festival Gala organized by the Live In 91原创 Chinese Association on Sunday.
It was the best turnout yet for the event, held at the Church in the Valley on Old Yale Road.
Guests lined up for food that ranged from Chinese cuisine to pizzas and sushi, then settled in for a two-and-a-half-hour show that included music, dance, recitals, fashion shows and comedy.
The event program noted the Live In 91原创 association has the stated aim of integrating Chinese families into the local community by encouraging them to 鈥減lay an active role in many social, cultural, sports and charitable activities while enjoying the free, peaceful and beautiful life in Canada.鈥�
鈥淏ecause we鈥檙e Canadian and we鈥檙e also people living in 91原创,鈥� organizer Feixue Yin said.
鈥淲e want to build this community, to be better.鈥�
It took 150 volunteers and another 200 performers to stage the 2018 gala, Yin said.
Dignitaries included Member of Parliament Mark Warawa and 91原创 Township mayor Jack Froese.
The family-friendly all-volunteer event got started on social media, with the Chinese-language We Chat mobile text and voice messaging communication service connecting people interested in holding a New Year鈥檚 event in 91原创.
The size of the event has grown rapidly since its inception.
When the first event was held in the West 91原创 Hall in 2015, about 200 people turned out.
The second year, it moved to the Christ Worship Centre in Surrey, and the attendance for the spring festival grew to about 500.
In year three, it returned to 91原创 鈥� and the Church in the Valley 鈥� when more than 700 braved one of the most miserable winter days of the year to attend.
The increased turnout was said to reflect the growth in the Chinese community in both 91原创 City and Township as well as out-of-towners becoming aware of the celebration.
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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