Chinatown gets funky

This blog became very political over the last while – mainly since the election was taking up so much of my attention.

But I do have other interests. Really.

I attended on of Vancouver’s greatest community events this Sunday: The Chinese New Year Parade.

Tens of thousands of Vancouver’s residents streamed into historic Chinatown area today, celebrating the start of the Year of the Dog.

While the neighborhood around Carrall and Pender streets is no longer the true residential center for Vancouver’s Chinese community, the place retains a unique look commemorating its ethnic heritage. Red lampposts, prominent Chinese-language signage outside of heritage buildings, the Chinese medicine shop just around the corner from the Chinese Community Centre and the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden provide a memorable backdrop to a west-coast urban neighborhood in flux.

The parade featured dragons dancing, fireworks and marches by many community groups linked to the local Chinese community (martial arts organizations, Chinese freemasons, the Senior Chinese Society of Vancouver) and a few that were more representative of the city as a whole (The Vancouver Firefighters band, the Brazilian community, the Coastal Health Authority).

The participants were all smiles and pride as they made their way along their route. Spectators snapped photos and propped up their children on their shoulders as the colorful dragons danced past. The crowd stirred as the firefighters’ drums set the marchers at a quick pace. Flag bearers waved their banners as spectators cheered them on from their balconies. All around, friends and neighbors waved at each other as their paths met by happy coincidence.

The parade was one of the most impressive displays of community spirit I’ve seen anywhere. It’s one more reason I’m proud to call Vancouver my home. For more pictures of the parade, check out this album of Chinatown ’06 photos.

tags: Chinatown, Chinese New Year, dragon dance, parade