Diversity and Inclusion at New Year's Festivals in Montreal and Vancouver

Lunar New Year celebrations will be held in two of Canada's largest cities, highlighting cultural diversity and inclusion efforts in the Asian communities of Montreal and Vancouver.

In Montreal, Le Vieux-Port de Montréal celebrates Lunar New Year with a live performance by the Montreal Chinese Lion Dance Club next to the ice rink on Saturday, February 10 at 3 p.m. The traditional Lion Dance is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the audience.

On the other side of the country, organizers of Vancouver's Chinatown monthly New Year's Eve parade have made a major decision to include previously excluded progressive groups in the upcoming event. The groups, Chinatown Together and Lunar New Year for All, have been granted permission to participate in the 50th annual parade celebrating the Year of the Dragon.

The sudden reversal of the decision by the organizing committee, chaired by press secretary Frank Huang, came after initial letters were sent excluding groups due to political activity and potential disruptions. However, the committee did not elaborate on their change of position.

Chinatown Together, founded by activist Melody Ma, and Lunar New Year For All, led by Pearl Wong, both advocate for social issues in the Asian community, and were initially banned from marching. Since then, the groups have embraced and welcomed a sense of unity and diversity to the celebration.

Jordan Eng, president of the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Association, emphasized the complex social and economic dynamics in Chinatown and acknowledged the diverse perspectives on gentrification and community involvement. Eng emphasized the importance of the parade in projecting a positive and unified image of Chinatown amid ongoing social challenges.