January 17, 2012 - 3:23am
Vancouver Island University’s Nanaimo campus will take on a carnival-like atmosphere as Chinese students celebrate the Year of the Dragon during their annual Lunar New Year party on Saturday, Jan. 21.
The event is open to the public and takes place in the upper cafeteria (Building 300) from 2 to 5 pm. Festivities will include Chinese games, cultural displays, traditional performances by students and other volunteers, food and refreshments.
“We welcome people of all ages to this special celebration,” said student organizer Keon Wu. “The purpose of this event is to share our Chinese culture with the entire community. We decided on a carnival theme because we want people to have fun and make cultural connections.”
Co-organizer Ingrid Wang said Lunar New Year is one of the most important festival celebrations in China. Families get together and celebrate for 15 days straight. This year’s Year of the Dragon theme represents power, happiness and protection.
“Our goal is to make this campus celebration a rich, interactive cultural experience for our guests,” said Wang. “We want people to feel like they are in China, especially if they’ve never travelled there before. Among other activities, volunteers will teach guests how to make Chinese dumplings and how to play the famous Chinese game Mahjong.”
The celebration coincides with Lunar New Year festivities in downtown Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre hosted by the Chinese Cultural Society from 1 to 3 pm. “When the downtown event is over, we encourage people to come to the University to carry on the celebration,” said Wu.
Wang and Wu, who helped organize last year’s VIU Chinese New Year celebration, are in the second year of the Tourism and Recreation Management program. They were pleased to discover that Nanaimo is one of the oldest historical cities in Canada for Chinese culture.
There are more than 500 students from China among the more than 1,600 international students at VIU. Wang said the VIU Chinese Club, which is hosting the Lunar New Year party, includes about 30 student volunteers from China, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia and Canada.
Student organizers appreciate the support they have received from the University, especially from the Department of International Education and the Student Union.
Tickets for the Lunar New Year celebration are $8 per person ($6 for members of the VIU Chinese Club and VIU Recreation and Tourism Association) and are on sale in the upper cafeteria (Building 300) and at the reception area of the Centre for International Education, Bldg. 255 between 11:30 and 1 pm this week. Wu said last year’s event sold out early.
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Photo cutline:
The VIU Chinese Club invites the public to celebrate Lunar New Year at the Nanaimo campus on Sat., Jan. 21. The carnival themed party in Building 300 (upper cafeteria) will include cultural displays, performances, games, and food and refreshments. VIU students Mia Dong and Christie Wang display traditional Chinese dress that volunteers will be modeling.
Details:
What: Chinese Lunar New Year party at VIU
When: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2 to 5 pm
Where: VIU upper cafeteria, Building 300, Nanaimo campus
Schedule:
2:30 – 4 pm; games
3:30 -5 pm; snacks
4 -5 pm; cultural performances
Cost: $6 for VIU Chinese Club and Recreation and Tourism Association members, $8 for non-members
Contact: Keon Wu
Number: 250-667-5618
Email: viu_chineseclub@hotmail.com
Tags: In the Community
