Montreal’s Chinatown gears up for Lunar New Year celebrations

Wednesday marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year for many Asian communities. In Montreal’s Chinatown, festivities were announced for Feb. 1 and 2.

With drums pounding as the snow fell in Sun-Yat Sen Park on the corner of de la Gauchetiere Street and Clark Avenue, members of The Montréal Chan Lions Dance Club performed a sample of what to expect this weekend on St-Laurent Boulevard in the Chinese quarter to celebrate the Year of the Snake.

Yifeng Eva Hu is a co-organizer of the Lunar New Year events.

“There will be tons of performances and activities. It’s going to last from 11 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday,” she says.

“And then we kick off again on Sunday morning with lined dance and everything and shows, singing, dancing, martial arts.”

The team behind the MURAL Festival are collaborating on the visuals.

“We have a huge inflatable sculpture. We have projection mapping activities here, a couple of murals, and lots of decorations for the parade,” said director general Pierre-Alain Benoit.

The parade, organizers say, will be one of the biggest in Canada for the Lunar New Year.

Montreal city councillor Tan Shan Li says these events are like a homecoming for her.

“This is my heritage. I’m Chinese. I was born in China, so every year I come here and they bring me a bit of my cultural heritage. And it’s important for the community here, the Chinese community, and even the Korean [community] and the Vietnamese [community]. They also celebrate the Lunar New Year,” she said.

The councillor added that it was important to celebrate with all Montrealers.

The federal Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, was on site to support the organizers and meet members of Montreal’s Chinese community.

“They’ve been here for well over 100 years, so it’s something that we celebrate. As politicians, I think we have to stand up for communities that often are targeted by anti-immigrant sentiment. But the Chinese community has built Montreal,” Miller said.

The Year of the Snake signifies change and growth, says co-organizer Winston Chan, who adds that businesses here need a boost.

“January, February, March -- those are the slowest month in terms of business. So one of the goals to valorize Chinatown by increasing foot traffic and by bringing people here to celebrate the Lunar New Year.”

Qi Tang owns the Chez Chili restaurant on de la Gauchetiere Street and is looking forward to the crowds coming for the festivities.

“I think it’s getting busy,” he said. “The Chinese Lunar New Year is the most important for Chinese people and everyone is invited!”