Drumming up some hype
Chinese-Canadian cultural group provides musical message at city hall
A Chinese-Canadian delegation made a stop in Prince George on Monday morning, hoping to start a new tradition during this year’s Canada Day celebration.
The Canada Day Drumming Celebration started as a national performance during last year’s Canada 150 celebrations. The group, which began as an initiative of Chinese-Canadian cultural organizations, pulled together a series of regional drum- ming events, timed to occur simultaneously across six time zones. The events were multicultural in nature, drawing drummers from cultures around the world. Events took place in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary and Vancouver.
This year, the group hopes to set a Guiness World Record for most nationalities in a drum circle – a feat that must be sustained for at least five minutes – from more than nine cities across the country. The group’s chair, Richard Wong, hopes that residents from Prince George will join in this Canada Day.
“Let’s figure out something where all Canadians, not just Chinese, can celebrate Canada,” Wong said.
“We want to share our valuable, practical Canadian spirit.”
The Vancouver-based Hon Hsing Athletic Club performed a dragon dance in front of city hall at noon on Monday. Wong and other members of the group also had a brief meeting with city staff.
Wong, who is also chair of the World Chinese Business Association of Canada, said Prince George has many features that could attract increased economic and cultural interest from China. He pointed to the presence of Prince George’s two post-secondary institutions, the low cost of living, the proximity of the city to the port of Prince Rupert and the scale of the forestry sector. He said Canadian lumber and pulp has seen increased demand from China.
“Those are the two items China needs the most,” he said.
Staff from the Prince George Multicultural Heritage Society are looking into the feasibility of a local addition to the Canada Day Drumming Celebration.