The long string of lion dancers swirl in series across the stage in colourful and traditional pageantry, delighting the audience crammed into Aberdeen Centre's cavernous atrium.
It's Chinese New Year once again. But dotted in between the mainly ethnic Chinese onlookers is the odd non-Chinese face.
Is it a sign of cultural blending as the celebration inches slowly more into the mainstream of the Lower Mainland's cultural melange? Talk to Joey Kwan and she nods yes, with a smile. "We think that the Chinese New Year celebrations is not only for Chinese. It's for the whole community to celebrate together and is becoming a bit of a cultural breakthrough as more people outside the community come celebrate with us," says Kwan, spokesperson for Aberdeen Centre, site of the Lower Mainland's largest Chinese New Year celebrations.
"It's been gradually picking up. More and more non-Chinese people have been coming out to see how we celebrate and have a better understanding of our culture."
The result fulfills the mall's stated philosophy to not be an exclusive Chinese realm - something emphasized by its signage rules that ensure English is the dominant language, with others playing a smaller, supporting role.
"That is one of our missions here, and gradually we are seeing a cultural blending," Kwan says. "It is happening."
The efforts have also attracted a smattering of non-Chinese businesses setting up shop for the New Year period.
Catherine Hendrix, owner of High End Resale, a consignment shop with two locations in Vancouver, says she decided to come to Aberdeen Centre this year for the first time because of the high number of Asian clients she has built up over the years.
Business has been so encouraging at the mall that Hendrix is contemplating opening a permanent location there.
"That's a goal I have, and one of the reasons I came here this year," she says.
Over at Candy Meister which sells naturally made German confectionery, Elisa Koeppen says she was looking for a high-traffic location and her products fit in well with the tradition of buying candy for Chinese New Year. Among the top sellers is her spicy ginger. "Everyone seems to like that one, as well as the sweet and fruity stuff," she says, adding based on encouraging sales to date she's definitely coming back next year.
Blending cultures The small crossovers between cultures is exactly what Richmond city counillor Chak Au wants to see.
A longtime advocate of building bridges between communities, Au says one thing which could enhance the process is less emphasis on the new year events as being exclusively Chinese.
That's why he has suggested the city refer to it's own new year events as Lunar New Year to include other Asian cultures who are also celebrating at this time of year. "The Lunar New Year is being celebrated not only by the Chinese people, but those others in Asia who were using the lunar calendar for many years like the Japanese, Koreans, and Vietnamese," Au says. "Among ourselves in the Chinese community, we will still refer to it as Chinese New Year because it is our celebration. But in Richmond, on the public side, we should use the term Lunar New Year because we are not referring to just one group of people." The hope is to create a more inclusive society, and, in turn, foster better understanding and acceptance of other cultures.
"I always encourage the Chinese community to be inclusive, added Au.
Signs of change are already becoming more apparent away from the retail environment, said Au, referring to a recent variety show at the River Rock Casino Resort, hosted by the Chinese community leading up to New Year's festivities, which featured a marquee performance by an Indo-Canadian dance group.
"That was very telling," Au says. "It's a sign. It's growing."
Lunar akin to Happy Holidays Decreasing the emphasis of Chinese New Year is akin to the debate surrounding the move to eliminate Merry Christmas in favour of Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings, said Richmond resident Richard Liew, the past president of the Malaysia Singapore & Brunei Cultural Association.
"Chinese New Year is something more people can relate to," Lieu says. "Lunar is another general name for the festive season. Changing things would just lead to confusion. It's better to keep things the way they are."
Western face of festivities Unconvinced is the "Western God of Fortune," better known as Coun. Bill McNulty who for the past 18 years has been the Caucasian face of the traditional Chinese "God of Fortune" at Aberdeen Centre's celebrations where he greets the crowds and hands out the laisee - the traditional red envelopes containing money.
"I consider it a great honour to be able to work on brining groups together through this kind of role," McNulty says. "It shows that we are all-embracing in our community, and we value all cultures. It only augments harmony.
"The world is a very small place. And the sooner we continue to think that way, the better off and more knowledgeable we all are. And we will have fewer problems by doing that."
Read about local chef Colin Foo: Good food brings good luck
