As they were being corralled for a photo, the scene descended into relative chaos, with an abundance of finger-pointing, arm-waving and, dare it be said, shouting.
After a few minutes, somehow order emerged and the 14, lovely couples — no younger than 80 and who were celebrating either golden or diamond wedding anniversaries — were in perfect formation, aside from the Richmond News’ urgings, through translation, for the pairs to get closer, almost as if they liked each other.
What they didn’t need help with was their collective grins, as wide as the clubhouse of the Canada WenZhou Friendship Society, tucked away on a residential street in the shadow of Aberdeen Centre, which boasts 1,000 senior members and around 20,000 across Metro Vancouver.
About 15 minutes earlier, the News, having been invited as a guest of Coun. Chak Au, entered the converted, detached home to find around 100 people buzzing around, shouting at each other, pulling each other one way and the next, while serious faces exploded into huge smiles, usually followed by rapturous laughter.
No one was speaking English, but they seemed very excited to hear the News was here. Although a few, given that the News is an English-language publication, seem surprised by our presence.
“It’s unusual for people in the Chinese culture to share this kind of celebration outside of their families,” Au explained to the News, en route to the party.
“But different cultures are very similar in so many ways. In fact, the vast majority of the things we do are the same; we have much more in common than we don’t have.”
Through translation from Au, the News heard from various society speakers at the event about the “Chinese tradition of marriage being a lifelong commitment.”
They also spoke of “expressing love for Canada” before a belting rendition of Oh Canada, which was sung with as much gusto as any hockey game or school event.
“They had to practice a lot for that,” smiled Au when it was over.
Another speaker told of “14 very different stories of neighbours, schoolmates and colleagues falling in love.
“50 years of ups and downs, changes and hardships, stormy waters, but still holding hands and living up to the commitment of marriage.”
One such couple, Ximing Chen and Ming Chao, who were celebrating their golden wedding, told the News (via Au) that their secret to marital longevity was the fact they had “faced so many challenges and changes together.
“Doing those things together makes us stronger each time,” they said.
Golden couple Ding Runtao and Han Wenxiu said they were classmates 60 years ago in university, graduated together and worked in the same place, Tianjin University.
“And we never argue,” they laughed. “We also dated for 10 years before getting married.”
