Some Richmond council members praised a multicultural cultural event celebrating the city’s 140th anniversary, holding it up as a model for how festivals could be organized in the city.
But criticism regarding how the event was funded and organized has sparked questions.
The cultural extravaganza and awards show was attended by Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and Couns. Alexa Loo, Bill McNulty, Carol Day, Harold Steves and Michael Wolfe on Sunday evening. The Richmond News was also invited and given a “News and Information” award.
The event was put on by the North American Artists Association (NAAA) and the Canadian Alliance of Chinese Associations (CACA).
Previously this year, the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver came out with a statement calling for non-violence in Hong Kong. This was signed by CACA as well as several dozen other Chinese-Canadian organizations.
Language in the statement about the situation in Hong Kong uses similar language to that used by the Chinese Communist Party to describe on-going protests, for example, talking about foreign influence on Hong Kongers. The statement says that foreign powers shouldn’t take advantage of the situation and separate the Chinese people.
The 140th celebration and awards anniversary event took place at the River Rock Casino and included opera singing, acrobatics, Latin dancing, bhangra dancing and traditional Chinese plays and opera.
It was wholly paid for by sponsors — individuals, organizations and businesses — explained Brian Zhang, NAAA chairman. No money came from any government, he added, either Canadian or Chinese.
At a committee meeting on Monday, Richmond council was trying to figure out how to reconfigure its World Festival and the 140th anniversary ceremony was praised by some councillors as an event to emulate.
McNulty moved to cancel World Festival and replace it with its previous “multifest” iteration — otherwise known as the King George Festival — with an arts festival added on.
“We had a multifest last night, basically (we could take) that performance and put it on a stage,” he said referring to the Chinese cultural event.
Steves also praised the event, saying it just needed Highland dancers to complete it.
Loo, however, noted there has been public criticism regarding how the event was “bankrolled.” When the city puts on events, at least the community knows who is funding them, she added.
“One of the things about us having an event and organizing the event and owning the event beginning to end is that there’s no chance we’re going to be accused of being in bed with someone we shouldn’t be in bed with because we’re controlling it,” Loo said.
The lack of clarity regarding the event’s funding as well as its process for nominating and choosing award winners, was enough to make the Richmond Chamber of Commerce decline an invitation to the event and refuse the award that would have been given to them, explained Matt Pitcairn, the chamber’s CEO and president.
He added the chamber gave “polite regrets” to attending the Richmond 140th Anniversary Awarding Ceremony.
Pitcairn pointed out the chamber hosts its own annual awards event and is aware of the process and the costs involved.
“It’s important to know where funds are coming from (for an event),” Pitcairn said, comparing it to a controversial reception at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention hosted by the Chinese Consulate.
Pitcairn said he was puzzled that the City of Richmond wasn’t leading what was billed at the city’s 140th celebration, and that the broader community didn’t know about it.
The invitation originally read that the event was “strongly assisted by the City of Richmond;” however, Clay Adams, spokesperson for the city said the municipality had no involvement with event and offered no assistance or support. The invitations to councillors went directly to them.
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