Chinese New Year celebrations in Canada grow amid improvement in relations with China

Eden Schwartz, the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator, said families have played a central role in shaping the celebration.

“Part of my job is helping the students bring their cultural celebrations to life, but I really lean on them to see what they want to do,” she added.

“For the past three years, we’ve had families who’ve really just jumped in and taken control of the event and the boys love it.”

The dumpling workshop was just one of several Chinese New Year events at the school. Students also watched a lion dance performance, learned about the Chinese zodiac and walked through halls decorated with red lanterns.

GROWING RECOGNITION

Chinese New Year is not a statutory holiday in Canada, but it is officially recognised in British Columbia and in the city of Toronto. Some school boards also allow excused absences for students observing the holiday.

National recognition of the festival has grown alongside Canada’s Chinese population. For example, for the past 12 years, Canada Post has issued special stamps marking the occasion.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Canadian population has doubled from under one million in the mid-1990s to more than 1.7 million in 2021.

In Montreal, Chinese New Year events in Chinatown continue to draw expanding crowds of all ages and backgrounds, reflecting the city’s multicultural character.

THAW IN DIPLOMATIC TIES

This year’s celebrations also come amid shifting diplomatic relations between Canada and China, which have been strained since the 2018 arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

But in January, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two sides issued a joint statement announcing a new strategic partnership.