The streets of 91原创鈥檚 historic Chinatown filled Sunday morning with the smell of firecrackers and food, the bright colours of dancing lions and dragons, and the happy shouts of revellers ringing in the Year of the Sheep.
The 42nd annual 91原创 Chinese New Year Parade attracted an estimated 100,000 spectators, according to organizers, and featured more than 80 teams, including everything from cultural groups to Scout troops, and lots of politicians of every stripe and level of government.
As always, the Chinese Lunar Year, which started Thursday, was feted with festivals and feasts in China and all around the world.
Cesar Loo and his family attended many Chinese New Year parades over the years in his hometown of Lima, Peru, but Sunday was their first time at the 91原创 event since moving to B.C. from South America. Loo said the 91原创 parade was 鈥渨ay bigger鈥� than he had expected.
On a side street near Shanghai Alley, 91原创 city councillors Kerry Jang and Geoff Meggs, both longtime parade attendees, expressed their excitement over what Meggs called 鈥渁 highlight of the year.鈥�
Meggs added, to a round of laughter from those gathered nearby, the Chinese New Year parade is 鈥渢he happiest day of the year in politics, because everybody is so pleased to see you 鈥� and that doesn鈥檛 normally happen.鈥�
The Year of the Sheep (or Ram, or Goat) is associated with gentleness and caring, Jang said, adding 鈥渁ll the attributes of those animals are here this year.鈥�
Around the corner, in the plaza in front of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, a group of actual sheep were bleating and posing for photographs.
B.C. NDP leader John Horgan was on hand for his first 91原创 Chinese New Year Parade, having previously attended the event in Victoria.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 stop beaming, this is so exciting,鈥� Horgan said.
Sidewalk vendors peddled firecrackers (three packs for $5), and steamed spicy pork buns ($2 each, and delicious).
Making their parade debut, a dozen members of the Sikh Motorcycle Club cruised by on their bikes, heads clad in bright yellow and orange turbans.
After the parade wrapped up Sunday afternoon, chief organizer Jun Ing said he was happy: The attendance and weather were both great.
As Ing prepared for the evening鈥檚 gala dinner, where he would MC for 1,000 guests, he reflected on the meaning of the occasion.
鈥淵ou have to make the best of everything, it doesn鈥檛 matter what year it is,鈥� Ing said. 鈥淓very year is a good year.鈥�
