From August 15 to 18, 2019, the Saskatoon Folkfest was held at eight different places for 17 pavilions. The Chinese Pavilion was co-organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Saskatchewan and the Federation of Saskatoon Chinese Canadian Organizations at Lions Arena. More than 10000 audience visited the Chinese Pavilion within three days.
The Chinese Pavilion
As the co-organizer of the Chinese Pavilion, the USask CI prepared several Chinese-style artistic performances for this event. The CI Lion and Dragon Dance Group performed “Group Lion Dance” and “Drunken Lion Dance” for three or four times each day and the CI Chinese Dance Group performed “Mei Lao Zi” and “Beauty Chant” for several times each day.
Group Lion Dance Drunken Lion Dance
Mei Lao Zi Beauty Chant
Apart from the performances, the USask CI booth at the Chinese Pavilion organized a variety of cultural display and experience, including Chinese calligraphy, Chinese traditional costumes, dough figurines, Chinese knots, lucky basin, Chinese Mah-jong, etc., which attracted many visitors.
Chinese calligraphy Chinese costumes
Chinese zither Chinese knots
Dough figurine Lucky basin
Making wonton Chinese Mah-jong
Many other local communities joined in the performances, including the Chinese Dance School of Saskatchewan, the Chinese Martial Arts School of Saskatchewan, the Saskatoon Qipao Show Club, the Saskatoon Spring Choir, the Saskatoon Taichi Club, etc. The volunteers of the Chinese Pavilion came from many walks of life, including people from the Chinese Students and Scholars Association of the University of Saskatchewan, Association of Chinese Visiting Scholars of the University of Saskatchewan, exchange students from China’s Capital Normal University and Northwest University, and local communities. Many local Chinese restaurants and stores also contributed a lot to this great event, such as “Great Buffet of China”, “Delight”, “Asian Cuisine”, “Super Fresh Asian Store”, etc.
The success of the Chinese Pavilion was greatly recognized and appreciated by the 2019 Saskatoon Folkfest Organizing Committee as well as all the visitors.