In February 2019, the Confucius Institute at the University of Saskatchewan participated in many cultural activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year organized by the local communities, including the Spring Festival Celebration at Market Mall, the Saskatoon Shines Festival at the Farmer’s Market, the Scottish Country Dancers Club Burns Night, and the Chinese New Year Celebration at the Primrose Chateau.
On February 2, 2019, the Saskatoon Market Mall organized the Chinese New Year Celebration. The USask CI and the Chinese Dance School of Saskatchewan (CDSS) were invited to perform in the Mall. The USask CI performed the lion dance and panda dance and the CDSS performed the dragon dance and Chinese folk dances. After the performance, the lion, dragon and panda paraded in the Mall.
From January 26 to February 3, 2019, the “Saskatoon Shines Festival” was held at the Farmer’s Market. The USask CI were invited to perform the lion dance and panda dance on February 2. The USask CI also rented a booth to display a variety of Chinese style materials such as the Beijing Opera masks, paper cutting, lanterns, Chinese knots, panda dolls, etc.
On February 2, 2019, the Saskatoon St. George’s Anglican Church organized the “Scottish Country Dancers Club Burns Night”. The USask CI were invited to perform the Chinese folk dance “Caiwei” and the lion dance to the audience.
On February 23, 2019, the USask CI were invited to organize a Chinese New Year Celebration for the senior citizens at the Primrose Chateau. The USask CI Canadian Director Professor Li Zong performed the traditional Chinese musical instrument play “Erhu”. All the audience sang together, following the tune of the Erhu performance “Long live friendship”. The USask CI volunteer teachers performed the lion dance, the panda dance, the zither, and the Guqin (a seven-stringed plucked instrument in some way similar to the zither). After the performance, the volunteer teachers taught the audience how to make Chinese ink painting via blowing.
