Submitted by urci on
Canada has always been known for its rich and diverse culture. At the beginning of the 1970s, the Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, put forward the idea of multiculturalism. In 1988, “The Canadian Multiculturalism Act” was created, and Canadians are very proud of their multicultural heritage.
The annual Mosaic Festival, which began over 51 years ago, is one of the most popular and engaging cultural events in Regina. This year, the Confucius Institute at the University of Regina, together with the Regina Chinese Canadian Association, jointly hosted the Chinese Pavilion which included a series of cultural activities.
On May 19th and 26th, the Confucius Institute at the University of Regina and the Chinese Dance School of Saskatchewan put on a Mini-Mosaic at the William Booth Special Carehome and Wascana Rehab Center to offer residents a glimpse of the upcoming festival. Graceful folk dance, vigorous Chinese martial arts, and melodious Guzheng performances caught the attention of the audience and received prolonged applause. Mosaic 2018 opened on May 31st . During this three-day event, the local community had the opportunity to visit 18 cultural pavilions, including the Chinese Pavilion, to experience a multitude of cultures and celebrate cultural diversity.
This year, the theme of the Chinese Pavilion was “Diverse Cultures of China's Ethnic Groups”. The Confucius Institute displayed a vivid and beautiful exhibition displaying dolls for each of the 56 ethnic groups, prepared information displays, and organized a series of interactive activities to demonstrate the beautiful and unique culture of each of the 56 ethnic groups. Children enjoyed a riding and shooting game, as well as coloring costumes of different ethnic groups.
Dough Figurines, a traditional Chinese folk handcraft, was introduced to the local community for the first time and attracted a lot of people’s attention. The Confucius Institute staff taught the participants how to make different dough figurines. Pandas, flowers, dragons and many vivid figurines were crafted by the participants. It was one of the most popular activities for many children and their families.
During the event, the Confucius Institute at the University of Regina also showcased Chinese folk dance and martial arts performances for the audience. Wushu, a new program offered by the Confucius Institute for the first time this year, was led by Mr. Shubiao Chu, who is a previous Champion of the Hongkong Shaolin Boxing Open Competition and has rich experience in teaching martial arts in Bolivia. Together with Mr. Chu, the junior Wushu team showcased the spirit of Chinese martial arts and their performance and enthusiasm was met with cheers and applause.
While enjoying the performances and taking part in the activities, visitors could also enjoy delicious and authentic Chinese food. This year, about 8000 people attended Mosaic 2018 and enjoyed the rich Chinese culture presented by the Chinese Pavilion. The Honorable Ralph Goodale, the Canadian Minister of Public Safety, and other representatives of the Regina Multicultural Council were also in attendance.