The Moose Jaw Chinese Community Network is well-known for its New Year’s banquets, but during the other 364 days of the year, it is focused on supporting ethnic residents of all ages.
The network (MJCCN) is the original group that has supported the Chinese community for roughly 140 years. Its goal is to promote culture, assist newcomers with integration, help its members and provide social opportunities to unite ethnic Chinese with the broader community.
The group had a “really busy year” in 2023 since it hosted many events to welcome new immigrants, said president Qiang (Kelvin) Hu.
Executive members noticed that many young Chinese were moving to The Friendly City, so they gathered that group with older residents so the latter could share their stories of life here, he continued. The network also held several sessions at Grant Hall and Hotel so the new immigrants could acquire information about Moose Jaw.
Meanwhile, the network organized a barbecue in the summer that attracted more than 100 people, with the get-together featuring fun games and activities for families. Also, the organization was one of many vendors present during Sidewalk Days and dished out plenty of food to hundreds of passersby.
“It was a hot day, but we really felt it was worth it,” said Hu.
Hu was particularly excited about the network’s efforts to support Chinese athletes who participated in the Para Hockey World Championship tournament in May and June. He noted that the network mobilized its members and encouraged them to support Team China by attending the games.
“So, it really was a busy and memorable year,” he added.
While the Moose Jaw Chinese Community Network is preparing to host its well-known New Year’s banquet on Monday, Feb. 12, at Jade Garden Restaurant, it’s also working with the Grant Hotel to co-host the third annual Lantern Festival Gala on Saturday, Feb. 24, said Hu.
A Chinese lantern festival — Yuan Xiao Jie or Yuanxiao Festival — is the 15th day after the start of the Lunar New Year, which marks the first full moon of the year and celebrates the end of the spring festival period.
On the night of the Chinese Lantern Festival — held this year on its actual date — streets are normally decorated with colourful lanterns, often with riddles written on them. People eat sweet rice balls called tangyuan, watch dragon and lion dances, and set off fireworks.
The lanterns symbolize people letting go of the past year, welcoming the new year with good fortune and “illuminating the future.” It is a way for people to pray that they will have smooth futures and to express their best wishes for their families.
Guessing (solving) lantern riddles started in the Song Dynasty (960 A.D. to 1279 A.D.) and is one of the most important and popular activities of the Lantern Festival. Lantern owners write riddles on paper notes and paste them on colourful lanterns. People crowd around to guess the riddles.
If people think they have the right answer, they can pull the riddle off and go to the lantern owner to check their answer. If they are right, there is usually a small prize.
The network has released few details about the Lantern Festival Gala but encourages people to check its website and social media pages for more information.
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