Whitehorse welcomes Chinese Year of the Horse
Event participant says it means 'very good luck' for everyone in the city
The Chinese New Year has arrived in Yukon with all the energy of a galloping horse.
About 70 performers took part in a Chinese New Year celebration Saturday at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre in Whitehorse.
The Chinese New Year is on Friday, Jan. 31, and this time the zodiac announces the year of the horse. The horse is considered good luck in Chinese culture.
Xiu-Mei Zhang, president of the Chinese-Canadian Association of Yukon, said this year's Zodiac animal will have a special meaning for many people.
"The horse signifies love, life, intelligence and fast speed or success," she said.
Song Lin has lived in Whitehorse for four years and says the Chinese-Canadian community in Yukon is growing.
"We don't have a big population here, maybe around 300 Chinese-Canadians but it's getting bigger," he said. "We started a society two years ago, and now everybody knows about it."
Charmaine Cheung was the master of ceremonies.
"It's such a lovely coincidence, because we are in Whitehorse and this is the year of the horse that's coming up," she said. "I think that's very good luck for everyone that lives in this great city."
The event featured dancing, music and a demonstration of Tai Chi forms featuring local elders.