Nine new murals will be revealed and Canada's military honoured at this year’s annual FestivAsia in Chinatown which runs from Oct. 2-4.
Overlooking a parking lot at Somerset and Cambridge streets, the old chipped murals are being replaced with these new works of art, created by teens from the Door Youth Centre, a community facility that offers free services to young people.
Each of the first eight panels will visually tell a story about the diverse culture within Asia, explained Christina Anastassopoulo, arts co-ordinator at the Door. The ninth plaque will be a written description of every mural’s meaning.
The murals will beautify the community and highlight the cultures found within it, Anastassopoulo continued. They also give the young people of Chinatown an opportunity to contribute to the “everyday environment” of the street, she added.
The unveiling is scheduled to take place on Saturday and is only one of the festival’s many events.
FestivAsia celebrates the different ethnicities in the community, says Grace Xin, the executive director of the Somerset Street Chinatown Business Improvement Area, the organizing group of the festival.
“This is an event to showcase [our] cultures,” says Xin, “and it’s to show we’re proud to be Canadian.”
Kicking off the festival at Dundonald Park is a Red Friday rally to support the Canadian military. Red Friday is an organization that honours the troops and their families by wearing red, raising awareness, and holding gatherings.
It’s a “visual way to show support for military members and their family,” said Lisa Miller, co-founder of Red Friday and military spouse.
Both Miller and her Red Friday partner, Karen Boire, are scheduled to speak at the rally, alongside a dragon dance and the singing of the national anthem by students from Glashan Public School.
This was the first time a cultural community has reached out to Red Friday, says Miller. She explained that the message of support from this neighbourhood was different.
“I think with the multicultural aspect [of Chinatown],” says Miller. “It’s showing that other cultures can appreciate the work Canada has done in the past, and continues to do.”
Because a high percentage of the residents of this community are immigrants, Xin said it was important for them to show their gratitude and support for Canada’s military. Chinatown residents are proud to now be Canadian, she explained.
“These troops are our country’s troops.”
Although Chinatown has a distinct “Asian flavour,” it is a multicultural community with residents who have ethnic backgrounds from all over the world, said Xin.
FestivAsia is also scheduled to include other events such as a wine tasting, a parade, a fortune-cookie making workshop, and a Japanese garden.
“When you have something fun and nice,” says Xin, “You want to invite people.”