Celebrating Chinese New Year in our home away from home

Cape Breton University Chinese students and scholar association celebrating Chinese traditional New Year with all friends in the community

Chinese New Year is a memorable day for many Chinese people. Being happy and reunited with family and friends is essential for this festival. However, for many Chinese currently studying or living on Cape Breton Island, the surroundings seem less like a new year's vibe.

To help Chinese students and people celebrate this important holiday, on 2023 January 28, the Cape Breton University Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CBUCSSA) united with Cape Breton University Language Center (CBLC), also with many outstanding Chinese entrepreneurs on the island, for all the Chinese people far from home to bring a unique "Spring festival Gala."

CBUCSSA is a dynamic community of capable students who organize themselves to help each other and help Chinese students and scholars integrate into the local community. They also hope that through this "Spring Festival Gala," more students will see the beauty and friendly community of Cape Breton and join this family in the future.

A huge gift also showed up with surprises, Mark Henry Rowswell, also known as "Da Shan," to a lot of Chinese people. He is a renowned Canadian academic, host, language artist, and talk show performer in Cape Breton! Not only has he appeared at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala four times as a crosstalk artist, but he has also been warmly welcomed by both China and Canada for his excellent language skills and humorous performances.

For his arrival, the entire venue was jubilant; his performance is many Chinese New Year memories, and his presence now in Cape Breton also really let the Chinese people feel the unique New Year atmosphere. At the party, he not only performed a talk show but also brought a soulful poetry recitation performance for everyone, thunderous applause.

Later, Mrs. Kerrianne Mackenzie, the chief operating officer of the Cape Breton Language Center, presented the certificate to Mr. Dashan and officially announced that he would be the CBLC's cultural ambassador and Special Adviser to honor his significant role between Canada and China's friendship. At the same time, the student performance was also fascinating; whether it was musical instruments, dance, or crosstalk performance, it pushed the party to another climax a few times.

Although the evening didn't last long, it was an opportunity to get together with friends from other countries in the Cape Breton community to celebrate traditional Chinese festivals and promote Chinese culture, which is a highly precious experience.

The Cape Breton Language Center also wishes everyone a happy new year and all the best in the future.