Toronto, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- On the evening of Feb. 18, the Algonquin Theatre in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, was full of seats, and Chinese and foreign audiences enjoyed the special performance of the 2024 Canadian New Year Gala Ottawa to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Dragon in the lunar calendar, wish China prosperity, and express the homesickness of overseas Chinese.
The evening was jointly organized by more than 30 Chinese associations, including the Ottawa Huaxing Art Troupe, the Ottawa Chinese Association, the Ottawa Hongmen People's Governance Party, the Ottawa Chinese Alumni Association, the Ottawa Beijing Association, and the Algonquin College Alumni Association.
On the evening of February 18, local time, the special performance of the 2024 Canadian New Year Gala Ottawa was held at the Algonquin Theater in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. The picture shows a local Chinese art group performing the dance "Morning Light Song". Photo courtesy of the organizer).
Artists from China's Wuxi Song and Dance Theater, Wuxi Chinese Orchestra and China's well-known magician Li Dongjin were specially invited to participate in the performance. The governing units of the Ottawa Huaxing Art Troupe and Chinese artists joined hands to present a cultural feast combining East and West. Nearly 200 cast and crew performed 16 choreographed performances, including instrumental music, singing and dancing, Peking opera, martial arts, magic and more.
On the evening of February 18, local time, the special performance of the 2024 Canadian New Year Gala Ottawa was held at the Algonquin Theater in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. The picture shows outstanding young dancers Huang Ying and Liu Xin from Wuxi Song and Dance Theater performing the pas de deux "Crane Edge". Photo courtesy of the organizer).
Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu, Canadian Rep. Chandra Arya, Ontario MP Lisa Macleod and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe attended the evening.
In his speech, Cong Peiwu expressed the hope that more Canadian friends will visit China, strengthen exchanges between the two peoples, and continue the traditional friendship between China and Canada. In the new year, China will continue to unswervingly promote opening-up. We welcome more Canadian companies to invest in China in the Year of the Dragon and share development opportunities. In the face of global challenges such as climate change, China and Canada need to respect each other, seek common ground while reserving differences, work together for a better future for the two peoples, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Chandra Aya said that the ** between Canada and China is still growing. Canada and China need to work together if they are to address global challenges.
Suttcliffe said he was proud of his Chinese ancestry. He praised the vibrant Chinese community for its contribution to Ottawa's economic, cultural and community development.
On the evening of February 18, local time, the special performance of the 2024 Canadian New Year Gala Ottawa was held at the Algonquin Theater in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. The picture shows a local Chinese art group performing an instrumental ensemble. Photo courtesy of the organizer).
As the chief planner of the gala, Zhang Zhigang, chairman of the Canadian Chinese Art Association and director of the Ottawa Huaxing Art Troupe, introduced that the gala is the fourth sub-venue performance of the 2024 Canadian Spring Festival Gala of "Spring in the Four Seas, Huaxing Shining" starting on February 3. Previously, Montreal, Vancouver and Winnipeg had already completed performances. The series will hold its final performance in Toronto on February 19. The series is organized by the Ottawa Huaxing Art Troupe, the Montreal Huaxing Art Troupe, the Winnipeg Art Troupe, the Toronto Huaxing Art Troupe, and the Vancouver Canada-China Friendship and Cooperation Association. A total of more than 100 Chinese associations in various cities participated in the co-sponsorship or co-organizing.