Calgary’s Chinese community celebrates Stampede with heritage exhibition

Members of Calgary’s Chinese community got into the Stampede spirit Sunday, hosting a celebration of Chinese heritage that showcased the diverse cultures within the different regions of China.

Ying Shang, a member of the Calgary Chinese Cultural Association, says it’s about bringing people together.

“We want to kind of build a bridge between the local people and the Chinese community,” Shang said. “Different people eat different foods, and different people wear different clothing as well.”

There were a variety of artistic performances, each one steeped in historic traditions passed down through generations. The event featured more than 50 different community groups.

The organizers chose to put on the event during Stampede, saying it was a perfect time to showcase history.

“When in Rome, do as the Romans,” Shang said. “Here, we know that Stampede is the tradition because we celebrate it for more than 100 years.”

Stunning artwork was on display — a style of embroidering originating in the western Han dynasty from around 204 BC to 24 AD — showcasing the City of Calgary in a traditional Chinese style.

“We want to celebrate the heritage of the Canadian society, but we want to represent our Chinese culture to the local people as well,” Shang said.

The event ran Sunday afternoon, with participants proud to add a little western flair to their regalia, all in the spirit of celebrating Stampede.

“It started out maybe two months ago as a small event, and then it sort of snowballed as more and more Chinese associations wanted to get involved,” said David Wright, professor of Chinese History at the University of Calgary, and a board member at multiple Chinese community associations in Calgary.

Wright adds there is one thing that would complete the Stampede experience:

“I haven’t figured out how to say ‘yeehaw’ in Chinese.”