ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH
EVENTS
SCHEDULE
This is the seventh year that Halifax joins other North American cities in celebrating Asian Heritage Month. In sharing their heritage and culture with other Nova Scotians the Asian Canadians hope to promote better understanding and appreciation of the Asian Canadian community. The following programmes are organized by Asian Heritage Month Committee, the Halifax Public Libraries, and Patrick Power Library, Saint Mary’s University.
Theatre Auditorium, Saint Mary’s University, McNally Building,
923 Robie Street, Halifax, NS
Proclamation of Asian Heritage Month by Mayor Peter J. Kelly, Halifax Regional Municipality. Cultural performances and displays by members of some Asian organizations, Halifax Public Libraries and Royal Bank Financial Group.
TAIJI QIGONG
Saint Mary’s University, McNally Building,
Room MM201 (Flex Room), 923 Robie Street, Halifax, NS
Presenters: Dr.
Charles Beaupré and his students
Dr. Beaupré has been following approaches to wellness
enhancement for many years. He is now
promoting Taiji Qigong as a prime means to attain this goal. Taiji Qigong is a form of Chinese martial
arts as well as an exercise to strengthen the mind and the body.
CHINESE PAINTINGS
Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library *
Presenter: Helen
Kwan
Chinese paintings reflect a spiritual vitality
connecting nature with the moral and aesthetic aspects of human existence. The main media include brush, ink and/or
colour, on paper or silk. Helen Kwan
will discuss various styles (or schools) of painting and a variety of subjects,
such as scenery, people, flowers, birds and animals.
Helen Kwan is a Halifax based artist, born in
Beijing, China, and moved to Canada from Hong Kong in 1981.
KARATE DEMONSTRATION
Keshen Goodman Public Library,
330 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS
Presenters: Sensei
Mitchell German and the Halifax Ryuseikan Karate Club members
Karate is a form of martial arts. Sensei German is a 4th degree
black belt with 25 years dedication to the art of Chito-Ryu Karate. He is a past international and national
champion, and current provincial (NS) and national (Canada) team coach.
JUJITSU
Bloomfield Centre,
2786 Agricola Street, Halifax, NS
Bushido-Kai Martial Arts Academy, under the direction
of Sensei Ray McKinnon, 4th Dan Jujitsu, has been promoting Japanese
martial arts in Nova Scotia since 1985.
Sensei Ray and his people will have demonstrations of jujitsu as well as
beginner jujitsu lessons. Anyone
interested can participate.
TAE-KWON-DO – KOREAN MARTIAL ART
Dance Studio, Studley Gymnasium, Dalhousie
University,
6226 University Avenue, Halifax, NS
Demonstration of Tae-Kwon-Do
NFB FILM CLUB
UNDER THE WILLOW TREE:
CHINESE PIONEER WOMEN IN
CANADA
Halifax North Memorial Public Library
2285 Gottingen Street, Halifax, NS
A rich and little known part of Canadian history
unfolds through the stories of the first Chinese women who came to Canada and
of subsequent generations of Chinese Canadian women.
CHINA FOR THE WEST: 17th to 19th
CENTURY
EXPORTED POTTERY AND CHINA
Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library *
Presenter: Dr.
Marie Elwood
There is a heritage in Europe and North America of
pottery and porcelain made in China especially for export. This lecture deals with some 17th
– 19th century Nova Scotia collections of such export wares.
Dr. Marie Elwood is Curator Emeritus, NS Museum; a
Research Associate of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Ottawa; and Past
President of the American Ceramic Circle, New York.
NFB FILM CLUB
NO MORE TEARS SISTER
Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library *
A story of love, revolution, and betrayal. No More Tears Sister explores the
price of truth in times of war as it recreates the courageous and vibrant life
of renowned Sri Lankan human rights activist, Dr. Rajani Thiranagama, who was
assassinated at the age of thirty-five.
CONFUCIUS IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library *
Presenter:
Ping Lu
What is the role of Confucius in Chinese
culture? How has his philosophy
affected China and the lives of Chinese people? Ping Lu will offer an introduction to one of the pillars of
Chinese history and culture.
Ping Lu has been teaching Mandarin and Chinese
culture at Saint Mary’s University for 11 years. She is from the People’s Republic of China, and was born in
Shandong province, the birthplace of Confucius.
NFB FILM CLUB
TRUDEAU’S OTHER CHILDREN
Alderney Gate Public Library
60 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, NS
Visionary Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau began turning Canada into the world’s first truly multicultural nation nearly 40 years ago, the ideas of which came decades earlier, when he was a young man traveling through the chaos of the post-war Middle East and Asia. Musicians Vineet Vyas, Mei Han and Asif Illyas of the Halifax group Mir, are part of one of the greatest social experiments the world has seen: multiculturalism.
TAI CHI: EXERCISE WITHOUT EFFORT
Sackville Public Library
636 Sackville Drive, Lower Sackville, NS
Presenters:
Sackville Tai Chi Club members
Tai Chi is a form of ancient Chinese martial
arts. It is now also practised for its
beneficial effects on health. Join
members of the Sackville Tai Chi Club for an introduction to the philosophy
behind Taoist Tai Chi and demonstration of some of the movements basic to this
“exercise of calm”. Call 865-3744 to
register.
A TASTE OF INDIA
Tantallon Public Library,
3646 Hammonds Plains Road, Upper Tantallon, NS
Presenter:
Elaine Murray
Join Elaine Murray for an evening of slides, music
and snacks that provide a taste of the rich and fascinating culture of India.
Library displays of Asian artifacts and / or library
holdings throughout the month of May.
5381 Spring Garden Road, Halifax, NS
Patrick Power Library, Saint Mary’s University
5946 Inglis Street, Halifax, NS
Saturday,
May 6, 2pm
Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library *
(Dance to be held on library lawn – weather
permitting)
Presenters:
Members of the Chinese Society of Nova Scotia
The Dragon Dance is the fierce and explosive
movements of a 20 meter long massive body of the dragon. The serpentine movements require speed,
co-ordination and strength of the dancers, bringing the majestic creature to
life. The dragon dance is believed to
bring people happiness, wisdom, wealth and power.
(Registration is required)
Saturday,
May 6, 2:30pm
Dartmouth North Public Library (490-5840)
134 Pinecrest Drive, Dartmouth, NS
Saturday,
May 20, 2:30pm
Keshen Goodman Public Library (490-5738)
330 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS
Saturday,
May 27, 2:30pm
Cole Harbour Public Library (434-7228)
51 Forest Hills Parkway, Cole Harbour, NS
In this interactive Sushi Hand Roll workshop you will
learn some simple sushi roll techniques to create this traditional Japanese
food. Afterwards you can eat your
creations! Children ages 5-7 must be
accompanied by an adult. Children 8+
can come on their own.
Toad Visits the Emperor: A Vietnamese
Folktale
Saturday,
May 13, 10:30am
Keshen Goodman Public Library
330 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS
Saturday,
May 13, 11am
Instructor Ilhan Kim with members of the Dalhousie
University Taekwondo Club will teach and demonstrate the Korean Martial art of
Taekkyun, the precursor of Taekwondo.
(Registration is required)
Saturday,
May 13, 2:30pm
Learn some basic paper folding techniques and create
your own origami model. See awesome
displays of origami.
(Registration is required)
Saturday,
May 13, 2:30pm
Instructor:
Eunhee Kim
From ancient times Koreans have made daily usable
containers, boxes, tea tables, etc with paper.
Eunhee Kim will display some ready-made items and
teach the audience how to make a simple usable plate.
Author: Marty Chan
Wednesday,
May 17, 10am
Thursday,
May 18, 10am
Thursday, May 18, 1:30pm
Marty Chan is a playwright, radio writer, television
story editor and children’s author from Edmonton. His first novel, The Mystery of the Frozen Brains, has
become a hit with young readers across Canada. It won the 2005 City of Edmonton Book Prize. It tells the story of a Chinese boy,
Marty, who believes his family are aliens because they don’t look like other
people in town. In the sequel, The
Mystery of the Graffiti Ghoul, Marty tracks the mysterious person leaving
spooky graffiti all over town. Marty
Chan will meet and talk with young readers during his first visit to Halifax.
Chopsticks the Mouse and the Chinese Dragon
Thursday,
May 18, 10:30am
Bedford Public Library
15 Dartmouth Road, Bedford, NS
(Groups must register)
Tam Cam: A Vietnamese Cinderella Story
Wednesday,
May 31, 10:30am
Location of
Library not listed above –
Is located at
5381 Spring Garden Road, Halifax, NS