VIDEO: B.C. legislature celebrates Lunar New Year

Premier David Eby watches the Ging Wu West Lion Dancers perform at a Lunar New Year celebration at the B.C. legislature on Wednesday (Feb. 21). (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)Premier David Eby watches the Ging Wu West Lion Dancers perform at a Lunar New Year celebration at the B.C. legislature on Wednesday (Feb. 21). (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Premier David Eby speaks at a Lunar New Year celebration at the B.C. legislature on Wednesday. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)Premier David Eby speaks at a Lunar New Year celebration at the B.C. legislature on Wednesday. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
The Ging Wu West Lion Dancers perform for the first time at the B.C. legislature for a Lunar New Year celebration. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)The Ging Wu West Lion Dancers perform for the first time at the B.C. legislature for a Lunar New Year celebration. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

The Ging Wu West Lion Dancers performed to the beat of drums at the B.C. legislature as part of a Lunar New Year celebration on Wednesday (Feb. 21).

The event was held in the Hall of Honour and featured speeches by Premier David Eby and Richmond South Centre MLA Henry Yao.

The celebration was a special one as it aimed to bring good luck this year, but also marked the Ging Wu West Lion Dancers’ first performance in the legislature.

“This is a historical moment,” Yao said. “This event doesn’t happen every year. This is a great opportunity for all of us to come together and celebrate our multicultural community in B.C.”

In the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon.

“I love the Year of the Dragon because I’m a dragon,” Eby said. “We also live in a province that’s like a dragon. It’s a very powerful province with amazing natural resources and incredible people.”

“This celebration that we’re having here today is significant internationally and certainly for us in the province. I’m so glad the party is still going.”

The Lunar New Year starts with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and finishes 15 days later on the first full moon.

READ MORE: Lunar New Year celebrates arrival of the Year of the Dragon

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