Events

Month of May Activities

Okanagan Regional Library                                                                                                           

Visit the library and check out the books displaying the fascinating world around Asian culture with stories that will take you away to exotic lands and teach you more about the interesting rituals of your difficult as you may think.

Kelowna Heritage Museum

In the front of the museum, you will see some of the Asian people and their history in Kelowna.  You can find out how they have contributed to our community.  Videos locally produced will tell some of the stories of Asian Canadians and bring awareness to how things have changed from the past.

Kelowna Art Gallery 

On Sundays during the month of May from 1-4 pm the whole family will have the chance to create different pieces of Asian arts and crafts.  From making lanterns and kites to origami and furoshiki, you will have fun learning about the history of the things you make and possibly adopt some of this art into your daily lives.

School performances

The Kelowna-Kasugai Sister City Association has been very active with bringing Japanese cultural awareness to the people of Kelowna and always try to bring that to the youth.  This year, during Asian Heritage Month, at various schools in Kelowna, professional musicians from our sister city will be performing collaboratively with the schools’ chorus groups as well as local musicians with Asian heritage.

The performance objective is to celebrate Asian Heritage Month by introducing unique and wonderful instruments of Asia.  (Koto, Shakuhachi, Taiko drums, Erhu, Yang qin, and of course the unique Asian sound of Voice).  The performers will explain the history and significance of their instrument(s) and show the unique qualities of the instrument itself. The school, for the exchange component, will have a chorus group that will share an Asian song with the musicians and the audience.

After the performance, some students will go to different stations that display the musical instruments. Depending on the musician, the student will be able to either see closer how the instrument works or try the instrument out first hand.  Other stations not instrumental will include the Kelowna Community Resources (KCR) multicultural computer kiosk and OK to Say.

Tuesday, May 1                 

Lady of the Lake Society Fashion Show                                                                                       

at the Dorchester Retirement Living                                                                                                    starting at 7:30 pm                                                                                                                             Admission  $6.00 at the door

Come to the Dorchester to experience our nine Lady of the Lake candidates dressed in Asian attire.  Our musicians from Kasugai, Kelowna’s sister city in Japan will be performing live during this tribute to the fashion of Asia.

Wednesday, May 2

Asian Musical Gathering                                                                                                                        

Kelowna Community Theatre                                                                                                                           From 6:00 pm-8:00 pm                                                                                                                                 Admission by donation (proceeds will go toward Japan Disaster Relief)

Do you have an instrument from Asia?  Do you know and have practiced a song from Asia?  Either way, you can join in the circle and play along in the Asian Musical gathering.  Everyone is welcome, whether you want to play or just want to watch.  Admission is by donation. (Stage participants must RSVP by April 25th. Contact Ken at kyfix@telus.net)

Thursday, May 3             

Asian Heritage Month Opening Celebration and Performance                                   

Rotary Centre for the Arts                                                                                                                              Displays open from            5:30 pm - 9:30 pm                                                                                                      Free Admission to Activities, displays, and demonstrations                                                                 Performance from   6:45 pm-9:00 pm                                                                                                                 $10.00 admission to the performance

The opening kickoff to Asian Heritage Month 2012!  Come and enjoy all the sights and sounds, smells and tastes of Asian heritage and culture.  The Rotary Centre for the Arts Bistro will be presenting some Asian delights for you to try.  Meanwhile, booths, displays, demonstrations and workshops will keep you active while you learn about many different aspects of various Asian cultures.  Learn a Korean dance or partake in a Japanese tea ceremony.  Make a “Mandala” while you watch the Kendo practice.  There may even be a spot on the Thai massage mat.  After you finish there, enter the performance theatre and be blown away by special guest Art Lee from “Wadaiko Tokara” on the taiko drums playing solo and with our very own Yamabiko Taiko Group.  Ensemble Liberta from our sister city Kasugai will be there to display music from Japan with their unique instruments.  Another special treat with David Tam and his presentation of instrumentals from China.  India and Korea will represent through dance and the groups of the martial arts community will display what they are all about.  You definitely don’t want to miss out on this incredible show.

Friday, May 4^th

Dragon Boat Workshop

One of Kelowna’s renowned dragon boat teams will do a dragon boat workshop for our guests from Kasugai, Japan.  Others from Kelowna will partake in the workshop to show that different cultures can cooperate and work together for a common goal.

Saturday, May 5^th – Sunday May 6^th

Weekend Taiko Workshop with Art Lee

Kelowna’s Yamabiko Taiko will be receiving a weekend Taiko (Japanese Drum) workshop from one of the masters of Taiko, Art Lee, leader of “Tokara Ensemble Wadaiko” in Japan.  This workshop will give our local group tremendous knowledge and methods of training to become better players and representatives of Taiko in our community. 

Saturday, May 19     

Rutland May Days Parade

Come and enjoy the Rutland May Days and celebrate Asian Heritage Month in the parade.  If you’re Asian and proud or if you just love the Asian culture, you may dress up and display your Asian spirit along the parade path from YMYWCA to Rutland Centennial Hall.

Saturday/Sunday     May 19/20

Rutland May Days Asian Celebration                                                                                      Rutland Centennial Hall                                                                                                                                12:00 pm-4:00 pm                                                                                                                                         Free Admission

Song, dance, displays, demonstrations, food, tea ceremonies, discussions and dialogue.  Whatever your interest in Asian-Canadian traditions and values, you can experience it at the Rutland Centennial Hall this weekend.  Try an appy with flavours from China, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, Vietnam, or the Philippines.  Watch the history of how Asian-Canadians populations grew in Kelowna and how they have contributed to our communities throughout the Okanagan.  Join us in tea and discussion about the similarities and differences between Asian lifestyles and heritage and others from around the globe.  This event will be exciting as we bring more awareness to Asian-Canadians and their heritage.

Asian Immigrants in the Okanagan-Building Bridges: “Yes We Can!” will be held in the Rutland Centennial Hall, May 19-20, 2012 as part of Asian Heritage Month Kelowna celebrations and in conjunction with the Multicultural Showcase during the hugely popular Rutland May Days.  This event is hosted by OCCA in partnership with the Intercultural Society of the Central Okanagan (ISCO) and with promotional assistance of Rutland Parks Society, Uptown Rutland Business Association and the City Of Kelowna.  The multicultural Showcase is expanding from a stage show in 2011 to displays, dialogue sessions, facilitated video screenings, an international tea room, interactive crafts, cultural activities and stage performances.  Featured in the exhibition hall will be local Asian communities displaying historical data related to Asian immigrants within the Okanagan area at booths.  Serving ethnic teas and desserts from Asian First nations, and European traditions will encourage mingling and deeper conversations around the tables.