“This is how Taiwanese people grew up, this is how we live,” she shares. “We want you to enjoy the things that we appreciate as well.”

A cultural celebration

Founded in 1991, the TCCS works to foster multiculturalism and respect for diversity. The Society’s goal also includes sharing Taiwanese culture with the public. Their advocacy for more than 30 years has led the provincial government to declare July as Taiwanese Heritage Month.

“We got the most engagement, ever, on Facebook,” Chan says of the inaugural heritage month. “They are all so excited for us.”

She adds that members of Taiwanese communities and other diasporas supported this initiative. Celebrating this milestone, the Society has expanded this year’s festival programming to a month-long celebration. Part of the festivities is TCC Community Days, held at the Taiwanese Culture Centre (8853 Selkirk Street) from July 19 to 20.

During this weekend, there will be many activities – including live music performances, art exhibition and papercraft workshops. TCCS’ Taiwan School will also introduce their curriculum and display their work.

“We’re making paper lanterns, snake lanterns for the year of the snake,” Chan adds. “Kids love them!”

The Society has designed the free TCC Community Days for all ages, fostering connections between generations and cultures. For the first time, the Society will organize free Chinese medicine consultations. These consultations will be provided by Kathy Lin, a Taiwanese Canadian traditional Chinese medicine doctor.

Finding home

The weekend will also showcase a range of musical performances, titled Taiwanese & Canadian Concert Series. Performers include three pianists: Sunny Qu, Marcus Lim and Jasmine Huang. Cellist Eva Lakirovich will also perform as well as violinists Ross Ling and Sarah Chang.

Music and dance play big roles throughout the entire festival. Chan adds that the invited artists are “not only Taiwanese Canadians or Taiwanese artists.” True to their founding commitment, the Society is also welcoming artists from different cultural backgrounds.

In partnership with Taiwan Film & Audiovisual Institute, the festival will also showcase four award-winning films by Taiwanese directors and actors from July 17 to 24 at the Taiwanese Cultural Centre. Chan adds that these films were selected specifically to highlight Taiwanese folk culture and religion.

“Our goal is for [attendees] to see something or feel something that is like home,” the program organizer shares.

For Chan, the work of putting on the festival is deeply personal. She immigrated to Canada over eight years ago and still gets excited when encountering any aspect of Taiwanese culture, including products “made in Taiwan.” Chan recognized the importance of this cultural connection during a conversation with her mother.

“[My mother] said, ‘oh, the reason that you are doing this is to show…that Taiwanese culture is irreplaceable for Taiwanese Canadians,” Chan recalls.

Following the Community Days, the festival will conclude with a grand finale performance on July 26 at the Vancouver Playhouse. Titled the Taiwanese Canadian Musician Series Concert, the performance will feature the Vancouver Pops Orchestra and Choir. Committed to fostering appreciation for multiculturalism, the TCCS is already planning their next festival.

“With this year, we have expanded the scope to Surrey for the first time,” she shares. “For the future, we would like to go to different cities as well: Richmond, Burnaby and even other provinces.”

For more information, see www.tccfestival.ca