Canucks Set to Host Fifth Annual Lunar New Year Game, Presented by TD
Canucks #Canucks
Vancouver, B.C. – The Vancouver Canucks are excited to announce details about the fifth annual Lunar New Year game, presented by TD, on January 24th against the Chicago Blackhawks. This Lunar New Year is the Year of the Rabbit which symbolizes hope, peace and longevity in accordance with the Chinese zodiac.
“Canucks Sports & Entertainment is proud to participate in Vancouver’s Lunar New Year celebrations and to further connect with the community in an impactful way,” said Michael Doyle, President, Canucks Sports and Entertainment, Business Operations. “This time-honoured tradition of welcoming spring and the good fortune of the new year is an important celebration for many Canucks fans across the province.”
Fans can celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with family-fun activations including entertainment by Chinatown funk band Son of James, Kyung Hee University Taekwondo School, AOE Dance Group and Vancity Lion Dance who will perform a special Lettuce Ceremony. Fans can also visit the Canucks Night Market, presented by TD, on the concourse to visit local vendors from our East Asian fanbase.
The Canucks are excited to release limited-edition Lunar New Year merchandise and jerseys designed by award-winning artist, Trevor Lai. The players will wear special warm-up jerseys uniting the Year of the Rabbit with the iconic Skate jersey to symbolize elements of speed, power, and good fortune. The jerseys showcase a traditional Ruyi pattern (an ancient Chinese symbol) woven throughout the sweater and acting as a protective circle of good fortune. A special shoulder patch features The Lions mountain range, from BC’s North Shore, encased in a traditional Chinese lantern symbolizing the Canucks shining light on the community and everyone in it. Fans can own one of these special player-worn Lunar New Year warm-up jerseys through an online auction on vanbase.ca.
All other Lunar New Year merchandise will be available in the Canucks Team Store and online at vanbase.ca with partial proceeds from sales being donated to Elimin8hate and the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation (VCF). Funds donated to Elimin8hate will help to propel their mission of education through anti-racism curriculum and to promote equity, inclusion, and representation of Asian Canadians. In addition to the funds from merchandise sales, the Canucks For Kids Fund is proud to donate an additional $20,000 to VCF which will assist with projects supporting the cultural and economic development of Vancouver’s Chinatown communities.
Lunar New Year festivities include:
Tickets for the Jan. 24 Lunar New Year game can be purchased online at https://tickets.canucks.com/.
Members of the Vancouver Canucks organization and Canucks for Kids Fund will also be taking part in the Chinatown Spring Festival Parade on Sunday, Jan. 22. Catch a glimpse of FIN and the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada along the 1.3 km route through Chinatown starting at 11 a.m. PT.
About Lunar New Year:
Lunar New Year is a holiday that marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar traditionally used in many East Asian countries including China, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and more. In these countries, this is one of the most important holidays of the year. Red is the most popular colour for Lunar New Year celebrations because of its association with happiness, good fortune, and wealth. It is also believed to ward off evil spirits, hence the red lanterns, red firecrackers, and red envelopes.
Lunar New Year is a holiday with many traditions and celebrations. One tradition is the thorough cleaning of one’s home to rid the resident of any lingering bad luck or misfortune. Family dinners also occur as people travel all over the world to reunite with their families to enjoy a meal together at the start of the new year. Distributing red envelopes is another common tradition in which older relatives give red envelopes to younger children to wish them good luck, health, and fortune in the new year.
About the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation:
The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to building a more resilient and inclusive community by promoting the well-being of those in need while preserving Chinatown’s irreplaceable cultural heritage. Their ongoing projects focus on creating a lasting positive impact such as affordable housing, seniors housing, and cultural and economic development.
About Elimin8Hate:
Elimin8Hate is an advocacy arm of the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. They provide anti-Asian racism learning opportunities, and create safe, inclusive ways for impacted community members and allies to participate in initiatives aimed at supporting systemic change for an equitable society.