www.vancouver21.com

On Surrey Vaisakhi Day 2013 on April 20, 201, Sikhs around the lower mainland and elsewhere came to worship at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar temple. Tens of thousands of South Asians then took part in the parade and enjoyed the free food and entertainment along the route that stretched several kilometers. The event is the oldest and one of the largest Vaisakhi Day programs outside India.

You don’t have to be South Asian to appreciate the all-you-can-eat free foods and drinks. There are plenty of Indian foods such as bottled water, Coke, Pepsis, fruit juices and other sodas. The hot sweetly-spiced Indian milk tea remains the favorite beverage however. Community performers and song-and-dance groups including the Punjabi group, Kohinoor Folk Arts Club have all gathered to provide entertainment.

As evident in the video above, the money offerings at the Gurdwara Sahib temple consist of more American dollars than Canadian ones (many in $1 dollar denomination). Way more. Does that suggest there were U.S citizens coming to Canada to attend this celebration? And as the Canadian $1 and $2 have become out of fashion in everyday use, the U.S. $1 becomes a popular and ‘cheaper’ replacement in cash donations, is that possible? Whatever the reason, the spirit of giving and generosity towards anyone were very much alive on Vaisakhi Day. That’s the way it is meant to be.

Ray Van Eng is an award-winning Photographer/Videographer, Screenwriter and Movie & TV Producer. One of his videos is currently on view at the Hava Nagila Exhibit, Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in Manhattan, New York, NY. from Sep 2012 to May 2013.

Gurdwara Sahib temple, Surrey BC

View Larger Map

• Photostream

Next Page ›

‹ Previous Page

Powered by Flickr Gallery

The Nanjing Acrobat Troupe 南京市杂技团 from China came to perform at the Surrey Fusion Festival 2012 on July 21, 2012. The lady contortionist and her bodily deformity defy human body structure and give new meaning to being flexible. She appeared as part of a presentation together with the Wuxi Chinese Cultural Troupe无锡中国文化团 from Jiangsu江苏省.

The well-known Chinese cultural song and dance musical group has travelled and performed around the world. They recently toured Canada in July 2012 to present ‘Beautiful South China’ to audiences in Ottawa, Moncton, Halifax, Montreal and Calgary. Their appearance with the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe in Surrey, BC seemed like an unscheduled visit.


A Video by Ray Van Eng – Nanjing Acrobatics

Kang Ding Love Song 康定情歌 – Wuxi Song & Dance Group

That Far Away Place 在那遥远的地方 Wuxi Song & Dance Group

Holland Park, Surrey BC, Canada

View Larger Map

• Photostream

Next Page ›

‹ Previous Page

Powered by Flickr Gallery

Canadian indie rock band Walk Off The Earth played their famous Gotye’s cover song ‘Somebody That I Used To Know” with five band members playing on the same guitar. They also belted out an original number ‘Summer Vibe’ to a very appreciative audience at Holland Park Concord Pacific World Music Stage during the Surrey Fusion Festival 2012 on July 21, 2012.

The band came from Burlington, Ontario. Band members include Gianni Luminati, Sarah Nicole Blackwood, Ryan Marshall, Mike Taylor and Joel Cassady. Besides the guitar, piano, drums and other instruments, the band also plays other unconventional musical tools including the Ukulele and the Theremin, as well as looping samples.

They became a Youtube sensation when their covered versions such as ‘Backin’ Up’ from The Gregory Brothers, Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’, The Beatles ‘From Me To You’ and others hit the Internet, gaining them millions upon millions of views.

the Surrey Fusion Festival 2012 (July 21-22, 2012 at Holland Park) has a multicultural flavor that celebrates the city’s diverse communities i.e. South Asian, Indian, Punjabi, Asian, Chinese, The Philippines, South East Asian, Latino, South American and European.

This year’s headliners include Los Lobos, Wuxi Chinese Cultural Troupe, Celebration Dance Team, Walk Off The Earth, Indianation, Nanjing Acrobat Group, Delphi 2 Dublin, Polonez, Briga, Good For Grapes and many other groups. There will also a Parade of Flags which has become one of the highlights of the family-friendly festival.

VIDEO – Walk Off The Earth [Somebody That I Used To Know]

VIDEO – Walk Off The Earth [Summer Vibe]

VIDEO – Walk off the Earth – Magic & Corner of Queen

Holland Park, Surrey BC

View Larger Map

• Photostream

Next Page ›

‹ Previous Page

Powered by Flickr Gallery

At the Surrey Fusion Festival 2011 (July 16-17, 2011), Bruce Barnes and the Mojo Zydeco played French New Orleans tunes. Music has always been part of Barnes’s life, yet he had also been a professional footballer, naturalist, Hollywood actor, park ranger etc. Barnes formed different bands in the America South and performed in New Orleans, Louisiana, Texas among other places playing mostly Blues, Zydeco and Creole music. Since 2001, Bruce Barnes has been working with Mojo Zydeco, writing and performing his own unique blend of Cajun music, ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada throughout BC and once again in Louisiana. As seen in this video, he played with a small accordion, but in truth he played seven musical instruments.

Listen to that sound makes you realize why they called New Orleans the Big Easy.

Bruce Barnes & Mojo Zydeco

Holland Park – 13428 Old Yale Road, Surrey BC

View Larger Map

• Photostream

Next Page ›

‹ Previous Page

Powered by Flickr Gallery

The Surrey Fusion Festival 2011 opened on July 16, 2011 with the Parade of Flags that reflected a multicultural Canada which is the main theme of this festival in one of the most racially diverse communities in the Greater Vancouver region.

A First Nations Coast Salish aboriginal band lead a procession of plaques and flags representing about 35 countries that participated in the festival this year. Each country also has its own cultural pavilion on site for visitors to explore every single nation has to offer. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts, Councilor Barinder Rasode, other dignitaries and the RCMP also took part at this annual celebration of culture, food, music and dance in Surrey BC.

VIDEO – Surrey Fusion Festival Parade of Flags

VIDEO – Maffie & Crew Jamaica Reggae Hip Hop

Holland Park – 13428 Old Yale Road, Surrey BC

View Larger Map

• Photostream

Next Page ›

‹ Previous Page

Powered by Flickr Gallery

It is Vaisakhi Day in Surrey, BC, a suburb of Vancouver, on April 23, 2011. The Sikh ceremony began at 9:30AM at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar commemorating the Birth of the Khalsa. Gurus spoke, gave prayers and recited from the scriptures. The celebration included dedications, gift offering, sword and armor demonstrations, spiritual worships etc. A parade was formed when the moving Gurdwara where the Holy Book, Guru Granth Sahib, was enshrined and travelled along 128th Street and the nearby neighborhood. Tens of thousands of South Asians and Sikhs gathered and walked in the procession. Along the route, free food and drinks were provided by community groups, businesses and individuals. The all-day event lasted until 4PM.

Surrey Viasakhi Sikh Ceremony at Gurdwara Sahib April 23, 2011

Khalsa Parade along Surrey South Asian Neighborhood


Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, 12885 85th Avenue, Surrey, BC

View Larger Map

• Photostream

Next Page ›

‹ Previous Page

Powered by Flickr Gallery

The Shakti Awards 2011 celebrated South Asian women’s achievements on March 12, 2011 at the Bollywood Banquet Hall in Surrey, BC. In India, Shakti means power and it has come to personify the idealism of the female sex that takes on life’s responsibility assigned to them with grace, courage and enduring strength. To coincide with events that were held around International Women’s Day (March 08), the Shakti Awards were presented to women in the South Asian community that exemplified those qualities in five different categories: Academic, Public Service, Business Entrepreneur, Artistic Achievement and Sports/Recreational.

The night’s events are organized by Sonia Andhi and emceed by CBC’s Meera Bains and Shaw Multicultural’s Mana Mansour. Keynote Speaker Nasima Nastoh gave a moving speech on anti-bullying. A South Asian night is not complete without some Indian dancing and Bollywood songs. That is aptly provided by Zahra Habib. An Eco Fashion Show by Kaia Andme rounded out the evening.

VIDEO – Zahra Habib Bollywood moves at Shakti Awards

[Photos and video by Ray Van Eng/Getty Images]











































8166 128 St. Surrey BC

View Larger Map

• Photostream

Next Page ›

‹ Previous Page

Powered by Flickr Gallery

Caribbean Days Festival. July 24-25, 2010. FREE. Waterfront Park, North Vancouver. Caribbean Days Parade 10:00AM Sat. All Day Caribbean music and celebration. Waterfront Party, July 24 7:30 pm to 1:00 AM. Recording artist Moses Revolution special engagement. http://www.caribbeandays.ca/

Celebration of Light. July 24, 2010. 10:00PM. FREE. English Bay, Vancouver. Spain fireworks. Theme: Hell & Heaven. Sponsored by London Drugs. Also July 28 (Wed) Mexico fireworks (HSBC) and July 31(Sat) China fireworks (Concord Pacific). http://www.celebration-of-light.com/

Honeybee Festival. July 24-25, 2010. 10AM-4PM. Honeybee Centre at 7480 176 Street, Surrey, BC. Family community event. Exhibit and activities. Thrilling bee beard, beekeeping demos, live music, artists market, honey-tasting, Kids’ Zone etc. http://www.honeybeecentre.com

Mission Folk Music Festival. Jul 23—25, 2010. TICKETS. Fraser River Heritage Park, Mission, BC. Canadian and International artists. http://www.missionfolkmusicfestival.ca/

Cirque du Soleil: Kooza. July 22-Aug 22, 2010. TICKETS. Under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau at Concord Pacific Place. Acrobat, theatre, music and dance. Kooza tells the story of The Innocent, the loner and the search for his place in the world. http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/kooza

• Photostream

Next Page ›

‹ Previous Page

Powered by Flickr Gallery

RJ1200 Bollywood Game of Putting a Bindi on Aishwarya Rai’s forehead while blindfolded. RJ1200 is an Indian Language Radio Station Serving Vancouver. A bindi is a forehead decoration ‘dot’ very popular in South Asian countries. Of course, this contestant missed the mark. Aishwarya Rai is a big Bollywood movie star who is breaking ground in Hollywood as well.

Shyama Priya, Cree Nation Fancy Shawl Dancer & Eli Enns from Tofino, BC

The Polonez Polish Dancers are a popular act at the Surrey Fusion Festival.

Vietnamese Dancers in a 14-Hat Formation

Daddy Roy & The Messenger has that Jamaican sound at the Concord Pacific World Music Stage

A little sex appeal never hurts.

Not only is the Surrey Fusion Festival 2010 is FREE, there’s always some FREE drinks and other items to give away.

Audience did the Irish Circle Dance just like in the Leo & Kate blockbuster Titanic. Incidentally, the Oscar Winning soundtrack from the movie, “My Heart Will Go On” was played by Anaconda, a Peruvian musician at the Surrey Fusion Festival 2010 in this video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NwtTAlsMjM

Four Filipino girls did the Coconut Dance holding two halves of a coconut shelve.

Children Joins in The First Nations Kla-how-eya (Welcome) Grand Entry dance

Shyama Priya, a Cree Nation Fancy Shawl Dancer did her thing at the First Nations Grand Entry. It appears as if she was flying over trees in a forest.

Uzume Taiko, ancient Asia drumming art with a contemporary twist and lots of fun for these two band members.

All three Uzume Taiko drummers jumped up into the air before striking the Big Drum (Taiko) at the Concord Pacific World Music Stage, Surrey Fusion Festival 2010.

RCMP follows the First Nations at the Parade of Flags Opening Ceremony.

This group lead by a smiling Jamaican lady consists of Kenya, Korea and Mexico in the Parade of Flags Ceremony. Happy faces the whole bunch.

Taiwan, not China, has a big presence at the Surrey Fusion Festival 2010.

Anaconda Playing ‘El Condor Pasa’, a Peruvian song of the Andes made famous by Simon and Garfunkel in 1970. Anaconda the flutist musician often performs at Granville Island in Vancouver.

Dianne Watts, Mayor of Surrey BC.

Yoga Exercise.

BC Hydro Sustainability Playground.

Distinctive Indonesian Double Umbrellas.

Judo demo

An estimated 70,000 people showed up for the Surrey Fusion Festival 2010.

Oh yeah, the food like this spicy South Asian chicken.


VIDEO LINKS—

Best Multicultural Music and Dance
Opening Ceremony Parade of Flags
Uzume Taiko Power Drum

King George Highway & 100th Ave. Surrey BC, Vancouver Canada

View Larger Map

• Photostream

Next Page ›

‹ Previous Page

Powered by Flickr Gallery

What is Surrey Fusion Festival? It’s a fusion of the diverse cultures that is the Greater Vancouver Area. It’s Canadian multiculturalism at work. With the First Nations welcoming all, it is onto Polonez Polish dance, Taiwanese native dance, South Asian Bhangra, Filipino Coconut dance, Vietnam Hat Dance, Edgar Muenala, Irish circle dance, Uzume Taiko, Indian Henna, Haida and Coast Salish art, Yuki Uaeda, Yoga, Jamaica Steel Drummers and Anacoda Peruvian flute playing of a Canadian favorite My Heart Will Go on from Titanic.


King George Highway & 100th Ave. Surrey BC, Vancouver Canada

View Larger Map

• Photostream

Next Page ›

‹ Previous Page

Powered by Flickr Gallery