People-to-people ties are at the heart of being Canadian.
With 2018 being the Canada-China Year of Tourism (CCYT ) and with an ever growing interest for Korean , Japanese and Chinese pop culture sweeping the nation , it is understandable that there is no better way to celebrate Asian culture than to bring people together at wonderful events !
This week Gen’s Delights presents a few Asian themed exhibitions, shows and festivals that will introduce you to the alluring mysteries of the East:
Mosaïcultures Internationales in Gatineau: Larger than Life
MosaiCanada 150 : is an extraordinary floral sculpture exhibition presented until October 15th, 2018 at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau Quebec.
Visitors can admire the 45 majestic, ephemeral masterpieces designed with more than 5.5 million plants drawing from a wide diversity of vegetation including 210 species. Over 300 growers from various countries have played part in the conception, realization and maintenance of this exhibition that draws its inspiration from folklore legends, tales and the beauty of nature.
Created in 2000, Mosaïcultures Internationales has developed into the world leader in Mosaïcultures art and technology and has attracted over 12 million visitors. The exhibition will be presented for the last time in Canada before continuing its journey around the world.
Set aside at least 2 hours to fully appreciate the 1 km long path of this poetically beautiful exhibition. Some of this year’s sculptures are truly masterpieces such as “The Tree of Birds”, a unique structure depicting dozens of bird species in flight over water. “The Man Who Planted Trees” pays tribute to Quebecer Frédéric Back, who crafted a superb animated film version of Jean Giono’s fable of the same name.
Two monumental projects picturing Chinese iconic imagery — spirited dancing dragons and children with a bouncing ball- a gift from Beijing and celebration lions- a complimentary piece from the city of Shanghai —have been sponsored by China to celebrate China – Canada relations. On the weekend of September 28-30 special activities on site will be held to celebrate 15 years of collaboration between Chinese artists and Mosaïcultures Quebec based team.
The exhibition can serve a dual purpose for tourists and families serving as an educational event. This year, for the first time, a garden on the exhibition site presents and identifies all the plants used. You’re also invited to attend demonstrations to discover how a Mosaïcultures work is made. Display boards, guides and ample volunteers will help you have a better understanding of plant life and biodiversity.
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The gardens are a very popular attraction, so if possible, try to avoid week-ends, and book on-line to avoid lengthy line-ups. Parking is available on site at a minimal cost, but there are also numerous street parking available with a valid pass from the Tourisme Outaouais office located only a stone throw away from the site.
Mosaïcultures Internationales
Until October 15th 2018
Site of event: Jacques Cartier Park, 164, rue Laurier, Gatineau, Québec, Canada, J8X 3W3
http://www.mosaiculturesinternationales.ca
Canada China International Film Festival (CCIFF)
September 22–26, 2018
Have you perhaps seen or liked the recent blockbuster hit “Crazy Rich Asians” ? Crave more Asian themed screen time ?
This September, the 3rd edition of the Canada China International Film Festival (CCIFF) will take place in Montreal and will feature 2018 Canada China Year of Tourism as its central theme.
Hosted by Canada China Art Tech and mDreams Pictures, Inc, together with mDreams Stage, The festival features Canadian independent media artworks and brings together Chinese and Canadian artists and filmmakers in the fields of art, technology and digital interactive media.
Cultural and artistic exchanges are highly encouraged among participants in the creative industry. The CCIFF also showcases the latest innovations in entertainment technology.
Events such as Screenings, Academic Seminar, Master Class, Entertainment Technology Summit, Opening & Closing Ceremonies will be hosted through Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
Check out the website for full details on schedule and tickets: www.cciff.ca
Brighten up your evening with the Garden of Lights exhibit at the Montreal Botanical Gardens !
This September get ready to explore Gardens of Light, running September 7th to October 31st 2018 at the Montreal Botanical gardens.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the various pathways of the Chinese, Japanese and First Nations gardens that comes alive by nightfall with hundreds of otherworldly lighted installations.
In the Chinese Garden, water, with its characteristic softness and flexibility, is at the heart of the central display depicting a delightful scene of fishermen and women surrounding a mythical sea creature called He Luo Yu: who sports one head and ten bodies!
Hundreds of delicate silk lanterns and ethereal light projections bring out the beauty of the garden’s rock mountain, bonsai pavilion and other traditions structures that light up with the brilliance of millions of colors.
After meandering through a sparkling forest, visitors can take a moment to meditate and contemplate the mystery of nature and the changing of the seasons in the Japanese Garden or sit in front of a large tree and dance to the rhythmic beats of the new multimedia experience: “The Circle of Life” in the First Nations Garden.
** New for 2018 – Fixed-time tickets required
Because of the record number of visitors in the past few years, tickets for the Gardens of Light are now sold for scheduled time slots. You can purchase your Gardens of Light ticket at the online box office or on site for a specified visit date and time. Your ticket will be valid all day at the garden and at the Insectarium, whereas you’ll be expected at the time indicated on your ticket in front of the Rose Garden Lion statue, which marks the start of the Gardens of Light pathway.
By purchasing your ticket online, you can enter the Reserve and Win contest and be eligible for one of the 10 prized offered by Montréal Space for Life!
Garden of Lights – September 7th to October 31st 2018
Sunday to Thursday, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
For tickets please visit :
https://billets.espacepourlavie.ca/en
World of Dreams〜Takarazuka Revue Show〜 Sakiko Flower
This Sunday come and experience the thrill of dazzling romances and beautiful music by four alumni of the Japanese Takarazuka Revue – an all-female musical theater company, born over a century ago, and still thriving today, that entertains millions of devoted fans each year in Japan and abroad.
Women performers take on suave male roles as “otokoyaku’s” and alongside ultra-feminine “musumeyaku’s” they produce lavish, Broadway-style productions of Western-style musicals such as Elisabeth, Phantom, Guys and Dolls, or traditional Japanese masterpieces and sometimes stories adapted from shōjo manga (eg: Rose of Versailles), or their own original works.
At the Montreal concert, Sailor Moon fans can expect to hear songs from the beloved anime along with other musical hits performed with energy by the four former Takarazuka Stars : Erina Mariho, Nanami Shiho, Rei Ayaka & Mayura Toma !
The four ladies are happy to represent the history and glamour of Takarazuka in their live show.
Sunday, September 16, 2018 from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM (EDT)
Salle Marguerite-Bourgeoys, 1750 Rue Sauriol Est
Montréal,
For more info and tickets please visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-of-dreamstakarazuka-revue-show-tickets-47092109768
Or visit FB/ World of Dreams
The Forbidden City Ball / Le Bal de la Cité interdite
Next November 17th, be prepared to immerse yourself in the world of the legendary Forbidden City with flavors of glamour, fun, entertainment, delicious food, great networking opportunities and much more !
The ever elegant presenter Si Chen will be co-hosting the ball along with Andrew Chang and Warren Lee. Expect a night filled with dynamic performances, music, auctions and also prizes !
The event will start with a sumptuous cocktail featuring signature drinks followed by a four-course-sit-down dinner – one of the many reasons to come celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Montreal Chinese Hospital!
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The Forbidden City Ball
Saturday, November 17 at 6 PM – 1 AM
At Gare Windsor
For more information and tickets please visit: www.theforbiddencity.ca
SPOTLIGHT on TRAVEL: Zoo Berlin, Oriental Oasis!
Berlin, the capital city of Germany attracts millions of tourist annually who like to visit famous monuments that are clear reminders of the city’s turbulent 20th-century history, including its Holocaust memorial and the graffiti laden Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate.
For families visiting with young children, one of the favorite family attractions remains Zoo Berlin – Germany’s oldest zoological garden that houses almost 20,000 animals of around 1,400 species – the most worldwide, in their 33-hectare zoo.
Among the inhabitants include friendly giants such as elephants, giraffes, gorillas, and Germany’s only giant pandas – Jiao Qing and Meng Meng!
Housed within a distinctive Chinese pagoda with imposing red portals, the Panda Plaza is Zoo Berlin’s oriental oasis. The Pavilion has an area of around 89 m² and is 16.5 meters high, putting it on a level with the tops of the surrounding oak trees.
Upon passing through the gate and crossing the stone bridge, visitors enter the heart of the complex to marvel at the mischievous pair who entertain visitors by snoozing, sleeping and eating the fresh bamboo sprouts that makes up the bulk of a panda’s diet. Bamboo is the central decorative theme in the Panda Pavilion with openings in the roof which even allow the fast-growing grass to shoot up into the sky.
Because pandas are solitary animals, the two bears housed at the zoo each have their own private space. However there are high hopes that Jiao Qing and Meng Meng will one day produce offspring – a mighty feat as females are only fertile for around 72 hours each spring!
For more information on Jiao Qing, Meng Meng and other panda mania happenings at Zoo Berlin, please visit their main website at: https://www.zoo-berlin.de/en