Year of the Rabbit: Montrealers prepare for Lunar New Year celebrations
The countdown to the Lunar New Year is on, and members of Montreal's Chinese community are getting ready to celebrate.
The Year of the Tiger ends Saturday night and the Year of the Rabbit begins Sunday.
Chinatown is bustling and beautifully decorated for the weekend-long festivities at Sun Yat-sen Park.
"The rabbit is supposed to be the luckiest year, 2023," said Jimmy Chan, president of the Chan Association of Montreal.
His troop, the Chan Lion Dance Club, is performing in Chinatown. A parade is also scheduled, as well as non-stop activities that all are welcome to attend.
"I wish everybody good health, good luck, prosperity," said Chan. "Now the city is opened up and everyone can come together and celebrate Chinese New Year."
It's a time for families to gather over a meal, something they'll do for the first time in years.
At restaurant Dobe and Andy, the menu includes oxtail, vegetarian longevity noodles and other dishes that signify prosperity -- plus, a special collaboration with ice cream shop Ca Lem.
"It's this year's special, we're doing a white rabbit icecream," said restaurant co-owner Eric Ku.
The treat is based on the iconic creamy candy from China that many grew up with.
"It's pretty nostalgic. We used to eat these candies as kids," said Ku.
Ku says the Year of the Tiger has been challenging, and he has one wish for the Year of the Rabbit: better times for Chinatown.
"I want to see Chinatown get busy again. As a community, we've suffered for a couple years. Even after the pandemic, it's been tough."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Trial begins for Winnipeg serial killer who claims he was mentally ill
The trial of a man who admits he killed four women in Winnipeg is set to begin Wednesday, and a law professor says lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki have multiple hurdles to clear for a defence of mental illness.
New Canadian study could be a lifesaver for thousands suffering from CTE
A first-of-its-kind Canadian research study is working towards a major medical breakthrough for a brain disorder, believed to be caused by repeated head injuries, that can only be detected after death.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.