Welcoming the Year of the Rooster

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Chinese New Year falls on January 28 this year, marking the beginning of the Year of the Rooster.

Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is an important cultural celebration for many Waterloo students, faculty and alumni. Among new international students arriving at Waterloo in 2015-16, about 65 per cent of undergraduate and 40 per cent of graduate students come from countries and regions that traditionally celebrate the new year, including China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam. Waterloo’s roots in the region run deep — 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of the University’s Hong Kong Alumni Association.

This year, there are at least four opportunities for Waterloo students to celebrate Chinese New Year.

• The Global China Connections club (GCC) will host a kick-off event to mark the beginning of the Winter 2017 term and celebrate Chinese New Year on January 18 in J.R. Coutts Engineering Lecture Hall. Students can learn more about Chinese New Year and GCC, as well as participating in games and challenges.
• The University of Waterloo Chinese Students and Scholars Association (UWCSSA) will be holding its annual Spring Festival Gala on Tuesday January 24 in Hagey Hall. Festivities include vocal and dance performances, magic and fashion shows, as well as comedy and drama. This year’s show features cross-talk comedians from Deyunshe in China. Event details and ticket information may be found on UWCSSA’s website.
• The Hong Kong Students Association will be hosting a Chinese New Year Dinner on January 26. The event will take place at King Tin Restaurant on 318 Spruce St. in Waterloo from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Members of the University community are welcome.
• The Buddha’s Light Community Club will celebrate Chinese New Year on January 27 with an excursion to the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto. Free transportation will be provided to Waterloo students from the Davis Centre. The temple will offer a chanting service and an incense offering. Registration is open until January 23.
• Throughout the week from January 23 to January 27, the University Club will be serving a Chinese New Year themed lunch from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. The menu can be found here.