Vancouver: Multicultural City

A Mosaic of Cultures

Take a look around yourself at any given place in Vancouver and you’ll be quick to realize that you are surrounded by people of various origins. This city is a mosaic of cultures. Vancouver attracts immigrants from all over the world.

Vancouver Short Stories edited by Carole Gerson contains a short story about a Chinese family that tries to find its place in Vancouver. The short story is called “The Jade Peony” by Wayson Choy. This quote shows the difference that generation presents in accommodating assimilation, “What would all the white people in Vancouver think of us? We were Canadians now, Chinese-Canadians, a hyphenated reality that my parents could never accept.” (Choy 119) The preceding quote illustrates the belief that the newer generation finds it much easier to assimilate than do the older generations. It also portrays the fact that many children of immigrant families find it embarrassing when their elders act according to their traditions, whether it is singing songs, dancing or one of many other activities from their homeland. The children of the newer generation would not be so embarrassed of their parents and grandparents if they would take the time to learn about the traditions of their homelands.

Here in Vancouver, we even like to educate ourselves in cultures outside our own. We attend restaurants that feature food of various ethnic varieties. There are some restaurants that specialize in the fusion of food from different ethnic groups. For example, there are Green Lettuce and The Chilli Pepper House, both of which combine Chinese and Indian foods in a way that I, a past customer, find exceptionally delicious.
Some of us also like to attend or watch on television, the cultural celebrations of different groups. In his blog Vancouver Chinese New Year Celebration, John Chow posted several pictures of this year’s Chinese New Year celebration in Chinatown. One of which is seen here.

Choy, Wayson. The Jade Peony. “Vancouver Short Stories” Ed. Carole Gerson. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1985