Maple Sugar Festival in Nanaimo

The 11th annual Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d’Érable is coming to Nanaimo, February 10 – 12, 2012 at the Beban Auditorium.  A cultural celebration of food and music, the Maple Sugar Festival brings eastern Canadian traditions, French “chansons” and entertainment to the west coast.

It is timely to note that some people elsewhere in North America are being sold counterfeit maple syrup.  This so-called “pure” maple syrup is being made with cane sugar and or beet sugar.  As a result, senators from Vermont and Maine have been working on the Maple Agriculture Protection and Law Enforcement Act, which would make selling counterfeit maple syrup a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. In Canada, a senate committee will be putting forward a motion for new labelling standards for ‘Grade A’ maple syrup.

Performers include:
Le Bal a L’Huile – “oil lamp party” – seven vocalists and musicians from Eastern Quebec perform folk songs with foot tapping
Junior Belzile – guitarist and singer will perform a blend of old and new Quebec chansons
Vazzy – lively Acadian songs with fiddle, banjo, spoons, mandolin, harmonica and jaws harp
Acoustique Too – accoustic guitarists and singers Martin Richard and Jean-Philippe Cournoyer
Clochette et Les Rigolos – clown and singer Lison Clochette
Les Cornouillers – “the dogwoods” – a French Canadian folk dance group based in Victoria
Fiddlin’ Frenzy – North American fiddle champions who love to fiddle in the old time tradition
Glengarry School of Celtic Dance – Celtic dance troupe
Rueda Loca – “crazy wheel” – salsa dance group performs in a circle

Friday, February 10th: free admission
4:00 to 10:00 pm Opening Ceremony: 7:00 pm (suggested donation of $2)

Admission Adult:$5 Student:$3 Children:free
Saturday, February 11th: 9:00 am to 11:00 pm*
and Sunday, February 12th: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

*Saturday night performance:$10

For more information, visit Maple Sugar Festival du Sucre d’Érable.

 

 

dp seal trans 16x16 Maple Sugar Festival in NanaimoCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2012

Qing Ming Festival in Nanaimo

Next month on April 4th or 5th is the Qing Ming Festival when Chinese families visit the graves of their ancestors with offerings.  There is a rich history of Chinese settlement in Nanaimo.  There are 4 cemeteries which include Chinese graves in Nanaimo.  In 1890 the coal company donated land at the corner of Stewart and St. George Street it was an active cemetery from 1890 to 1924.  In 1976 the Nanaimo Chinese community presented the site to the City as the Garden Memorial to Chinese Pioneers.  This was the first garden in Canada to commemorate the contribution made by the Chinese and their Canadian-born children to Canada.  Thanks to the hard work of Ed Lee, Chuck Wong and Davey Thom.   For historical records you can find more information at the Nanaimo Community Archives.