Lions and dragons and a feast of traditional dishes greeted guests at RBC’s second annual Lunar New Year gala dinner on Tuesday night as members of Ottawa’s Chinese community came together to celebrate the Year of the Snake.
“This is a phenomenal opportunity for us to be with our clients and those in the community,” Devinder Gill, RBC president for the Ontario North and East, told OBJ. “It’s a beautiful way to celebrate together.”
Devinder, who took over the role from Marjolaine Hudon in August, did not attend last year’s gala, but said it received so much interest that RBC doubled its capacity this year.
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After another successful night Tuesday, Gill said the event will now be an annual tradition.
It was a multicultural room, according to emcee Liza Hum, who switched between English, Chinese Mandarin and Cantonese throughout the evening.
She also explained that, for the first time since 2013, it is the Year of the Snake.
“In the intricate tapestry of the Chinese zodiac, the snake is a symbol of wisdom, elegance and mystery,” she said in her opening speech. “Those born under this sign are often perceived as intelligent, intuitive and somewhat reserved. The Year of the Snake is expected to be a year of introspection, careful planning and strategic moves.”
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who stopped by early in the evening, concurred.
“It’s important to reflect on the symbolism of the snake in Chinese mythology, representing wisdom, creativity and transformation,” he said in his speech. “Those are all qualities that I think we need, especially as we face challenges of an uncertain world and an uncertain economy. Many of the people in the room are businesspeople and entrepreneurs and we need that wisdom and creativity now more than ever in our communities.”
Success Dragon Lion Dance Troupe put on a colourful display, featuring two lions and a glowing dragon. Sutcliffe joined Gill and Justin Schurman, RBC regional vice-president of business financial services, on stage during the performance to paint dots on the eyes, nose and mouth of the lions, a ceremony that brings the animals to life.
Gill and Schurman also fed the lions bundles of lettuce. Since lions hate vegetables, the story goes that when they spit the lettuce out, it’s good luck to be hit by one of the flying leaves.
Between courses, guests were also treated to a performance on the pipa, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, and a sung story from the Meng Wei Yue Opera Studio.
As guests finished their entrees, they were treated to a visit from a special guest. The God of Fortune appeared and stopped by each table to hand out red envelopes with chocolate loonies inside to every guest.
For Albert Wong, who works for the Rideau Hall Foundation, it’s a nostalgic celebration.
“It reminds me of being a kid again; the food, the lion dancing, the music,” he said. “It reminds me of when my parents and my sister and I would go out for dinner or host at our place. There were always the lucky red pockets which kids like to get because there’s cash in it. Unfortunately, (I don’t get them as an adult), but now I get to give them out.”
Also among the guests was James Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of Ottawa tech company Quantropi. A former RBC employee, he said the event was a great way to see old friends and make new ones within the community.
“It’s a good chance to reconnect with old colleagues, but the most important thing is that it really brings the culture together from the community, especially the Asian community, that celebrate Lunar New year,” he said.
He added that it highlighted how many successful people have come out of those communities.
“It’s not just the Chinese community,” he said. “It’s the Vietnamese community, the Filipino community, all over Asia, India, South Asia. I think the most important thing is that unity. They’ve come here usually as immigrant entrepreneurs or small business owners to start a new life. These events allow them to feel like they’re back home.”
