It was time for the annual Hyack Festival again in New Westminster, Canada. On May 28, 2005, 141 groups consisting of nearly 4,000 people from Vancouver and other cities in British Columbia, and Oregon and Washington State in the US participated in a grand parade. Falun Gong was invited as the only Chinese group and won the highest prize again: the President's Award.
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| The Falun Gong group wins the highest prize: the President's Award | ||
Colourful floats, people in different ethnic traditional costumes and various kinds of musical instruments could be seen and heard throughout the town. Residents flooded the streets to watch the parade and take photos. An employee working at a local supermarket said, "Oh, we have fewer customers today. They are all watching the parade."
When the Falun Gong group performed the exercise demonstration, the Fan Dance, Tang Dynasty Costume Dance, and little practitioners' Umbrella Dance, the spectators applauded warmly and called out, "Beautiful," "Wonderful!"
This May event can trace its origin back 135 years. In Westminster, it's been 33 years since it started as the Hyack Festival in 1972. The purpose of the festival is to display the diversity of life and culture in British Columbia. The main activity of the festival also includes the Anvil Cannon. Hyack's Anvil Battery had once fired 21 cannons to greet Queen Victoria, and this became the name of the festival. This year, the festival association arranged nine days of activities from May 21 to 29, to entertain residents and visitors.
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