After years of missing out, I finally made it to Vancouver’s Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown last year. As a first-generation Chinese Canadian who grew up in Toronto, this was a unique opportunity to reconnect with my heritage in a way I’d never experienced before.

In Toronto, Lunar New Year celebrations are quieter—often tucked indoors or celebrated with family gatherings. But in Vancouver, the parade brought everything to life. Bright costumes, the rhythmic beat of drums, and the vivid energy of lion dances filled the air. It wasn’t just the local Chinese community coming together; it was all of Vancouver, with people of every background showing up to celebrate.

For me, photographing the parade wasn’t just about capturing beautiful visuals—it was about documenting an experience that felt personal and profound. I was reminded of how far our community has come. Here, in a space that openly embraces our culture, it felt powerful to see the mix of spectators: young, old, Asian, non-Asian. The pride of being part of something so vibrant on such a miserable moist day was palpable.