24
Philippine Showbiz Today
March 22 - April 7, 2019
Community News
Celebrate the arrival of spring at Richmond’s
Cherry Blossom Festival
Richmond, BC – One of the
Lower Mainland’s most beautiful
signs of spring is the arrival of
cherry blossoms. Richmond’s
third annual Cherry Blossom
Festival takes place Sunday April
7 in Garry Point Park, where a
grove of 255 Akebono cherry trees
will provide a stunning backdrop
for a day of nature, culture and
community.
Attendees will be invited
to explore Japanese traditions
including the preparation and
presentation of matcha in a
Sado tea ceremony, witness
the graceful motions of Shodo,
Japanese calligraphy or take
in the rhythm and discipline of
a Taiko performance from the
Okinawa Taiko group. Children
can explore the new Chibi-Chan
Tent with origami and Yo Yo
Tsuri (a balloon fishing game).
Rounding out the selection of
activities there will entertainment
on the Sakura and Kuno stages
all day as well as a selection of
food stations serving bento boxes,
yakatori skewers, and Japanese
inspired hot dogs..
In Japan, cherry blossoms
are known as sakura, which are a
special flower to the people and
the country. The cherry blossom
signifies a time of renewal and the
cycle of life. The cherry blossom
celebration includes picnics under
the cherry trees with food and
drinks shared with friends and
family—this is a tradition known
as hanami which translates to
“watching blossoms” and can be
traced back hundreds of years.
The cherry trees in Garry
Point Park were planted by the
B.C. Wakayama Kenjin Kai
Association with the support
from the City. Richmond is
home to one of Canada’s largest
Japanese-Canadian communities.
Wakayama, Japan is one of
Richmond’s Sister Cities and
many of its residents of Japanese
Launching into
a new era at RCD
Richmond, BC – The
Richmond Centre for Disability
(RCD) is hosting a Super Cyber
@ RCD Launch Event on Friday,
March 22, 2019, from 2 p.m. to
4 p.m. to mark a new technology
era after moving to its current site
in Lansdowne Centre (Unit 842) in
January. The Super Cyber Project
has its seed money from the
Richmond Lion’s Club last year,
and in 2019 is going to expand
into a full array of Super Cyber
activities for comprehensive
technological experience, through
a grant from the Canadian
Internet Registration Authority’s
(CIRA) Community Investment
Program.
Ian Yeung, RCD’s Technical
and Training Coordinator and in-
charge of the Super Cyber Project,
is absolutely excited about this
new initiative. His favourite quote
is from Steve Jobs, “Older people
sit down and ask What is it? But
the boy asks, What can I do with
it?” And he feels that “Being a
computer geek who is passionate
about technology, networks and
everything cyber, this is a dream
come true to launch the Super
Cyber Project at the RCD.”
David Fowler, CIRA’s Vice
president of Marketing and
Communications
could
not
agree more. “As part of CIRA’s
commitment to build a better
online Canada, we’re proud to
support Canadian organizations
like RCD whose Super Cyber
Project is working to bring a
level playing field to persons
with disabilities and to attain
technological access for all.”
CIRA is building a better online
Canada through the Community
Investment Program by funding
charities,
not-for-profits
and
researchers who are making the
Internet better for all Canadians.
CIRA is best known for their role
managing the .CA domain on
behalf of all Canadians.
The RCD strives to provide
needed services to persons with
disabilities, and empowerment is
the key. Super Cyber @ RCD is
an effective and dynamic process
to bring all participants to a
new horizon through learning,
networking. Find out more
information about the launch
event and the project on RCD
website: rcdrichmond.org ●
Annie Brazil with son singer Richard Merck
Beautiful cherry blossoms and Japanese
cultural traditions will welcome spring at
Richmond’s 3rd annual Cherry Blossom
Festival on April 7 in Garry Point Park.
descent came from the Wakayama
area, including Gihei Kuno, who
became the community’s first
Japanese immigrant in 1887.
The
Richmond
Cherry
Blossom Festival takes place
Sunday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 4
p.m. Admission is free. For more
information visit www.richmond.
ca/cherryblossom ●