SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The ADL Room of the Inspire Learning Centre smelled particularly delicious Tuesday, Feb. 5.
A table of light refreshments was set, including deep fried wontons with red sauce and an overflowing bowl of fortune cookies.
A group of children were gathered around a table filled with glitter, glue and stickers. Red construction paper was getting folded lengthwise into fans. Red and gold medallions were hung on the walls.
It was all in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, 2019 - the Year of the Pig - begins in early February this year.
“There’s 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac and this one’s the Year of the Pig,” said organizer Debbie Leard, who was born in the Year of the Dragon.
Leard and co-worker Caitlin Plomp, born in the Year of the Monkey, were supervising the guests as they tried their hand at some of the pig-themed games.
“It’s a great celebration of another culture. We’re getting a lot more people of different backgrounds here on the Island now so it’s nice to be able to do something that celebrates their culture and their history,” said Leard. “It never hurts to be inclusive, that’s for sure.”
Stella Macneill, 4, and her grandmother Gloria Adams were seated at a table together cracking into fortune cookies.
“'You will have something new at work',” read Adams’ fortune.
Shrugging, she helped Stella with hers.
“'It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end',” she read.
“Well I guess that’s true, isn’t it?” Adams said as Stella’s older sister Macy, 9, arrived with her cookie.
“'Good news is on its way',” read Macy. “Well, I am going to go to Toronto in June and meet the cast from 'The Next Step',”
