Lam Hoang Nguyen and his wife Kim Lai have lived in Thunder Bay for 30 years and used to celebrate the Chinese New Year with the local Vietnamese community every year.
“We did it until 1990 and it started to fade out,” said Kim Lai. “We thought we’d bring it back again. We’ll try our best to do it every year from now on if we can.”
Sunday marked the start of the Chinese New Year and the local Vietnamese community ushered in the Year of the Tiger with some dancing and food Monday at the Oliver Road Community Centre.
Kim Lai said in 1980, there were between 200 and 300 Vietnamese people living in the city but now there are probably only around 50.
“Most Vietnamese that come here, they spread out because they move to where it’s warm like Vancouver or Toronto,” she said. “We have a little bit left and I try my best to bring them together.”
Lam Hoang said the event was about doing something special for Thunder Bay’s Vietnamese community.
“So we can remember our culture and country,” he said, adding he was happy with all the young people that came out Monday.
“They’re going to grow up and be the generation for the future.”
Kim Lai said many of the guests at the celebration were from out of town, including her daughter from California.
“We’re so happy to have everyone,” she said.
