Bus Tours
Sunday, May 8th/15th/29th, 2011
Find the CanASIAN in YOU Bus Tours
Adults $15; Children 7-12 yrs: $10; 0-6 yrs: free
12:45 – 4:30 PM
Bus pickup location: Glenbow Museum
Our ever-popular bus tours are back for three Sundays in May, highlighting two different Asian communities per week. Come for every tour: experience the sights and sounds of each culture, taste the delicacies, try your hand at creating special crafts, discover the Asian in you!
Sunday, May 8 12:45PM - 4:30PM:
Our first visit will be the Baitunnur Muslim Mosque. You will have a tour of one of the largest in Mosques in North America, with an impressive size and architecture that will not disappoint you. Welcomed by warm greetings from the Muslim community, you will enjoy an amaxing variety of wonders. You will also have the option to sit in and observe prayer time. A presentation is followed by traditional snacks/foods provided by community members at the Mosque. Interactions, questions and personal connections can be made with very welcoming members of Calgary’s Muslim Community.
Next stop is the Filipino Community, hosted by The Pacific Hut Restaurant on 17th Ave SE. This is a vibrant restaurant serving authentic Filipino food and you will have the chance to learn about a culture through your stomach. Live entertainment (such as traditional Filipino dance) will be part of your experience. Hosted by the Babae Council of Filipina-Canadian Women, the tour will provide a much better understanding of Filipino cultures in general, as well as the Filipino community of Calgary.
Sunday, May 15 12:45PM to 4:30PM:
The Calgary Japanese Community Association is located at the beautiful Calgary Nikkei Cultural and Seniors Centre. This stop includes a Japanese garden and an active center where its members gather regularly, especially after the recent Japan disasters, to support each other and organize events to raise donations. Our Japanese stop has always been a very popular part of the bus tours. You can learn about the history of the Kimono, admire its beauty or even try one on for yourself. Or you can chose a lesson in the art of floral arrangement. Origami lovers will have the chance to make a crane, or learn a new origami technique. There will also be live entertainment and delicious Japanese food.
The Korean community is a brand new addition to our bus tour this year. They will be hosting this event at the Calgary Korean Association. A lovely Korean dance will kick off your opportunity to learn about the rich Korean culture. You will get a chance to interact with Koreans in Calgary, ask questions about the culture and taste amazing Korean foods. Interactive games could be in order to further learn about cultural values and activities.
Sunday, May 29 12:45PM - 4:30PM
You might have eaten at a few of the amazing Vietnamese restaurants that continue to pop up in Calgary, but have you learned about the culture or what Vietnamese Calgarians are up to these days? Come visit the Calgary Vietnamese Association. This stop has also been very popular in the past, with amazing traditional performances and well-organized, informative presentations. Learn how to make salad rolls on your own and play an interactive Vietnamese game.
Visit Calgary Chinatown’s landmark – the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre – a hub to Chinese community and a focal point to promote Chinese culture and culture diversity. This unique facility modeled after the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and houses a Chinese Artifacts Museum, a specialized Chinese Library, a Chinese Language and Culture School, and offers extensive cultural, educational and recreational programs to the public. The tour provides an insightful understanding about Chinatown and the Canadian Chinese history. The audiences also have the opportunity to experience “Qigong” exercise and to taste a sample selection of Chinese snacks and tea.
All of these tours are family-friendly. Kids are welcome and will have wonderful chances for fun-filled interactive learning. Experience a wealth of Asian Culture right in your own backyard without spending a fortune on plane tickets!