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Friends of Chinatown

Friends of Chinatown preserves and promotes the cultural heritage of Chinatown through community engagement, educational programs, and historic tours, fostering appreciation and understanding of this vibrant neighborhood's history and contributions.

Come hang out with Friends of Chinatown for bubble tea, snacks, and real conversation with new friends! 🧋💬&nbsp;This is a casual social night where you&#39;ll be randomly seated at tables of 4 &amp; have group and one to one conversations with new people! We&#39;ll rotate every 20 minutes so you&rsquo;ll meet different people! Please note, this event is for those who are aged 21 to 30. Don&rsquo;t worry, we&rsquo;ll have guided conversation topics to break the ice! Spots are limited! Your ticket includes one large drink (which you will choose when you register)🧋&nbsp;

Bubble Tea & Yap Social (Ages 21-30)

Step into Chinatown&rsquo;s healing traditions with a guided Traditional Chinese Medicine tour 🐉 Learn how herbs, teas, and age‑old practices are still used today in neighbourhood shops and clinics. We will be learning from Helen Wong a multi generational Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor.&nbsp; Led by Friends of Chinatown, this walk centers local stories, small businesses, and everyday health practices. You&rsquo;ll see, smell, and taste examples along the way, and hear how the community keeps these traditions alive.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Tour

Hosted by lawyers from Miller Thomson!&nbsp; Want to start a business or maybe you&rsquo;ve had one for a few years? In this workshop we will&nbsp; LEARN:1. &nbsp;The differences between a sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation2. &nbsp;When to incorporate and how3. &nbsp;Identifying and managing risk4. &nbsp;Navigating ongoing compliance - income tax, sales tax, and corporate law5. &nbsp;When to DIY vs. involve a lawyer Whether you&rsquo;re ready to turn your idea into a business, grow a side‑hustle into something more, or explore entrepreneurship for the first time, we will help you understand the building blocks and avoid common pitfalls&mdash;no legal background required!

Workshop: LEGAL & GOVERNANCE BASICS OF  STARTING A BUSINESS

Explore the art of Chinese calligraphy in a relaxed, hands-on class 🖌️ Together with Friends of Chinatown, you&rsquo;ll learn basic strokes, how to hold the brush, and how characters come to life on paper. No experience needed&mdash;just curiosity. You&rsquo;ll practice with guided demos, ask questions, and leave with your own calligraphy sheet to take home 🎴. By joining, you help keep Chinatown&rsquo;s language and traditions visible and alive for our community. Must be at least 16 years old to register. Anyone under 16 years old will need to sign up with a parent or guardian. Children of any age require their own ticket. Example: 1 adult + 1 child = 2 tickets.

Chinese Calligraphy 101

Roll, fill, and shape your own mochi mooncakes in this hands-on class led by Friends of Chinatown. We&rsquo;ll walk you through each step, from dough to design, using ingredients and stories rooted in Chinatown&rsquo;s food traditions. 🥮 By joining, you help support our work to honor neighborhood culture and keep Chinatown&rsquo;s culinary heritage thriving. 🌙 All skill levels welcome&mdash;come curious and ready to make some mooncakes! Must be at least 16 years old to register. Anyone under 16 years old will need to sign up with a parent or guardian. Children of any age require their own ticket. Example: 1 adult + 1 child = 2 tickets.

Mochi Mooncake Hands-on Cooking Class

Join us for a hands-on zine making or collage workshop 📚✨ Theme of the day is Fall Vision Board so you can bring pictures or receipts or anything that you want to use to kind of make a collage for some goal setting in the Fall! You can also come with no supplies we will have random crafts and magazines as well!&nbsp; All materials and guidance are provided&mdash;just bring your ideas, curiosity, and any photos or mementos you&rsquo;d like to include.&nbsp; By taking part, you help Friends of Chinatown celebrate cultural heritage, support local voices, and keep our neighborhood&rsquo;s history alive on the page.

Fall vision board collage workshop

Bring your own craft and spend a cozy evening creating, chatting, and connecting with others! 🧶✨ Bring whatever you&rsquo;re working on&mdash;knitting, crochet, embroidery, painting, drawing, beading, scrapbooking, or any other portable craft you love. Free event. Must be 16 to attend.&nbsp;

Bring your own craft night!

Roll up your sleeves for a hands‑on taste of Chinatown. In this small-group class, you&rsquo;ll learn to fold wontons and shape classic Hong Kong&ndash;style egg tarts from scratch, guided step by step. By cooking together, you help keep Chinatown&rsquo;s food traditions alive. Friends of Chinatown celebrates local stories, recipes, and makers&mdash;come ready to chop, fold, bake, and enjoy what we create together Must be at least 16 years old to register. Anyone under 16 years old will need to sign up with a parent or guardian.Children of any age require their own ticket. Example: 1 adult + 1 child = 2 tickets.

Wonton & Egg Tart Hands On Cooking Class

Learn Mandarin with Friends of Chinatown 🏮 Join our free Mandarin 201 course and build practical language skills for everyday conversation.&nbsp;This beginner class is WEEKLY on Mondays for six week at 110 3 Ave SE. Registration is required.&nbsp; Please only register for this class if you have experienced one or more of the following or can understand basic Mandarin. Suitable if:1) You studied mandarin at Chinese school or university or online2) You lived in a Mandarin speaking household&nbsp;3) You watch Mandarin tv shows or movies regularly The City of Calgary has generously funded Mandarin classes for 16 people. Each person is able to sign up for this level once for free. If you have already registered before your registration will be cancelled so that we can open up spots to everyone.&nbsp; You&rsquo;ll learn in a small, welcoming group that reflects our mission to preserve Chinatown&rsquo;s cultural heritage and support local businesses 📚

Mandarin 201 (Six Week Course)

Learn Mandarin with Friends of Chinatown 🏮 Join our free Mandarin 101 course and build practical language skills for everyday conversation.&nbsp;This beginner class is WEEKLY on Mondays for six week. Please only register for this class if you truly have zero knowledge of Mandarin. If you have experienced the following this class is not suitable for you and you may be asked to withdraw:&nbsp;1) You studied Cantonese or Mandarin at Chinese school&nbsp;2) You lived in a Mandarin speaking household&nbsp;3) You watch Mandarin tv shows or movies regularly The City of Calgary has generously funded Mandarin classes for 16 people. Each person is able to sign up for the 101 level once for free. If you have already registered before your registration will be cancelled so that we can open up spots to everyone.&nbsp; You&rsquo;ll learn in a small, welcoming group that reflects our mission to preserve Chinatown&rsquo;s cultural heritage and support local businesses 📚

Mandarin 101 -  Free for Beginners (Six Week Course)

Explore Chinatown through dim sum 🥟 in this hands-on intro to classic dishes, tea customs, and table etiquette. Learn how these shared plates reflect the neighborhood&rsquo;s history and daily life. We will be eating at Ho Won, one of Calgary&#39;s oldest restaurants with the BEST Salt and Pepper Squid in the city!&nbsp;Note that the item contain pork, nuts, gluten, dairy, gelatine and substitutions cannot be made.&nbsp; Guided by Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s mission to preserve cultural heritage and support local businesses, this experience includes stories, tastings, and time for questions. Whether it&rsquo;s your first visit or your favorite spot, you&rsquo;ll leave with new flavors and deeper connection. ✨

Dim Sum 101!

Join Friends of Chinatown for a cooking demo of the traditional Cantonese pastry: Sugar Bow Ties, also known as Dan San or Sugar Butterflies. Watch step-by-step how this crispy treat comes together! We celebrate Chinatown&rsquo;s food traditions by keeping them active in everyday kitchens. No experience needed&mdash;just curiosity and an appetite. Come ready to learn, taste, and connect with neighbors around the table. Must be at least 16 years old to register.Children of any age require their own ticket as they will occupy their own seat. Example: 1 adult + 1 child = 2 tickets.

Sugar Bow Tie Cooking Demo

Join us for a sweet walk through Chinatown&rsquo;s dessert spots 🍮🍨 Explore local dessert houses and cafes, taste favorite treats, and meet the people behind these neighborhood businesses. NOTE: Dessert items include dairy and&nbsp;gelatine. Substitutions are not available.&nbsp; The price is per person &amp; we do not have a children&rsquo;s price. We have to pre-order all the food so you must pay full price for each person that will be present regardless of age. This ticket is non-refundable&nbsp;as we have to pre-order everything from the businesses, but is transferrable if you find somebody else to take your spot.&nbsp; Your ticket supports Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s work to preserve cultural heritage and uplift small, family-run shops. Come curious, come hungry, and help keep Chinatown&rsquo;s stories&mdash;and sweets&mdash;thriving. 🎟️

Chinatown Dessert Tour

Step into Chinatown&rsquo;s history 🏮 Join our guided walk through historic streets, family-run shops, and community landmarks. Hear stories of migration, resilience, and everyday life that shaped this neighborhood.&nbsp; On this guided tour, you&rsquo;ll explore hidden details, learn about immigration and resilience, and see how past and present meet here every day. 👣 All ages are welcome. &nbsp;Everyone is welcome&mdash;whether this is your first visit or you&rsquo;ve been coming here for years. What to expectThis tour will mostly be on foot so please be prepared to walk &amp; stand for the entire tour.Please dress appropriately for the weather. We will be going between outdoor &amp; indoor spaces!&nbsp; We will start the tour at the Chinese Cultural Centre.&nbsp; Your registration supports Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s work to honour our neighbourhood&rsquo;s cultural heritage and local businesses. 💛

Historic Chinatown Tour

Chinatown is such a high volume place with a lot of litter that gets left behind. Let&rsquo;s clean it up and make it look great!&nbsp;Together, we&rsquo;ll pick up litter, tidy sidewalks, pick out weeds, and care for the streets that carry our shared stories. Suitable for volunteers 15+ in age By signing up, you&rsquo;ll help pick up litter, wipe graffiti, and keep shared spaces welcoming for everyone.&nbsp; Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s mission is to honor our cultural heritage while building a strong, connected community&mdash;this clean up is a simple, hands-on way to do that together.

Chinatown Community Clean Up 🧹

Join us a historic talk on the famous Qing Ming Festival Scroll Painting by one of our most passionate icons of Chinatown, Tony Wong. This is a rare chance to explore this iconic painting through stories of daily life, street scenes, and hidden details. Our speaker will walk through the scroll section by section, connecting its bustling riverside city to the history and communities that shape Chinatown today. Bring your curiosity; we&rsquo;ll leave plenty of time for questions and close-up looks at key scenes. This event is located at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Room 231 (second floor). Must be at least 16 years old to register.Children of any age require their own ticket as they will occupy their own seat.&nbsp;Example: 1 adult + 1 child = 2 tickets.

A Historic Talk on the Famous Qing Ming Scroll

Join Friends of Chinatown for a community movie night featuring a classic Hong Kong comedy by Stephen Chow! Settle in with us, cheer for wild kung fu kicks, and share some laughs together 🎬 Your ticket includes one $5 drink from Royal Tea House. Friends of Chinatown celebrates the stories, food, and culture that make our neighborhood special. Your ticket helps support year‑round programs that keep Chinatown vibrant&mdash;from cultural events to community gatherings.&nbsp; Must be at least 16 years old to register. Anyone under 16 years old will need to sign up with a parent or guardian. Children of any age require their own ticket. Example: 1 adult + 1 child = 2 tickets.

Movie Night in Chinatown

Join us for a hands-on zine making or collage workshop 📚✨ where you&rsquo;ll create your own mini-publication. Theme of the day is summer recap so you can bring pictures or receipts or anything that you want to use to kind of make a collage recap in your summer! You can also come with no supplies we will have random crafts and magazines as well!&nbsp; All materials and guidance are provided&mdash;just bring your ideas, curiosity, and any photos or mementos you&rsquo;d like to include.&nbsp; By taking part, you help Friends of Chinatown celebrate cultural heritage, support local voices, and keep our neighborhood&rsquo;s history alive on the page.

Recap your summer! zine and collage workshop

Join us at the Collectible Show &amp; Swap!&nbsp;Bring your Beanie Babies, Pokemon cards, Sailor Moon cards, Calico Critters, trinkets, and more! By registering, you help Friends of Chinatown celebrate our neighborhood&rsquo;s heritage and support local culture. Tell us what you&rsquo;ll bring or hope to find, and we&rsquo;ll make space for you at the tables 🏮.

Collectible Show & Swap with Bubble Tea & Snacks!

Explore Historic Chinatown with us 🏮Join us for a walking tour of historic Chinatown filled with surprise spaces, cool things you never see, &amp; interesting facts about our 100+ year neighbourhood!&nbsp;All ages are welcome. What to expectThis tour will mostly be on foot so please be prepared to walk &amp; stand for the entire tour.Please dress appropriately for the weather. We will be going between outdoor &amp; indoor spaces!&nbsp; We will start the tour at the Chinese Cultural Centre.&nbsp; Your registration supports Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s work to honour our neighbourhood&rsquo;s cultural heritage and local businesses. 💛

Discover the art of Chinese calligraphy in this beginner-friendly workshop 🖌️. Learn basic strokes, simple characters, and how each brush movement connects to Chinatown&rsquo;s living history. All materials are provided, and no experience is needed. By joining, you help Friends of Chinatown preserve cultural heritage and support a vibrant neighborhood. Reserve your spot and spend a relaxed session practicing mindful writing and community connection 🎴.

Learn simple crochet stitches and craft your own mini dumpling 🥟 in this hands-on workshop. No experience needed&mdash;just curiosity and a bit of patience. We&rsquo;ll provide yarn, hooks, and step‑by‑step guidance.&nbsp; Hosted by Baby Crochet Monster! Hosted by Friends of Chinatown, this event supports our work to celebrate Chinatown&rsquo;s cultural heritage and create welcoming spaces for neighbors and visitors. Come relax, create something cute, and connect with community 🧶.

Crochet Dumplings Workshop: A Beginner's Guide

Step into Chinatown&rsquo;s history 🏮 Join our guided walk through historic streets, family-run shops, and community landmarks. Hear stories of migration, resilience, and everyday life that shaped this neighborhood. All ages are welcome. &nbsp;Everyone is welcome&mdash;whether this is your first visit or you&rsquo;ve been coming here for years. What to expectThis tour will mostly be on foot so please be prepared to walk &amp; stand for the entire tour.Please dress appropriately for the weather. We will be going between outdoor &amp; indoor spaces!&nbsp; We will start the tour at the Chinese Cultural Centre.&nbsp; Your registration supports Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s work to honour our neighbourhood&rsquo;s cultural heritage and local businesses. 💛

Roll, fold, and taste the flavors of Chinatown 🥟🥮 Join our hands-on Wonton &amp; Egg Tart Cooking Class to learn classic techniques! Your registration supports Friends of Chinatown in preserving cultural traditions and strengthening local community life. Come ready to cook, share, and enjoy what you make together.

Wonton & Egg Tart Cooking Class

Chinatown is such a high volume place that there&rsquo;s a lot of litter that gets left behind. Let&rsquo;s clean it up and make it look great!&nbsp;Together, we&rsquo;ll pick up litter, tidy sidewalks, and care for the streets that carry our shared stories. Suitable for volunteers 15+ in age By signing up, you&rsquo;ll help pick up litter, wipe graffiti, and keep shared spaces welcoming for everyone.&nbsp; Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s mission is to honor our cultural heritage while building a strong, connected community&mdash;this clean up is a simple, hands-on way to do that together.

Learn how to make handmade mochi mooncakes 🥮 in a relaxed, hands-on class led by Friends of Chinatown. Together, we&rsquo;ll explore the traditions behind this treat while supporting our work to preserve Chinatown&rsquo;s cultural heritage. All experience levels are welcome&mdash;we provide ingredients, tools, and guidance. Come knead, shape, and share stories with neighbors, then take home your own mochi mooncakes to enjoy 🌕

Mochi Mooncake Cooking Class

Come on your own &amp; meet new people&nbsp;over some bubble tea 🧋💬&nbsp;This is an easygoing social night where you&#39;ll be randomly seated at tables of 4 &amp; have one to one conversations. We&#39;ll rotate every 20 minutes so you&rsquo;ll meet different people! Please note, this event is for those who are aged 30 to 40.&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t worry, we&rsquo;ll have guided conversation topics to break the ice! Spots are limited! Your ticket includes one large drink (which you will choose when you register)🧋&nbsp;

Bubble Tea & Yap (Ages 30-40)

Join us for a sweet walk through Chinatown&rsquo;s dessert spots 🍮🍨 Explore local dessert houses and cafes, taste favorite treats, and meet the people behind these neighborhood businesses. Stops include:&nbsp;banana matcha latte, galaxy jello, shaved ice, mango sticky rice, home made gelato, rolled ice cream, egg yolk custard bun, bubble waffle &amp; of course bubble tea!! Dessert items include dairy. The price is per person &amp; we do not have a children&rsquo;s price. We have to pre-order all the food so you must pay full price for each person that will be present regardless of age. This ticket is non-refundable as we have to pre-order everything from the businesses, but is transferrable if you find somebody else to take your spot.&nbsp; Your ticket supports Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s work to preserve cultural heritage and uplift small, family-run shops. Come curious, come hungry, and help keep Chinatown&rsquo;s stories&mdash;and sweets&mdash;thriving. 🎟️

We are back with more free cantonese classes! Please only register if you can attend all 6 weeks.&nbsp; The City of Calgary has generously funded 3 cohorts of cantonese classes for 15 people.&nbsp; This beginner class is WEEKLY on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30pm OR 7:45-8:34 PM. There are 2 beginners sessions. Please only sign up for one of the sessions.&nbsp; Each person is able to sign up for the 101 level once for free. If you have already registered before your registration will be cancelled so that we can open up spots to everyone.&nbsp; Due to the limited space, please make sure you are truly able to attend all weeks.&nbsp; This level is suitable if you are an Absolute Beginner. Meaning you know ZERO cantonese.&nbsp; For example, you never had Chinese family speak to you in cantonese before. You never went to Chinese school.&nbsp;

Cantonese 101 - Free cantonese class for beginners

Press Record: 5 Steps to Overcome Camera Shyness and Master Short Form VideoA 1-Hour Interactive Workshop | Facilitated by Jenny Lao, Virtzilla This workshop is built for anyone who knows they should be showing up on camera but keeps finding reasons not to. You will walk away with two things: the confidence to actually press record and a repeatable short-form video framework you can use the same day. Whether you run a service based business, lead a nonprofit, or are building your personal brand, this is the system that makes showing up on camera feel natural, intentional, and worth it. Best suited for: service providers, nonprofit leaders, coaches, consultants, photographers, designers, health and wellness professionals, and anyone who sells their expertise and wants to stop being the best kept secret in their industry. What we cover:Step 1: Why you are really avoiding the camera and what it is actually costing youStep 2: The One Person Framework, how to stop talking to everyone and start connecting with the exact person who needs what you offerStep 3: How to hook your audience in the first 3 seconds before they scroll pastStep 4: What to say in the middle so your content has a point and people actually remember itStep 5: How to close every video with a CTA that moves people to act What participants walk away with:A 5-step short-form video framework they can use the same day, the confidence to press record without going blank, a clear understanding of why their content has not been landing and what to change, and a video demonstration.

Press Record: 5 Steps to Overcome Camera Shyness and Master Short Form Video

Join us for a hands-on zine making or collage workshop 📚✨ where you&rsquo;ll create your own mini-publication.&nbsp; All materials and guidance are provided&mdash;just bring your ideas, curiosity, and any photos or mementos you&rsquo;d like to include.&nbsp; By taking part, you help Friends of Chinatown celebrate cultural heritage, support local voices, and keep our neighborhood&rsquo;s history alive on the page.

Collage & Zine Making Workshop

Until July 27Practice Mandarin in a relaxed, welcoming space every Monday 🗣️ All levels are invited&mdash;whether you&rsquo;re learning your first phrases or brushing up on fluent conversation. Volunteers help guide small-group chats.&nbsp;$5 fee includes snacks and also helps us fundraise towards keeping Chinatown clean! All ages welcome. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent.&nbsp;

Mondays Mandarin Convo Club - All levels

Learn to fold juicy siu mai &amp; bake flaky egg tarts 🥟🥮 in a hands-on class led by a local chef. You&rsquo;ll prep, shape, &amp; taste each step, with guidance &amp; time to ask questions. We are a volunteer run non-profit &amp; your registration goes toward our instructors, community spaces &amp; local businesses that host us 💛&nbsp; Come cook, connect with neighbors, and bring home recipes to share.

Siu Mai & Egg Tart Hands-on Cooking Class

Bring your pup &amp; meet new dog friends our Dog Meet Up 🐶 in the heart of Chinatown. This casual gathering welcomes friendly dogs, their humans, &amp; anyone who enjoys being around them.&nbsp; We&#39;ll have an obstacle course setup, along with some treats for you and your pup. Please note that we are not responsible for any injuries or accidents if occurred at this event. Your $5 registration includes:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Use of obstacle course for your dog</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Friendly on-leash meet up with other dogs</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">One goodie bag of treats for your pup</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Snacks for you (the human!)</li></ul>IMPORTANT:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Ensure your dog is up-to-date with their vaccines&nbsp;(Bordetella &amp; Rabies) BEFORE signing up</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">All dogs MUST BE ON LEASH</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Owners MUST bring their own poop bags &amp; pick up&nbsp;after their dog (there are nearby garbage bins)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Meet at the Sien Lok Park Pagoda - see image below</li></ul><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1782332901/wysiwyg/vwbgpirlvz4u2xc6yv4e.jpg" style="width: 315px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit; background-clip: padding-box; border-radius: 10px;" fr-original-style="width: 315px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable fr-rounded"> Your presence helps build a warm, connected community around Chinatown&rsquo;s streets, parks, and small businesses. 🐾

Dog Meet Up!

Design your own t-shirt!&nbsp; Remember the Rocket? We have a vinyl press and some cool vinyl cut outs for you to design your own t shirt!&nbsp; bring your own t-shirt or tote bags to press on!&nbsp; Step 1: Cut out shapes with vinyl or design&nbsp;Step 2: Arrange on fabricStep 3: Press with Iron press&nbsp;Step 4: Enjoy your work of art!&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1772313138/wysiwyg/edtk5a7zbccmrdrtknnz.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; -webkit-user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1772312932/wysiwyg/l5tqksuvcarzcin21tkv.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; -webkit-user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1772313165/wysiwyg/gw8w3gph09ac0snf5cat.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; -webkit-user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">

Design your own t-shirt in Chinatown! Vinyl Iron press!

Participants will be taught the unique traditional art form of Stone Seal Carving and walk away with their very own stone seal, holding living history in their hands. Facilitated by Jia Yang (Angela), this workshop strives to provide a learning environment for cultural exploration in an authentic and genuine manner, whilst cultivating an appreciation for arts outside of the mainstream. Participants will be provided with all materials necessary for this workshop, including carving tools.&nbsp; By signing up, each participant acknowledges that they are 15+ years of age and also acknowledges the potential hazards of handling these tools and releases the City of Calgary, the facilitator, the organizers, Friends of Chinatown, the Chinese National League/Clay Club YYC, and any other entities involved from any liability should any injuries occur. Two instances of this workshop will be held on July 24th at Chinese National League Main Floor (inside Clay Club) at 110 3 avenue SE. Two times are offered for the workshop from 10:45 AM-12:45PM and the second workshop will be held from 1:15PM-3:15pm.&nbsp; There is room for 15 participants per workshop. A $30 sign up fee is required. This project is funded by The City of Calgary.

Carve your own Stone Seal Stamp

Learn practical ways to save, budget, and plan for the future in this Savings 101 workshop 🧾. Together, we&rsquo;ll look at real‑life money choices facing Calgarians and learn the difference between RRSP and TFSA, learn about compound interest, and also GIC&#39;s vs Mutual Funds.&nbsp; This session supports Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s mission to strengthen our community by giving neighbors tools to feel more confident with their finances. All experience levels are welcome&mdash;come with your questions and leave with simple steps you can start using right away 💡.

Savings 101 - Financial Literacy workshop

Join us for a Cute Cookie Decorating Party 🍪✨Decorate cookies inspired your favourite cartoons like Pokemon and Sanrio! &nbsp;All ages and skill levels are welcome&mdash;come as you are and leave with a plate of treats and new connections. You will be provided with cookies already prepped for you to decorate with the colours of your choice.&nbsp; Your registration supports Friends of Chinatown in preserving neighborhood traditions and uplifting local businesses.

Cute Cookie Decorating Party

Join us for an evening of self-care care.&nbsp; Traditional Chinese medicine and doctors will take you through different stations to get acupuncture for stress and post stampede detox.&nbsp; There will be different stations set up for you to explore!&nbsp; If you don&rsquo;t want Acupuncture, there will be ear seeds available, which is pain-free.&nbsp; You will be seated in a chair for acupuncture and fully clothed. Acupuncture will only be on your ears.&nbsp; Must be 18+ to join.&nbsp;

Post Stampede Exhaustion Acupuncture and Wellness event

Come on your own and meet new friends over some bubble tea 🧋💬&nbsp;This is an easygoing social night where you&#39;ll be randomly seated at tables of 4-6 people to chat &amp; we&rsquo;ll rotate every 30 minutes so you&rsquo;ll meet different people! Don&rsquo;t worry, we&rsquo;ll have guided conversation topics to break the ice! Spots are limited! Your ticket includes one large drink (which you will choose when you register).

Bubble Tea & Yap

Explore Historic Chinatown with us 🏮Join us for a two hour walking tour of historic Chinatown filled with surprise spaces, cool things you never see, &amp; interesting facts about our 100+ year neighbourhood!&nbsp;All ages are welcome. What to expectThis tour will mostly be on foot so please be prepared to walk &amp; stand for 2 hours.Please dress appropriately for the weather. We will be going between outdoor &amp; indoor spaces!&nbsp; We will start the tour at the Chinese Cultural Centre. Your registration supports Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s work to honour our neighbourhood&rsquo;s cultural heritage and local businesses. 💛

Learn Mandarin with Friends of Chinatown 🏮 Join our six-week Mandarin 201&nbsp;course and build practical language skills for everyday conversation. This is a weekly class from 7:30-8:30 pm in Chinatown at 110 3 Ave SE. Registration is required.&nbsp; Please only register for this class if you have experienced one or more of the following or can understand basic mandarin and want to practice speaking Suitable if:1) You studied mandarin at Chinese school or university or online2) You lived in a mandarin speaking household&nbsp;3) You watch mandarin tv shows or movies regularly You&rsquo;ll learn in a small, welcoming group that reflects our mission to preserve Chinatown&rsquo;s cultural heritage and support local businesses. All levels of curiosity are welcome&mdash;no prior Mandarin needed. 📚

Mandarin 201 Six week Course

Learn Mandarin with Friends of Chinatown 🏮 Join our six-week Mandarin 101 course and build practical language skills for everyday conversation. Please only register for this class if you truly have zero knowledge of mandarin. If you have experienced the following this class is not suitable for you and you may be asked to withdraw:&nbsp;1) You studied Cantonese or mandarin at Chinese school&nbsp;2) You lived in a mandarin speaking household&nbsp;3) You watch mandarin tv shows or movies regularly You&rsquo;ll learn in a small, welcoming group that reflects our mission to preserve Chinatown&rsquo;s cultural heritage and support local businesses. All levels of curiosity are welcome&mdash;no prior Mandarin needed. 📚

Mandarin 101 Six week Course

Join us to sing together in Chinatown! This event will be hosted by Hannah Pagenkopf a wonderful Calgary based singer and singing teacher. No experience needed. Singing is fun, therapeutic, and there is no better place than to do it in Sien Lok Park.&nbsp; Be prepared to stand or sit on the ground. We will provide lyrics if needed!&nbsp; Songs will be sung in English!&nbsp; We will meet at this Pagoda:&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1780597438/wysiwyg/fjbre6uebbisooaipecb.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; -webkit-user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">

Let's Sing in Chinatown! Free Drop In

Join Friends of Chinatown for Dim Sum &amp; Mahjong 🀄🥟 Share an afternoon of food, play, and conversation as we celebrate Chinatown&rsquo;s traditions and stories.&nbsp; Enjoy a 10 course dim sum meal at Silver Dragon and then learn to play mahjong hosted at the Gee How Oak Tin Association!&nbsp; Note: Dim sum meal includes pork, dairy, chicken, beef and no substitutions are possible.&nbsp; All experience levels are welcome&mdash;whether you&rsquo;re learning your first hand or grew up around the mahjong table. We are volunteer run and your registration goes toward our instructors, community spaces and local businesses that host us 💛 This ticket is non-refundable.&nbsp;If you can no longer attend you can transfer your spot to someone you know! As spots are limited please only sign up if you can attend.&nbsp;

Dim Sum & Mahjong (beginners welcome)

Learn how to make Malaysian‑style pork jerky from scratch!This small cooking class is guided by community cook who grew up with these recipes. This ticket is non-refundable. If you can no longer attend you can transfer your seat to someone you know!&nbsp; As spots are limited please only sign up if you can attend. Your registration supports Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s work to honour our neighbourhood&rsquo;s cultural heritage and local businesses. Come cook, share stories, and enjoy what you make together 💛.

Malaysian  Style Pork Jerky Cooking Class

Let&rsquo;s get Chinatown looking beautiful this summer! Chinatown is such a high volume place that there&rsquo;s a lot of litter that gets left behind. Let&rsquo;s clean it up and make it look great!&nbsp; Suitable for volunteers 15+ in age By signing up, you&rsquo;ll help pick up litter, wipe graffiti, and keep shared spaces welcoming for everyone.&nbsp; Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s mission is to honor our cultural heritage while building a strong, connected community&mdash;this clean up is a simple, hands-on way to do that together.

Are you on the board or work for a non-profit or charity &amp; want to know more about the legal rules your organization needs to comply with? 🧾 &nbsp;Join us as we answer common questions about qualifying for income tax exemption, maintaining charitable status, and GST! 1. Tips &amp; traps in qualifying for the income tax exemption as a non-profit organization<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Permissible activities</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Budgeting &amp; accumulating revenue</li></ul>2. Tips &amp; traps for maintaining charitable status<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Different charitable designations: Operating as a charitable organization/ public foundation/ private foundation</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Business activities for charities</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">What to know about fundraising &amp; accepting donations as a charity</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Granting activities for charities (including working with non-qualified donees!)</li></ul>3. Sales Tax<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Charging sales tax</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Paying sales tax</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Rebates &amp; credits</li></ul>Whether you&rsquo;re a newly-established organization or have been operating for years, it&rsquo;s always a good time for a refresher on the rules to ensure you are steering your organization toward success. Suitable for board members, non-profit staff,&amp; volunteers.

Non-Profit & Charity Management: Tips for Good Governance & Tax Compliance

Stitch into spring with us 🌸🧵&nbsp;In this hands-on embroidery workshop, you&rsquo;ll learn simple floral stitches inspired by Chinatown&rsquo;s scenery and murals. No experience needed&mdash;materials and guidance are provided.By registering, you support Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s work to celebrate our neighborhood&rsquo;s cultural heritage and create welcoming spaces for neighbors, families, and friends to make art together.

Spring Blossom Embroidery Workshop

Join us outdoors for a martial arts lesson 🥋 led by local instructors in the heart of Chinatown. All ages and experience levels are welcome. We&rsquo;ll move, stretch, and practice basic techniques while learning how martial arts connect to Asian cultural traditions and everyday balance.&nbsp; Location: Sien Lok Park beside the pagoda We are volunteer run and your registration goes toward our instructors, community spaces and local businesses that host us 💛

Outdoor Martial Arts Lesson

Your gift keeps Chinatown&rsquo;s stories, shops, and streets alive. 🏮 Friends of Chinatown YYC supports cultural events, workshops, and programs that celebrate our neighbourhood&rsquo;s history and help local businesses thrive. Every donation&mdash;of any size&mdash;helps us host community gatherings, share cultural traditions, and create a welcoming space for everyone who calls Chinatown home or loves to visit. Thank you for standing with this community. ❤️

Your gift keeps Chinatown’s stories, shops, and streets alive. 🏮 Friends of Chinatown YYC supports cultural events, workshops, and programs that celebrate our neighbourhood’s history and help local businesses thrive.Every donation—of any size—helps us host community gatherings, share cultural traditions, and create a welcoming space for everyone who calls Chinatown home or loves to visit. Thank you for standing with this community. ❤️

We cannot provide a charity tax receipt! We are non profit but not a charity.&nbsp;Your gift helps clean tagged walls, roll fresh paint, and restore pride on our streets 🧹🎨. Every dollar supports supplies, safe removal, and volunteer crews caring for Chinatown&rsquo;s storefronts and alleys. Friends of Chinatown is committed to preserving our neighborhood&rsquo;s cultural heritage and supporting local businesses. Your donation keeps Chinatown welcoming for residents, visitors, and future generations.

We cannot provide a charity tax receipt! We are non profit but not a charity. Your gift helps clean tagged walls, roll fresh paint, and restore pride on our streets 🧹🎨. Every dollar supports supplies, safe removal, and volunteer crews caring for Chinatown’s storefronts and alleys.Friends of Chinatown is committed to preserving our neighborhood’s cultural heritage and supporting local businesses. Your donation keeps Chinatown welcoming for residents, visitors, and future generations.

Chinatown Graffiti Removal Fundraiser

Clay Club is an affordable, fun, and inclusive drop-in studio for exploring ceramic hand-building techniques. Thanks to funding from the City of Calgary we are able to offer spots for free so that you can explore building with clay in an affordable manner.&nbsp; We will release the tickets a few weeks at a time to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to sign up.&nbsp; Note that you can only sign up one time. If you have already signed up once, you will be automatically cancelled to make room for others. Photo ID will be required to ensure no one books more than once.&nbsp;If you are signing up for someone we will reach out to get your guests name.&nbsp; If you like clay club and would like to do it again, please note that they offer low cost options every day of the week for you so take advantage!&nbsp; All ages welcome. &nbsp; +WHAT TO EXPECT+ This is an independent, create-at-your-own-pace studio session. A facilitator is available to help, but structured lessons are not provided. Instruction and guidance BEGINS AT THE BEGINNING OF OPEN STUDIO TIME; Create anything you like using our tools and supplies (or bring your own)&nbsp;-1 LB of clay included &lt; create whatever you want during this time - dish, bowl, mug, trinket, sculpture etc.&nbsp;-Paint your work during the final 30 minutes using coloured slips&nbsp; At the end of your session, mark your work as finished, then place it on the Completed Work Cart&nbsp; +FIRING &amp; PICKUP+ Work is allowed up to two weeks to dry before firing.&nbsp;Firings happen twice per month to keep costs low.&nbsp;Total turnaround time: up to 5 weeks.&nbsp; You&rsquo;ll receive an email when your pieces are ready for pickup with specific pickup days and times.&nbsp; If you haven&rsquo;t heard from us within five weeks, please reach out.

Free Chinatown Clay Class! New dates added monthly!

Practice Cantonese in a relaxed, welcoming space every &nbsp;Wednesday at Royal Tea in Dragon City Mall&nbsp;&nbsp; All levels are invited&mdash;whether you&rsquo;re learning your first phrases or brushing up on fluent conversation. Volunteers help guide small-group chats. Learn to order in Canto!&nbsp;$5 fee includes free drinks and helps us fundraise towards keeping Chinatown clean! All ages welcome. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent.&nbsp;

Wednesdays Bubble tea Cantonese Convo Club - All levels

Let&rsquo;s play mahjong! &nbsp;If you know how to play, grab a seat and play! On Thursdays we have volunteers to show you if it&rsquo;s your first time. Fridays no instruction is provided but we do have cheatsheets for you to refer to!&nbsp; This is a non profit event and gambling is strictly prohibited!&nbsp; Please note you must register each week and can drop in anytime between 6 o&rsquo;clock to 9 o&rsquo;clock. Only guest registered will be able to enter. This workshop supports Friends of Chinatown&rsquo;s mission to honor cultural traditions and bring neighbors together. Whether you&rsquo;re brand new or curious about the game you&rsquo;ve seen in Chinatown caf&eacute;s, you&rsquo;re welcome to join us 🎉. Please note you must RSVP!&nbsp;

Mahjong Club - All levels welcome!

Join us for an evening with one of Chinatown&#39;s icon, Tony Wong,&nbsp;as he shares an in-depth look at Guangzhou &mdash;its neighborhood markets, hidden food stalls, and everyday street life that rarely makes it into travel guides. 🇨🇳 Through stories, photos, and personal memories, Tony connects Guangzhou&rsquo;s past and present to the experiences of Chinese communities abroad. This event supports our work to honor Chinatown&rsquo;s heritage and keep its stories alive. ✨

Traveling to China - Tony Wong's in-depth look at Guang Zhou

Explore Chinatown through its sweetest spots. Join Friends of Chinatown for a guided walk to local bakeries and dessert shops, featuring treats from longtime neighborhood favorites and newer small businesses. 🍰 Along the way, you&rsquo;ll hear stories from community members, learn a bit of history, and support the livelihoods that keep Chinatown vibrant. Your ticket includes samples at several stops and helps our nonprofit advocate for a thriving, welcoming Chinatown. 🧋 Let&#39;s meet in front of Moonlight Books &amp; Gifts inside of Dragon City Mall.

Discover the flavors, stories, and etiquette of dim sum in a relaxed, guided meal. Learn proper tea etiquette, how to order, read the menu, try classic dishes like har gow, siu mai, and steamed buns. 🥟 Friends of Chinatown hosts this small-group experience to help you feel at home in Chinatown restaurants. Ask questions, taste new dishes, and hear how dim sum connects to local families, culture, and everyday life. 🍽️

Dim Sum 101 - Guided Dim Sum Meal

Join Friends of Chinatown &amp; Tiger Tufting Studio for a hands-on tufting workshop where you&#39;ll be tufting a Snoopy coaster! 🎃🐯 We&rsquo;ll guide you through each step, from design to finishing touches, so you leave with your own tufted piece and a cozy coaster to take home. Your registration helps support creative, community-centered events in Chinatown.

Snoopy Halloween Coaster with Tiger Tufting

Explore Chinatown&rsquo;s stories on foot as we visit family-run shops, historic landmarks, and everyday places that shaped this neighborhood. Led by Friends of Chinatown volunteers, this tour shares community history, personal memories, and the ongoing work to preserve culture and support local residents. 🏮 Reserve your spot to walk the streets, ask questions, and see how past and present meet in Chinatown. 🚶&zwj;♀️

Chinatown Historic Tour

Shape a small piece of Chinatown&rsquo;s story with your own hands. In this clay workshop, you&rsquo;ll design and sculpt a chopstick rest, guided step by step&mdash;no experience needed. 🍜 Hosted by Friends of Chinatown, this session is a relaxed way to slow down, learn about everyday objects in Chinese dining, and connect with neighbors over clay, conversation, and tea. You&rsquo;ll head home with a handmade piece that reflects both your style and our shared community. 🎨

Clay Chopstick Rest Workshop

Learn to make siu mai and steamed buns from scratch with Friends of Chinatown, guided by community cooks who grew up with these recipes. We&rsquo;ll walk through each step together &mdash; mixing dough, shaping, folding, and steaming &mdash; then sit down to taste what you&rsquo;ve made 😊. Your registration helps celebrate and sustain Chinatown&rsquo;s food traditions while supporting local cultural programs.

Siu Mai & Steamed Bun Cooking Class

Scrapbook a Zine &amp; Collage with us as we play with photos, flyers, and everyday objects that tell stories from Chinatown and our own lives. We&#39;ll have all the supplies you need, but you can bring your own photos and receipts if you&#39;d like! No art experience needed&mdash;just curiosity and a willingness to try things out. 🎨

Scrapbook a Zine & Collage with us!

Settle in for a creepy classic with neighbors and friends. Join us in Chinatown for a movie night - we&#39;ll be watching The Eye 10, part horror movie, part comedy, a Thai &amp; Hong Kong classic film. The movie will have English subtitles. We&rsquo;re gathering to enjoy Asian cinema, support local community spaces, and spend time together between gasps and nervous laughs. Bring a friend, grab a seat, and get ready to scream 😱🎬

Friends of Chinatown

Friends of Chinatown

Events

Events

Free Chinatown Clay Class! New dates added monthly!

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Wednesdays Bubble tea Cantonese Convo Club - All levels

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Mahjong Club - All levels welcome!

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Traveling to China - Tony Wong's in-depth look at Guang Zhou

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Chinatown Dessert Tour

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Dim Sum 101 - Guided Dim Sum Meal

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Snoopy Halloween Coaster with Tiger Tufting

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Chinatown Historic Tour

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Clay Chopstick Rest Workshop

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Siu Mai & Steamed Bun Cooking Class

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Scrapbook a Zine & Collage with us!

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Scary Movie Night: the Eye 10

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More ways to support us

Donate to Friends of Chinatown YYC!

Donate today

Chinatown Graffiti Removal Fundraiser

Donate today

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