Chinese communities in Vancouver staged various activities on Sunday, including flag-hoisting and parade, in a joyful celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), which falls on October 1.

Thousands of ethnic Chinese began to gather in the morning at the Chinatown in the city, which later turned into a sea of red as Chinese national flags were seen everywhere.

A flag-raising ceremony was held near noon in front of the building which houses Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver in the city.

"The hearts of ethnic Chinese in Vancouver are with the motherland forever," said Po Chiang Mai, vice president of the oldest organization in Chinese community, in a speech, adding that oversea Chinese will make more efforts to facilitate China's overall development.

His remarks were echoed by Liang Shugen, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver, who used the occasion to express gratitude to the ethnic Chinese in Vancouver for their consistent support for and contribution to the various programs launched in China.

Liang was invited to host a dragon eye-dotting ceremony, which kicked off Chinese classical shining dragon dance and lion dance. Meanwhile, firecrackers were lighted to add the festival mood.

The highlight of the celebrations was the grand parade, which featured six decorated cars, 50 parade teams involving some 2000 members as well as 30 lions teams. Old and young, ethnic Chinese attended celebration by dancing, singing or showing off Kung Fu, all with Chinese characteristics.

Liang, with other officials from Chinese Consulate General in Vancouver joined the guest team. They were joined by Alice Wong, MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism who represents Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and some councilors of Vancouver.

To conclude the celebration of Sunday, a banquet was given in the evening, which catered for as many as some one thousand guests. As a vip guest, Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson praised China's remarkable progress in the last decades and spoke highly of the relationship between China and Canada and between Vancouver and Guangzhou, its sister city in China. He also announced the People's Republic of China Anniversary Celebration Week which lasts from September 27 to October 3.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2009)