ExplorAsian Cultural Bus Tours
May 28, 2023 | 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
Tour stop locations | Ismaili Community Centre and Jamatkhana | Calgary Chinatown (including the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre, Sien Lok Park and the Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizens’ Association)
Cost: $20 + fees | Includes lunch and refreshments.
Register Online | ExplorAsian Cultural Bus Tour Registration closes on May 24 or until the tour sells out, whichever comes first.
Know what to wear, what to bring, cancellations, age requirements, how much walking, food, safety, and more! Please review ExplorAsian Cultural Bus Tour Frequently Asked Questions.
To connect with us, please email register@asianheritageyyc.ca.
ExplorAsian Cultural Bus Tours Itinerary
Come join us on a day long interactive bus tour for Calgarians to explore, experience and engage with some of Calgary’s diverse Asian communities! This is your opportunity to gain a behind-the-scenes look at the rich history and understanding of 2 significant cultural areas and the cultural practices, food, performances and arts of up to 5 different Asian Canadian communities per tour. Hop on our bus and ExplorAsian YYC!
Starting point – Our knowledgeable Bus Tour Guides will greet you at our first stop outside the Ismaili Community Centre and Jamatkhana. After checking in, you will tour this stunning facility and see how their Islamic faith is reflected in the architectural elements and design of this unique place of worship. **Please Note: at the Jamatkhana you will be asked to remove your footwear so you may wish to bring/wear socks inside the facility.
You will be offered a warming cup of traditional Chai tea and a baked treat while skilled Henna artists apply a henna temporary body art and an art activity hosted by F.O.C.U.S. on Seniors.
During the lunch break, you will sit down to a delicious box lunch of authentic Afghan food while watching an Afghan dance performance by Immigrant Learning Moms Society.
Next Location – Afterwards, the bus tour will head to Calgary’s Chinatown where a brief driving tour will show you around the historic neighbourhood and share a bit about its past. You will disembark at the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre to tour the facility and Museum.
Then you will be guided outside to a walking tour of Sien Lok Park North to take in the monuments to Chinese history in Canada. As you continue your walk to Sien Lok Park South, you will encounter the Chinatown Block party which will be celebrating Asian Heritage month all day.
There will be a break outdoors where you will be served tasty Filipino snacks while watching a Filipino dance performance by Maharlika Divas Dancers followed by Chinese martial arts and drumming performances by Block party performers.
Next you will be taken into the Chinese Elderly Citizens Association for a brief facility tour to hear of the importance of this centre to the Chinese community.
Finally, you will walk back to the bus which will take you back to the starting point of the tour. During the commute, there will be a trivia contest on all the Asian Communities you learned about today with prizes provided by our Pakistani community.
After a full day of experiencing just a bit of what each culture has to offer, we hope you will be encouraged to explore in depth more of Calgary’s Asian communities on your own!
About Our Tour Locations:
- Ismaili Community Centre and Jamatkhana one pager
- Calgary’s Chinatown one pager
- The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre one pager
- Sien Lok Park one pager
- The Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizens’ Association one pager
Many thanks to the City of Calgary for their generous sponsorship of the tour buses