Montreal's Chinese community celebrates Year of the Pig

The Year of the Pig officially begins on February 5, and Montreal's Chinese community has already started celebrations for the Lunar New Year.

They got together for an afternoon of performances at Complex Desjardins on Saturday.

The Year of the Pig is traditionally an omen for prosperity.

And members of Montreal's Chinese community are looking forward to everything this new year has in store.

The crowd of hundreds was joined by Mayor Valerie Plante and other government and consular officials at the bright and colourful event.

It featured a number of traditional lion and dragon dances.

Plante said she was happy to celebrate the new year with Montreal's substantial and diverse Chinese community.

"Thank you to the organizers and the people who are participating today who will be sharing a part of their culture with usthat we love and we cherish," she said.