Guests gathered at First Baptist Church Saturday to celebrate Chinese New Year. Photos 250News

Prince George, B.C. – People around the world are celebrating the Chinese New Year, which officially arrived on Saturday.

According to the Chinese Zodiac Calendar 2017 is the year of the Rooster, and those born in the year of the Rooster are said to be very observant, hardworking, resourceful, courageous and talented.

The International Education Department at the College of New Caledonia brings in the Chinese New Year each year by hosting a celebration featuring traditional food and performances, and this year the event was held at the First Baptist Church at 5th and Gillett.

The event, open to the public, included a traditional style buffet and a special show which featured Chinese cultural dance, song and the live music of the student-composed Mini Band (above), with “Zombie” and “Silence”.

The evening also featured some of our local politicians and other guests to the stage who took part in traditional Chinese art and dumpling-making.

And the fun exhibition produced perhaps the quote of the night when the MLA for Prince George-Valemount was told that she did a great job making a dumpling.  When the hostess suggested that perhaps she could get a job making dumplings, the MLA quipped “that’s good, I may need it.”

In any event, Gung Hay Fat Choy, Happy Chinese New Year.