Rbc | chinese new yr | beijing >>> FW: Corporate Communications - News - Chinese New Year acquaints employees with customs

Graduates of Canadian universities who are now working in China gathered for an alumni celebration in Beijing as part of Chinese New Year celebrations. Part of "Team Canada" is our own Jason He, Head of Personal Banking, Beijing Branch (back row, to the left of the HP logo)

Chinese New Year acquaints employees with customs and family traditions

Speaking with Jason He, Head of Personal Banking in our Beijing Branch during the month of February fills one with a sense of awe on the grandeur of the Chinese New Year celebrations. While the occasion is marked on February 3rd this year, it is a month filled with celebrations where people temporarily turn from business to focus more on family and relationships.

There is great movement in Beijing this month unlike any other time of the year. Explains Jason: “Two weeks before Chinese New Year, more than 200,000 people travel each day out of Beijing to go and be with family. Especially for the first night. It is tradition to have as many family members as possible gathered around the table for a great reunion. And for the two weeks following the main festivities, the city sees a steady influx of people returning from these visits.”

For the past 25 years, Technology & Operations employees have been organizing a Chinese New Year lunch in downtown Toronto. Morteza Mahjour, Chief Information and Operations Officer (green tie), Harry Lim, a retired T&O employee and founder of the event (red tie), and the event Organizing Committee (yellow shirts) were joined by 250 of their RBC colleagues on January 28th to celebrate the arrival of the year of the Rabbit.

Technology is making it possible to stay connected and offer well wishes for those who cannot be together. “It is not uncommon for people to send hundreds of text messages especially on the first night, to ensure no one is missed, knows they are important, and to extend best wishes for the coming year.”

The Chinese lunar calendar is represented by 12 animals, one animal per year. 2011 will be the Year of the Rabbit, which in Chinese culture is a sign of kindness and cheerfulness. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. In confrontational situations, Rabbits always approach calmly and with consideration for the other party. They are compassionate and believe strongly in friends and family.

If one wonders what Beijing may be like on the first night, Jason says that newcomers to the city may be surprised or even startled. “There is no traffic on the streets. It is like the whole city is at a standstill. And that’s because people are at home with family and friends watching the traditional New Year's Gala, hosted by CCTV (Chinese Central Television). It is a phenomenal show with close to one billion people watching.”

Chinese New Year is considered the single most important holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the New Year celebrations of its geographic neighbours, including Koreans, Vietnamese and Japanese.

“Our Asian communities are extremely important to RBC,” says Camon Mak, Director, Cultural Markets. “As the largest and oldest bank in Canada, we are in most communities where our Asian clients live, serving their needs.”

For more than 14 years RBC has produced special commemorative coins to mark the celebration of Chinese New Year. These are ordered by branches to offer to clients at special events.

Said Jennifer Tory, Regional President, Greater Toronto Region, at their recent Chinese New Year celebration dinner, “RBC is fully committed to helping newcomers prosper, through our people, products and services. Chinese newcomers should feel very welcome at RBC. Here, they’ll find representatives who understand the Chinese culture and values, who provide services and advice in their language of choice, and who are equipped to help them write their Canadian success story. Over time, those stories have filled volumes, with new chapters being added all the time.”

 

In Gord Nixon’s address to our dinner guests, including high value clients, community leaders and dignitaries, he affirmed that, “Today, the Chinese community is one of the most vibrant in all of Canada, and growing still. What that reminds us of, is that diversity is one of Canada’s greatest strengths. In many ways, it’s what defines us as a nation. For generations, the Chinese community has been emblematic of that strength, contributing to Canadian society, business and culture in countless ways.”

 

 

February 9, 2011 Subject: Corporate Communications - News - Chinese New Year acquaints employees with customs

http://rbcnet.fg.rbc.com/corp-comm/news/cid-261964.html

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