As exciting as it is to move to a new country, it’s normal to sometimes miss your country and family back home. One of the best things about living in Canada is that it is a cultural melting pot and makes it easy to stay connected to your heritage and traditions. Staying close to your cultural roots can help ease your transition into life in Canada.
Calgary is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, with a diverse range of ethnicities and cultures. If you’re a newcomer from China living in Calgary, you’ll be able to take part in familiar experiences that allow you to connect with your community and enjoy a taste of home in your new surroundings. We asked Chinese newcomers living in the city to list their favourite places to eat, shop, and enjoy other cultural activities, so you can find the things you miss and the day-to-day support you need in your new home.
In this article:
- Chinese restaurants in Calgary
- Chinese grocery stores
- Chinese shopping and cultural events
- Places to worship across Calgary
- Find daily support in Calgary
Chinese restaurants in Calgary
Chinese food is very popular in Canada, even among people from other ethnicities. You’ll find lots of places to eat your local cuisine in Calgary. Here are the top recommendations from Chinese newcomers:
- Silver Dragon Restaurant
- South Silk Road Chinese Restaurant
- Tang Dynasty Restaurant
- Szechuan Restaurant (Try the Ma Po Tofu and Dendan Noodles)
- Sun’s BBQ Restaurant (Try the Szechuan Fish in hotpot)
Chinese grocery stores
- T&T Supermarket, multiple locations in Calgary
- Lambda Oriental Foods Supermarket
The newcomers we spoke with assured us that you’ll be able to find everything you need at T&T. In fact, not only will you find the right grocery items, the design and environment will make you feel like you’re shopping in China.
Chinese shopping and cultural events
Chinatown is a great place to check out on the weekend or during cultural holidays like the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations. If you’re looking to buy Chinese books, accessories, jewellery, clothing or gifts, Dragon City Mall located in Chinatown has some authentic stores.
The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre also hosts cultural events year-round and has a mandate to “serve the Chinese community of Calgary.”
Places to worship across Calgary
As a newcomer from China, you’ll find several options for places to worship for your faith in Calgary. Some popular ones are:
Buddhist
- Calgary Buddhist Temple
- Jam Tse Cho Ling Buddhist Temple
Christian
- Calgary Chinese Baptist Church
- Calgary Chinese Pentecostal Church
Find daily support in Calgary
As you start settling down in Calgary, you may need more structured, daily support to adjust and adapt to your new life. You can find cultural support, skill-building workshops, employment resources, and other important aspects of getting settled in the places listed below:
- The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre is an important resource for support. They offer creative and language-based workshops along with offering educational programs. You can volunteer with this organization to become more involved with your new community.
- The Calgary Chinese Community Service Association (now known as Diversecities) offers English workshops, translation services, and free tax clinics for new immigrants.
- Immigration Services Calgary provides support for newcomers, including language classes and employment consultation. They also have a Family Resource Centre for pregnant mothers and women with young children. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with getting accustomed to your new home, Immigration Services Calgary offers a Therapy and Support Centre.
- The Calgary Board of Education offers a Chinese (Mandarin) immersion program for young children, as well as language and cultural courses to help newcomer children stay connected to their roots.
