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Chinatown Zodiac Banners 2025

Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is thrilled to unveil this year’s Chinatown Zodiac Banner in celebration of the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake!

In partnership with Victoria-Albert School, the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre (WCCCC), Pauline Leung, and artist Natalie Mark, our Public Realm team held four workshops in December, where students explored the Zodiac calendar and created snake-inspired artwork that shaped this year’s design.

These vibrant banners will be displayed throughout Chinatown and North Main, celebrating cultural heritage and a long-standing Downtown Winnipeg BIZ tradition that has grown from a design competition into a meaningful community collaboration.

“Our hope is that the students see a piece of themselves and their creativity reflected in these banners,” says Madeleine, Manager of Public Realm at Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. “There’s something special about coming together to create art—it connects us and leaves a lasting mark on our downtown.”

The Year of the Snake began on January 29, 2025, following the Lunar Calendar’s 12-year cycle. Nineteen refreshed banners will be installed in early February, welcoming residents and visitors to this historic neighbourhood all year.

About the Artist

Natalie Mark is a queer Chinese Canadian artist of Toisan descent who previously designed our 2024 Year of the Dragon Zodiac Banner and our new Chinatown Neighbourhood Banners installed in 2024. They are a graduate of the Bachelor of Design, Illustration program at OCAD University in Toronto.  

About the Banner 

Natalie shared their vision for the banner: 

“In the story of the Great Race of the Chinese Zodiac, the snake finished the race following the dragon after attaching itself to one of the horse’s hooves. In western culture, the snake often represents evil and deceit; but represent harvest, fertility, spirituality, and good fortune in Chinese culture. In the zodiac, the snake is seen as clever, charming, and intuitive. 

When the workshops were done with the kids, I had absolutely no clue what the final banner was going to look like. I could try to prep compositions all I want, but the kids often end up steering the boat and creative direction themselves. They’re a wonderful group that painted so many beautiful snakes. I wanted to find a way to show that variety and have a different composition from last year. 

To me, the snake is not just clever – it’s a creature of resilience. It’s hated and feared by many, but in the story, it finds a way to reach the finish line despite all odds. So, I arranged the snakes coming out from an abundance of peonies for my desire and hope for collective prosperity, wealth, and warmth for all who may find themselves in positions where they must be resilient like the snake.“

A huge thank you to everyone who brought this project to life:

  • Natalie Mark 
  • Pauline Leung
  • Kathy Tang 
  • tamara rae biebrich and the Winnipeg Arts Council
  • Victoria-Albert School Staff and Students 
  • The Sign Source
  • Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre
  • Kum Koon Garden