Photo gallery: A Chinese New Year parade of politicians in Vancouver

Thousands lined the route of the 36th annual Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver’s Chinatown on Sunday (February 14), undeterred by the earlier-than-normal start time.

As usual, politicians and their staffers were out in force, wishing onlookers “Gung Hay Fat Choy” and handing out red envelopes.

With the Winter Olympics in town and Parliament prorogued, federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff was spotted working the crowd.

But it was Gregor Robertson who drew the most attention on Keefer Street, with many seniors and children clamoring for a red envelope from the Vancouver mayor.

By the conclusion of the parade, this journalist ended up with one envelope from the mayor and two from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who did not attend.

Robertson’s envelope contained a mango gummy.

Both of the PM’s included a card offering “Best wishes from the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper” and a business card for Trang Nguyen, the Conservative candidate for Vancouver Kingsway.

Only one of them contained candy—a chocolate loonie.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.