The Heart of a Vancouver Summer
Few things capture the essence of summer in Vancouver like the blueberry harvest. On August 2, 2025, more than 160 people came together in the fields near the city, not simply to enjoy fruit and sunshine but to celebrate community along with Hong Wei Liao. The Botrich Blueberry Festival, hosted annually by Botrich Inc., has grown into a gathering that is as much about people as it is about produce.
Families, business leaders, and community members arrived with children in tow, ready for a day of laughter, food, and music. What unfolded was more than a festival. It was a reminder that community is not built in boardrooms or through transactions alone. It is built in moments of shared experience, gratitude, and connection.
A Tradition Rooted in Togetherness
Under the guidance of Ms. Hong Wei Liao, founder and Chairman of the Botrich Family Wealth Heritage and Development Center, the Blueberry Festival has become a tradition that people look forward to every summer. What began as a simple seasonal gathering has evolved into something deeper: a ritual of belonging.
In her welcome remarks, Ms. Liao captured the spirit of the day. “This isn’t just a festival,” she shared. “It’s a celebration of trust, companionship, and the values that bind us together—family, gratitude, and giving back.” Her words carried weight because they reflected what was unfolding all around: grandparents teaching grandchildren how to pick berries, colleagues catching up under the shade of trees, and neighbors laughing over shared plates of food.
Building Bridges Across Generations
One of the most striking parts of the festival was its multigenerational nature. Children ran between the rows of blueberry bushes, their laughter weaving into the conversations of parents and elders. In that mingling of ages, knowledge and values were passed down effortlessly.
Community is strongest when it bridges generations. Events like this remind us that young people need to see examples of connection, gratitude, and joy. In turn, their energy brings freshness to traditions and helps carry them forward. The Blueberry Festival became a living example of how culture and community are nurtured and renewed.
More Than Food and Music
The festival delighted the senses with roasted lamb, fresh seasonal dishes, and, of course, blueberries in every imaginable form. Live musicians filled the air with rhythm while dance groups added bursts of color and movement.
But beyond the entertainment, what stood out most was the spirit of connection. Friends sat in clusters enjoying simple conversations. Couples strolled quietly through the fields. Parents paused to take in the beauty of the day. The music and food set the stage, but the community itself became the centerpiece.
A Reminder of What Truly Matters
Amid the liveliness, the blueberry fields offered space for reflection. Away from the rush of daily life, the festival gave people the chance to slow down. Surrounded by nature and good company, many found themselves reconnecting not only with others but also with themselves.
In her closing words, Ms. Liao captured this sentiment perfectly: “May this ‘berry’ beautiful day help us all unwind from daily stress, reconnect with ourselves and our loved ones, and look forward to the future with renewed hope and joy.”
These moments of slowing down, of appreciating the sweetness of life in its simplest forms, are what create deeper bonds within communities.
Community as the Core of Success
While Botrich Inc. is widely known as a professional service platform with global reach, the festival highlighted a truth that goes beyond business: success is also measured by the strength of relationships and the joy of shared experiences.
As one company spokesperson reflected, “Clients are the foundation of any business. They are the source of our inspiration, our motivation, and our continued evolution. Their trust is our most valuable policy; their companionship is our longest-lasting promise.”
In many ways, the Blueberry Festival symbolizes this philosophy. By placing people — clients, partners, families, and friends — at the center, Botrich demonstrates that community is not an afterthought. It is the foundation.
Planting Seeds for the Future
The festival is not just about one day of celebration. It plants seeds for something much larger: a culture of gratitude, belonging, and shared responsibility. When people gather year after year, they strengthen ties that extend into everyday life. Children grow up seeing the value of community, and adults are reminded that success is not just individual achievement but collective well-being.
This is what makes the festival so meaningful. It creates a ripple effect, inspiring guests to carry that sense of connection back into their families, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Closing Reflections
As the sun set over the blueberry fields, guests left with more than baskets of fruit or memories of a lively festival. They carried with them the reminder that life is richer when shared.
In a fast-paced world where technology often replaces face-to-face interaction, gatherings like the Botrich Blueberry Festival feel especially important. They bring people together in ways that are authentic, joyful, and restorative. They remind us that community is not a luxury — it is essential.
Under the thoughtful leadership of Ms. Hong Wei Liao, this annual tradition has become a beacon of what is possible when gratitude and togetherness are placed at the heart of any endeavor. It is proof that community is not something we find by chance, but something we create intentionally, berry by berry, year after year.