Guelph and District Multicultural Festival: Celebrating Cultural Diversity
The Guelph and District Multicultural Centre held their 29th annual Multicultural Festival between June 5 and June 7. In spite of the cold, rainy weather on June 5, the festival held its opening ceremonies at the Riverside Park Main Stage, with attendees including Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie, University of Guelph President Franco Vaccarino, Guelph Member of Parliament Frank Valeriote, and the Guelph Chamber of Commerce’s President and CEO Kithio Mwanzia.
Though many food and craft vendors were still in the process of setting up their stalls in preparation for the evening’s festivities, there was still a carnival of sights, sounds, and smells to enjoy.
Beginning the opening ceremonies was a procession that featured members of several of Guelph’s ethnic communities, including members of Guelph’s Chinese, Ethiopian, and First Nations communities.
As the ceremony commenced, Lois MacDonald and Jan Sherman—members of Guelph’s Missanbie Cree First Nation community—led all gathered in a rousing Aboriginal welcome song.
“We are gathered here today to honour all of those cultures present,” said MacDonald. “To share their ways and values and beliefs with everyone so that they will be able to understand each other and learn from each other. We are gathered so that we come together as one as members of the human race, so that the learning will carry on.”
Following a speech from MacDonald encouraged the crowd to lend their voices to a group performance of the Canadian national anthem. As the crowd began, a slow wave of sound engulfed the area, until each individual contributed to a community of melodies and harmonies. There is perhaps nothing more representative of Canada than a cultural mosaic joining together to sing the national anthem.
Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie was the first to break the silence, with a speech that touched upon Guelph’s contribution to Canadian multiculturalism.
“Everyone who attends here that message and spreads it out to their schools, places of worship, homes, and communities,” said Guthrie.
However, it was Guelph MP Frank Valeriote whose words of unity and compassion resonated strongly with the crowd.
“No matter which culture is among us tonight, it’s important to remember that we’re all visitors on these lands of Metis and Attawandaron,” said Valeriote.
Guelph’s MP’s words were a reminder to all present that, as Canadians, our culture exists on the shared land of all First Nations people.
“Canada’s a nation of stories,” continued Valeriote. “English, French, and a myriad of other languages; when we celebrate one another and our cultures, we are growing as a community and building on our strengths. We are one collective community—a community that calls Canada our home.”
The ceremony slowly continued as speakers continued to take to the stage to praise Canada’s multicultural attitude, and Guelph’s welcoming nature.
University of Guelph President Franco Vaccarino, who is the newest addition to the Guelph community, emphasized that Guelph is a city that embraces, welcomes, and respects new opinions. Vaccarino stated that Guelph’s accepting embrace of different values and opinions is what allows the city to be such a strong driver of innovation.
The ceremony’s final speaker was the president of the Guelph Multicultural Centre, Delfino Callegari, who kept his words brief. Callegari thanked all present, including the team of blue-shirted volunteers who aided attendees during throughout the weekend.
It was apparent from the moment the speeches ended that the weekend was going to be exciting and special. The amounts of unique art, cuisine, and the friendliness of each individual was evident to all those who attended. With everything ranging from traditional and authentic Ethiopian cuisine, to freshly brewed Chiapas coffee, the festival brought together elements of diversity and celebrated multiculturalism in an accessible and engaging way. Recognizing and celebrating cultural diversity is crucial towards developing a community that is tolerant and inclusive of multiple cultures. A variety of participants involved with the Multicultural Festival activities spoke to the Ontarion about the importance of multiculturalism for sustaining a diverse and active community.
Rose Egolet, who runs an NGO in Uganda that is currently fundraising for two classrooms for 50 four-to-five-year-old children, spoke about the festival and the kinds of behaviour it promotes: “the interest that people have shown, and also the kindness of people who have come [that have shown] interest in volunteering with us…just [seeing] young people taking interest.”
When asked about how the festival affects interactions within the community, Egolet remarked, “[The festival] brings people together. Also, many times, people would be embarrassed to meet me on the street and talk to me, but in a setting like this, they can ask me where I’m from and ask about my outfit…it brings people together in a safe environment, and there is an exchange of ideas and gifts.”
University of Guelph alumnus Elizabeth Nadurille, who is currently involved in an organization that aims to create a local entrepreneurial institute for the women and youth of northern Ghana, spoke about the importance of celebrating multiculturalism. “It is a great opportunity for Canadians, and specifically, the people of Guelph, to see how opportunities are difficult for other places…it [allows one to] appreciate the resources and employment opportunities that are present.”
While many people at the festival were advocating for organizations and raising awareness for international causes, there was no shying away from partaking in the actual festivities of the event itself. When asked about her favorite part of the festival, Nadurille mentioned, “To be honest, salsa night. The moment I started hearing the music, I went there and had to dance.”
The multicultural festival brings individuals together in a unique and refreshing way. Mahabhagavatdas, or, Das for short, has been an active participant at the festival for several years. When asked about what the festival brings to the community, Das commented, “I love that so many different people get together, different cultures, different backgrounds, and can find common ground to talk about. [The Multicultural festival] eliminates barriers, it removes fears, it gets people talking about each other’s cultures and appreciation.”
The power of the festival to unite and bring people together towards a common goal is undeniable. By creating a safe and common space, the event allows participants to learn about difference cultures in a personal and accessible way. The Guelph and District Multicultural Festival is an important event for the city—not only does it provide incredible cuisine, music, and performances, but the festival also brings a medium for others to experience and enjoy the various cultures prevalent in the Guelph and district community.