FREDERICTON, N.B. -- While recent international headlines have put immigration and diversity up for debate, a weekend festival in Fredericton celebrated cultural connections and diversity.
The 8th annual Cultural Expressions Festival in Fredericton’s Officers’ Square continues to grow each year, providing an opportunity for many different cultures to showcase their unique heritage.
“We need a place to showcase and celebrate our diversity,” said Haruka Kudo, with the Multicultural Association of Fredericton.
Fifteen different local cultural groups were showcased this year.
“It’s probably something that the community doesn’t know, that there are so many multicultural groups in town,” said Kudo. “Here, people can actually see the diversity.”
Each year, the festival chooses one country to put in the spotlight. This year, Iran took center stage.
Participants say there’s an important lesson amongst the colourful display of culture.
“Fredericton is one of those places where there are so many different cultures,” said Noushen Pourjahni, with the Iranian Canadian Association of New Brunswick. “At this festival, you can recognize how many different cultures are here, and this is a good thing – we can celebrate the diversity.”
Beyond the performances, music and food, the festival hosts outreach booths to give people a chance to expand their cultural horizons.
“I’ve had a lot of people interested in travelling to different parts of the world, Africa especially,” said New Brunswick African Association’s Humphrey Akwar. “It’s good you have that connection. You have people who tell you they were born there, and you have those that have been there.”
“We have to learn how we can celebrate and be together,” said Pourjahni. “With this kind of diversity, we can learn from each other.”
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore.
