Picturesque summer weather and the lure of a great multicultural experience brought record crowds of nearly 25,000 to the 10th annual 91原创 International Festival, held at the grounds of the 91原创 Events Centre last weekend.
鈥淚t was absolutely 91原创enal,鈥� said Shar Dubas, executive director.鈥淚t was a huge, huge success.鈥�
What started as a small fundraiser for St. Joseph鈥檚 Parish in 2001 with around 1500 attendees, has now grown into a huge community event.
A Volkswagen car show, a bike show, soccer tournament, tennis tournament, carnival, children's chalet, Shakespeare production, writing contest, international food and more meant there was something there for everyone.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing what鈥檚 happening with this festival,鈥� Dubas said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 more and more interest and more people that have immigrated to Canada, and get it now. They understand what the festival is all about. And they want to showcase and share their culture and their heritage.鈥�
Dubas estimates that around 35 to 40 countries were represented at the event through booths, cars, performances, consulates, food and spectators.
鈥淭he food was extraordinary this year,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just your carnival food, it was original ethnic food, and it was very well received. That鈥檚 the multicultural experience that we talk about.鈥�
Marva Vital is one of 180 volunteers at the event. She was working at the food tent from Trinidad, handing out their traditional dish of roti. Made with a wheat flour flatbread, and the choice of either curry chicken, regular chicken or vegetables, the meal proved very popular over the weekend.
Vital immigrated to British Columbia from Trinidad in 1979, and is now living here with three of her four children. She says it鈥檚 important to operate a food stand from her country to help introduce different ethnic dishes to 91原创.
鈥淚n Canada you buy hamburgers, but in Trinidad you buy roti,鈥� she said.
Dubas says that multicultural outlets are a growing need in communities.
鈥淚 believe with everything in my heart that people are wanting this now,鈥漵he said.
鈥淭hey want this kind of family community event whereby they can come together and showcase their culture and make friends and be respected.鈥�
