Now in its fifth year, Culture Fest shows no sign of slowing in popularity.
Kristina Kindree, president of the Cochrane Immigrant Services Committee (CISC), says the event continues to get bigger and better each year. She says moving it to the larger SLS Centre was the right decision. Over 1,000 people visited displays from 25 cultures in the sports court and enjoyed 14 performances.
“The venue accommodated a lot of people. We had over 1,000 people through today. This really showcased how strong and how diverse Cochrane is. Seeing everyone come out, enjoy each other, connect with each other, share stories, food and culture, and learn a few things from each other.”
Food samples have been part of the experience from day one, and each year participating cultures continue to raise the bar, to the delight of the crowds.
It’s an event local MLA Peter Guthrie and his wife, Tracey, mark on their calendar as a must-attend. He says it’s all about community and a chance to catch up with friends at Cochrane Immigrant Services.
“They’re a very warm, loving people. It’s so fun watching how this event has grown over the years. It’s so positive in this room,” he said. “This is about having fun, learning from each other, learning about different cultures, enjoying the performances, and the kids are having a riot in here. That’s what it’s about; it’s about community.”
He says Culture Fest has gained a huge following, and some people bring their families from over an hour outside the community to enjoy it.
Alberta Multiculturalism Minister Muhammad Yaseen has attended the event each year and praises how it continues to grow.
“So many different cultures, people of different faiths, all together in this amazing sense of community called multiculturalism. I’m so thankful to everybody who participates in this, and especially those who organize this every year.”
The list of participating cultures stretches across the globe, including Syria, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Finland, Ukraine, England, the Netherlands, Mexico, Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa, and two First Nations.
