New cultures take center stage at the Timmins Multicultural Festival

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced organizers to take a break and start from scratch this year. The co-president of the Multicultural Society of Timmins, Marnie Lapierre, is happy to be reunited with the community.

It’s a great experience to be able to bring all these cultural communities together again to celebrateshe says with a smile on her face.

Several countries were represented for the first time, including Nepal, Japan and Cameroon. Cameroonian Simone Amagnanoua was excited to be able to introduce her culture and that of Africa to Timminois.

There are fifteen countries [africains] represented and each of them has its specificitiesshe says.

Each booth allowed visitors to learn more about traditional attire and art, and sample typical meals from each culture. For several newcomers, like the Nepalese Shraeyn Gautman, it was a first opportunity to get to know each other.

There were not many Nepalese at the start of the pandemic. New families moved here recently, so we decided to have a booth to share our cultureshe explains.

50 years for the festival

The festival has taken many forms during its existence. According to Ms. Lapierre, the festivities have grown since their inception.

It has become much broader in terms of multicultural representation. We have 14 booths and 32 countries are represented in the paradeshares the organizer.

When it first started in the 1970s, the festival was very much about new Canadian families settling in the area. Ms. Lapierre believes that the advancements made since only add enormously to the profile of the community.

Now that the pandemic is no longer hampering its activities, the Multicultural Society of Timmins will embark on new projects that will bring the many cultural associations in the community to the fore.

We have just formed a new partnership with Northern College to organize activities throughout the year to allow the community and visitors to learn about the cultures of our region.reveals Ms. Lapierre.

Transformation of the cultural scene

According to many, the cultural composition of Timmins has changed during the health crisis. The time spent in confinement has made new residents want to get out and connect with their community.

There are more and more things to learn and explore. We have people who are new to Canada looking to get involved locally and regionally. An event like this is a great opportunity to do so.shares Ms. Lapierre.

According to Ms. Amagnanoua, the festival is also an opportunity to educate Timmins residents about new cultures in their community.

” I think a lot of people are watching us and asking questions. This is the perfect opportunity to approach, ask questions and have their questions answered. It is to see our differences and diversity. »

You must first know yourself and know how to present yourself to others as you are.she continues.

A culinary adventure

Timmineans took full advantage of this first activity in two years to discover new facets of their community and new flavors. According to Shraeyn Gautman, people rediscover the joys of the festival.

My mother presented her creations and there was nothing left! I’m pretty sure there won’t be any food leftshe explains.

Approached before the start of the festivities, Ms. Amagnanoua was eager to finally be able to familiarize herself with all the cultures she has discovered since her arrival.

I intend to visit everything, everything, everything! I like to discover and visit. I don’t wanna miss a single secondshe exclaims.