The Kincardine Multicultural Festival was founded in 2003 by Dr. Chandra S Tripathi, with a vision of fostering respect and acceptance of all cultures. The first celebration was organized at Huron Heights Public school, Kincardine and attracted 200 attendees celebrating a variety of cultures. With the support of Bruce Power, local schools, and the community it has grown to represent over 35 different cultures, engaging more than 10-15% of our citizens as either organizers or attendees. This annual celebration unites families and friends of all ages and promotes dialogue between participants growing beyond the experience of dance, music, art, and food. Over the years many have supported this event, some of the noticeable ones are Mary Senese, Watson Morris, Virat Tripathi, Steven Travale, Eliza Boumba, and representatives from India (Abhilasha Tripathi, Mamata Patel), Argentina (Nestor Contartese), China, Philippine, and Italy. These five countries are continuously representing and sharing their culture since its inception in 2003. This festival continues to strengthen its communities by fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion.

The 16th annual Multicultural Evening was a grand success! On Tuesday, May 15th, 2018, the Davidson Centre Arena in Kincardine was transformed into a multicultural fairground with exhibitors from 30 countries. More than 1500 people from Kincardine and surrounding communities were able to participate in celebrating and embracing differences, broadening horizons and developing empathy & mutual respect for one another. Attendees took the opportunity to engage and learn from each other’s cultures by sampling ethnic delicacies and discovering new traditions. This event offers a unique opportunity and forum to dialogue and promote understanding within the community. It encourages us to remember the importance and benefit of inclusiveness and diversity in various cultures. These interactions strengthen our community & our workplaces. They also foster a sense of belonging and inclusion.

The event was organized by the Kincardine Multicultural Celebration Committee (KMCC) with the support from Bruce Power and local schools. On behalf of the KMCC, I would like to thank all the volunteers, participants and media personnel for their sincere efforts, passion, contributions and valuable time to make this celebration of friendship, fun, food, and festivity, a grand success. Please pass on this message to your family members, friends, and co-workers who also helped to make this event so memorable.

Special thanks to volunteers from Argentina, China, Italy, India, and the Philippines for their continuous support for the last 16 years.

Thank you, merci beaucoup, K’Chi’Migwetch, salamat, gracias, arigato, shiye-shiye, shukria, and Dhanyavad!

I look forward to seeing you all in our 2019 celebration on Tuesday, May 14.

Chandra Tripathi

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