CORNWALL, Ontario – On Sunday, Aug. 12, Lamoureux Park showcased languages, traditional dances, foods and flags of various places during the city’s first ever Culture Festival.
“It’s a culture program with a lot of dancing…singing of different regions; everything,” said Shoaib Sadiq, an event organizer. “The basic message is ‘together is better’. This society mixed together is a good thing for each of us.”
The event ran from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mayor O’Shaughnessy and local M.P.P. Jim McDonell spoke during the opening ceremonies at noon.
“It’s important,” said McDonell. “The region is changing. Communities are all about other communities getting together.”
McDonell said the event reflects what local officials are encouraging for the area, and he commended the event organizers for making the festival possible.
The event was organized by Sadiq, Monika Spolia and Mohammed Naeem Talat. This year, it celebrated people from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Sadiq had been hoping to host a cultural festival for some time, and finally decided to make his hopes reality. He was expecting friends and family members from Ottawa and Montreal to attend the event.
“It’s a sunny day, you sit at home,” said Sadiq. “Why not sit in a park?”
