With Canadian Multiculturalism Day approaching on June 27, the New Canadians Centre is kicking off the third annual Canadian Multicultural Festival in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough in June with the launch of the month-long Multicultural Food Crawl.
First celebrated in 2003, Canadian Multiculturalism Day is dedicated to celebrating the diverse cultures that make up Canada. Over the past year, the New Canadians Centre — which is marking its 45th anniversary this year — supported a record number of more than 2,000 newcomers speaking 76 languages from more than 100 countries, with each newcomer adding to the cultural fabric of the community.
“Celebrating the richness of multiculturalism is at the heart of community-building,” says New Canadians Centre executive director Andy Cragg. “We may be one small organization in one part of a huge country, but in celebrations like these and in the work that the New Canadians does every day, we are on the front lines of building an inclusive and prosperous multicultural society.”
For the Multicultural Food Crawl, the New Canadians Centre has teamed up with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) to highlight international dishes available at 10 restaurants in downtown Peterborough.
The participating restaurants are Ariyana, Bhojan, Cork & Bean, Curry Village, Fresh Dreams, La Mesita Restaurante, Levantine Grill, Milk + Tea Shop, Oasis Mediterranean Grill (OMG), and Village of Thai.
Until June 30, for every $10 you spend at one of the participating restaurants, you will receive a stamp to add to your Multicultural Food Passport. Passports can be picked up at any of the participating restaurants or at the New Canadians Centre’s office at 221 Romaine Street in downtown Peterborough. Collect six stamps and enter a draw to win one of three $100 Boro gift cards that can be redeemed at downtown businesses.
Participating Restaurants – Multicultural Festival Food Crawl
“In Spain, our culture, our unity, and our love starts from the table where we spend hours talking with families and friends while sharing family-style meals,” says Monica Silva, who, with her husband Alvaro De La Guardia, owns participating restaurant Fresh Dreams. “Through my dishes and Fresh Dreams, I want to show the community a part of Europe and my culture.”
As part of the Multicultural Food Crawl, the New Canadians Centre is inviting everyone to attend Flavours of the World Sampling Day on Friday, June 28th during the non-profit organization’s 45th Anniversary Block Party at 221 Romaine Street, where you can taste a sample of dishes from each of the participating restaurants between 2 and 6 p.m., while supplies last.
The New Canadians Centre is encouraging participants to share their love of Peterborough’s international cuisine by voting for their favourite restaurant in the Multicultural Food Crawl at bit.ly/NCC_FoodCrawl. Share your experience during Multicultural Food Crawl by tagging the New Canadians Centre @newcanadianscentre #multiculturalfoodcrawlptbo on Instagram or Facebook, with two posts drawn at random to win a $25 Boro gift card.
In addition to the Multicultural Food Crawl, Flavours of the World Sampling Day, and the New Canadians Centre’s 45th Anniversary Block Party, there are more activities taking place in Peterborough during June’s Canadian Multicultural Festival.
- Wednesday, June 19 – Canadian Multicultural Festival launch featuring a family-friendly Bollywood Dance Party & Marketplace from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Millennium Park (no registration required)
- Thursday, June 20 – “Our Home” World Refugee Day Community Conversation Panel from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Peterborough Public Library (RSVP to secure a spot)
- Saturday, June 22 – Family-friendly Zumba Party from 3 to 5 p.m. at Quaker Foods City Square (no registration required)
- Sunday, June 23 – Jollof Rice Cooking Class from 12 to 3 p.m. at the New Canadians Centre (advance registration required)
- Monday, June 24 – Language Exchange (learn common words and phrases in Arabic, French, Spanish, Hindi) from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the New Canadians Centre (no registration required)
- Tursday, June 25 – “Sip Around the World” Coffee and Tea Tasting from 2 to 4 p.m. at the New Canadians Centre (advance registration required)
For more information about the Canadian Multicultural Festival, including the Multicultural Food Crawl and other events (including those requiring registration or RSVP), visit nccpeterborough.ca/multiculturalfestival/.
