Event celebrates diversity while opposing racism
Family Day Celebration marks 20 years boosting multiculturalism this weekend
Spring Free from Racism’s annual Family Day Celebration reaches a milestone this weekend, with two decades of providing the community an opportunity to come together to share traditions and culture from all different ethnic backgrounds.
Barb Dedi, president of the Saskatchewan Association for Human Rights and Spring Free From Racism started the event 20 years ago, with the idea of having an event similar to Mosaic that was free to the public, so people could attend regardless of their economic status.
“In addition to that, I wanted to recognize in a big way the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is celebrated on March 21. So our event is always around that date,” she said.
According to Dedi, the Family Day Celebration has continued to grow over the years, from beginning with a small event with just over 100 people and just enough entertainment, to non-stop entertainment spanning an entire day.
Brian Sklar has been involved in donating the production equipment for the event for about 15 years. He says the Family Day Celebration is “always a wonderful day.”
“It’s just a good time. There are children of every possible ethnic origin and background playing together and it’s a really good lesson for anyone. Racism is not something you’re born with, it’s something you’re taught, something you learn,” he said.
“And when you watch all these little kids playing together, if the world got along like that, everybody would be better off.”
With racial attacks continuing to take place around the world, Sklar believes there should be more events where everyone can get together and share their culture.
According to Dedi, over the years, baby steps have been made in regards to racial discrimination and harassment, but looking at what’s happening in the world right now, she also believes the world could use more of these kinds of events.
“With the attack on Muslims and some of our other brothers and sisters, these types of events should be held all the time because we can celebrate our diversity and our culture, we can celebrate all the different newcomers we have in Canada and also the people that have been here for many years — but everyone came from somewhere, some time.”
Dedi is encouraging people to come out to the event to see the traditions and backgrounds and taste the food of various different cultures. She says it’s a day of sharing that cannot be experienced anywhere else.
“That day in that room there is no racism,” she said. “If you can socialize and you can understand each other’s culture, then that also decreases the amount of discrimination.”
The annual Family Day Celebration will take place on Sunday, March 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Italian Club. The event will feature hundreds of performers from various different groups, as well as a variety of food and display areas.