South Okanagan to show off its diversity
One does not have to step foot on a plane to experience cultures from around the world this weekend.
The One World Penticton Festival now in its fifth year comes to the Penticton Lakeside Resort on Saturday featuring representatives from 50 different countries who now live in the South Okanagan.
The event continues to grow and shows just how much cultural diversity exists in Penticton, said organizer Cherry Fernandez, life skills coordinator with South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services.
“It’s a celebration of the diversity of the South Okanagan. Not everyone is aware of just how diverse we are culturally,” Fernandez said.
“It’s fun to learn of other people’s culture and what they do here in this region both for our clients as well as for the broader community.”
The exchange of cultures will have 37 information booths for event goers to learn about different countries, from Denmark to Venezuela, and will have vendors, international cuisine and more.
New food vendors this year include Argentina, Bangladesh, Denmark, Ethiopia, Ecuador, France, Greece, Jamaica, Mozambique, Peru, Romania and Vietnam.
The event not only allows for the exchange of culture, but helps vendors learn the requirements for businesses in Canada.
“Some of (the food vendors) are actually new in Canada, so this is actually for them the first opportunity or first experience to meet, for example, Interior Health requirements,” said Martina Mosny, event coordinator and operations support worker for SOICS. “If they would like to open something in the future like a restaurant. This is also the first experience for them and an opportunity to see how people in Penticton react to their products or their food.”
The event will feature 11 cultural performances and art stations creating throughout the day with Henna tattoo art and Syrian calligraphy to name a few.
The event is a visually striking one when entering the Lakeside Resort.
“When people enter the room it will be very colourful and you will smell all the different food,” Mosny said.
All under one roof, Fernandez added. “That really represents the South Okanagan. We really are quite diverse and it’s growing every year.”
Inter-cultural connections can be very beneficial not only for Canadians learning about the world, but for immigrants to get out of their shell as well.
“They come to events like this with the broader community where thy get the chance to talk to somebody, meet somebody new and then practice their English at the same time,” Fernandez said. “And it’s a safe environment where they can do that.”
Growing every year, the One World festival is now expanding to four ballrooms, donated by the Lakeside Resort. The festival is free to attend and takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lakeside Resort.