Among Friends
Multicultural Fusion Festival will showcase diversity within Pictou County
Fusion Festival will celebrate Pictou County’s cultural diversity.
Mick O’Neill, one of Canada’s invisible immigrants, is the enthusiastic chair of this year’s Multicultural Fusion Festival.
With his fair skin and the red in his hair he could easily be a Ship Hector descendent, but as he points out, “that only lasts until I open my mouth.”
The warm Irish accent was acquired naturally growing up in Kilkenny, Ireland’s only inland city with a population approaching 30,000. Tourist guide books often recommend a stop there to visit Kilkenny Castle on the edge of the city.
O’Neill came to Canada to study for a masters’ degree in geology at Acadia University in the mid-nineties.
“I didn’t have a real plan, but I was always open to the idea of immigrating. As it happened, I met a girl at school - you know the age old story – and here I am today,” he said.
Coincidentally, O’Neill moved to New Glasgow shortly after the Multicultural Association of Pictou County, which hosts the annual fusion festival, was formed. He was working for a mining exploration company with properties in Moose River and Cochrane Hill so he and his wife, Sally, settled on New Glasgow as the most convenient location to raise their two sons. Since then he has joined the Department of Natural Resources and is supervisor of the province’s core library in Stellarton which aids exploration companies and prospectors.
“When I heard about the association, I knew immediately I wanted to be involved. As an immigrant, you gravitate toward others in the same situation, I suppose, but it was more about meeting people from other parts of the world and knowing they would be interesting.”
Like others before him, O’Neill insists the multicultural association is not a group exclusively for immigrants.
“It is for everyone, for everyone who is interested in diversity and meeting people from different backgrounds.”
He knows some may feel they have little to offer the group, but he is adamant that is not the case.
“If you are a seventh or eighth generation Canadian, if your people came over on the Ship Hector or any time before or after, you’ll be welcome in this association. It is a social group, a group for people to enjoy each other’s company. I know there are interested people who are shy about coming out but they’ll be made welcome.”
The Multicultural Fusion Festival is an annual opportunity for reiterating that message, as well as showcasing the cultures of the association’s members. “It is a big undertaking but I’ve got a great committee that can be counted on to do their part and we always enjoy the day in spite of a few logistical challenges that may come up. In the past we’ve had problems maintaining electrical power to all the vendors, but we’re hopeful that is solved this year.”
This year’s festival takes place at Glasgow Square and will be contained within a roped off area for the first time.
“We rely on donations and grants and in order to get those grants we have to be able to show attendance figures. It is only for that reason that we’re moving to a controlled entry. Fortunately, the Jonny Miles Marathon folks are providing us with barriers and we’ll have a couple of entrances.”
People should understand the barriers have nothing to do with security, he added.
“With recent happenings in the States, you’re forced to think about these issues but this is a social gathering of people sharing cultures. We have no other agenda — no hidden objectives. If a time ever comes that we need security we’ll be finished.”
The festival is free but there will be donation jars at the entrances. The vendor stations will be along the river bank and as usual, there will be a great assortment of food.
“We’ll have a few Indian and Syrian vendors and some Egyptian food and Polish desserts and lots more,” said O’Neill, adding the vendors are being organized by Ranjith Murugesan who, with his wife Kiruthika Sekar, operates a booth at the New Glasgow Farmers’ Market.
Retired music teacher Janet Proudfoot is co-ordinating the entertainment which will include international numbers and selections by a multicultural choir.
There will also be opportunities to buy Iranian carpets, spices, jewelry and a variety of handcrafts.
O’Neill estimates last year’s festival attracted approximately 600 and he is hoping a growing awareness of the association will push the number higher this year. The association’s regular potluck suppers, which are open to everyone, generally attract 80.
For O’Neill the whole gettingto- know- you process has brought him new experiences.
“I’ve actually played cricket. Now, I tried it because I like to hang out with Ajay Shirke, who comes from India and loves cricket, but it’s an Englishman’s game, never an Irishman’s game.”
O’Neill, an outdoorsman, loves Canada’s four seasons and describes the people as “generally laid-back and easy-going.” While he is consumed with plans for the Fusion Festival he’s also planning another party in the back of his mind for a couple of years down the road when he marks 25 years in Canada.
“I think that calls for a party — it’ll be half Canadian beer and half Irish beer. What more do you need for a party?”