Sharing cultures
St. John’s group’s Canada 150 project showcased in 2017 yearbook
With 2017 coming to an end, a special project showcasing Canadians from every province and territory is now available.
“What’s Your Story? A Canada 2017 Yearbook,” published by Cbc/radio-canada, includes more than 150 stories, photographs and experiences from individuals of all cultural backgrounds.
In celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, Sharing Our Cultures put out a call for high school students from all diverse cultures around the province to create a fiveminute video about what Canada means to them.
Samuel Mok, an international student from Hong Kong who attends Waterford Valley High School in St. John’s, described Canada as a treasure in his video.
“The people here are friendly and willing to help others,” Mok said. “My move to Canada has made me understand myself.”
Marwa Askar is from Syria. In her video, she says that when she was in Lebanon she wasn’t allowed to go to school.
“I love Canada because it has given me a chance to get an education,” she said.
Lloydetta Quaicoe, executive director of Sharing Our Cultures in St. John’s, is behind the idea for the organization’s Canada 150 project.
“I wanted to do something that would leave a legacy,” said Quaicoe.
“I wanted to understand how students were really feeling.”
Dozens of students from across the province entered and shared their thoughts on what Canada means to them.
This wasn’t the only project Sharing Our Cultures tackled for Canada 150 — in March, students from Kugluktuk, Nunavut, came to St. John’s for a three-day intercultural event at The Rooms.
Following the event, students from St. John’s had the opportunity to travel to Nunavut to experience the Canadian Arctic.
“We wanted to bring Indigenous youth and newcomer youth together,” said Quaicoe. “We always want to encourage youth to celebrate their cultural heritage and to think about their sense of belonging in Canada.”