Unity in Diversity Walk being held Sept. 28 at Chisholm Park

The first ever Unity in Diversity Walk, planned by the Antigonish/guysborough Immigrant Support Program (AGISP), will take place Saturday, Sept. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Chisholm Park in Antigonish.

This event has been organized in collaboration between the Town of Antigonish, Syrian Antigonish Families Embrace (SAFE), Affordable Housing Society, Antigonish/guysborough Community Health Boards, Diversity Management Group and One Sky International.

The objective of the walk is to bring together people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds to celebrate the diversity of this town.

Participants will have the opportunity to hear from Robert Bernard, president and CEO of Diversity Management Group and One Sky International, who will present the keynote address. As well, there will be numerous local speakers, including; Mayor of Antigonish Laurie Boucher, chair of Affordable Housing Society Colleen Cameron, executive director of Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Service Association (AWRC-SASA) Wyanne Sandler, chair for SAFE Lucille Harper, and Catherine Hartling who is a member of Guysborough Community Health Board.

These speakers will cover such topics as the importance of diversity and inclusion, and the role of unity in the progress and wellbeing of our community.

To vivify the celebration, there will be opening and closing ceremonies from our Mi’kmaw community.

We have chosen the theme of ‘unity and diversity’ for our walk because the phrase refers to the state of oneness within the presence of diversity, that the Antigonish community very much reflects. Antigonish is home to First Nations Mi’kmaw, Gaelic, Acadian, African, Dutch and various other communities.

Diversity is important because it creates a healthy society, enriches history, and fosters mutual respect. Diversity makes us citizens of the world within one community.

All people are valuable assets within any given community and this strengthens our diversity.

This walk is meant to enhance the ‘unity in diversity’ of Antigonish and surrounding areas.

Everyone is welcome to participate in this walk, irrespective of age, race, religion, abilities, disabilities, gender, sex or sexual orientation. Everyone is Unique. Everyone is Welcome.

For more information, contact Jubanti Toppo at jubanti@awrcsasa.ca, or 902-318-3985.