Lively Canada Day activities for old, new Canadians alike

Sporting arena to be new feature of Multicultural Canada Day Festival following Canada Day Parade

While tossing back some Russian perogies or chomping on a jerk chicken leg, visitors to the Multicultural Canada Day Festival at Del Crary Park will get to take in demonstrations of Japanese short sword or the Brazilian martial art capoeira.

A sporting arena at the foot of the park stage is a new addition to this year’s annual tradition, organized each year by the New Canadians Centre. Each year the group brings together international food and craft vendors and stage performers from around the world to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Peterborough and Canada.

The new sporting element will also feature Taoist taichi, socacize, karate and jiujitsu and will run 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“People will get an opportu- nity to experience all those different sports, which really gives a taste of what’s happening in Peterborough,” said Anne Elliott, community co-ordinator for the New Canadians Centre.

The 15 food vendors will remain the festival’s top attraction as people can dine on a variety of international food. The free festival typically draws 8,000 to 10,000 people, Elliott said.

There will be opportunity to try foods from Thailand, Russia, Bangladesh, the Caribbean, Greece and Mexico. The New Canadians Centre Barbecue will also be on hand for those who prefer hamburgers and hotdogs. There’s a charge for food items.

Visitors to the park are encouraged to bring their own dishes and cutlery in an effort to green-up the event.

“Everybody loves food and everybody has their own traditional food cultures that they bring to Canada,” Elliott said. “Canada Day, if you’re in Peterborough, is also an opportunity to experience some foods that you maybe haven’t tried before.”

This year will also feature a new raffle called Around the World in 20 Dinners, which offers the opportunity to win 20 gift certificates for international food vendors and restaurants in Peterborough. It’s worth $400.

The festival has always been a great fit with the mission of the New Canadians Centre, Elliott said.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for people who have come to Peterborough from all over the world to share their culture and to celebrate their culture and to also celebrate being Canadian, which is so i mportant for anybody that is an immigrant to this country,” Elliott said.

“They really want to have that opportunity to share and be part of what is happening on Canada Day.”

Another new element to this year’s festival will be bilingualism. Working with the Francophone I mmigration Support Network, this year’s festival will feature bilingual signage, press releases and emceeing.

The multicultural stage show will run from 1 to 3 p.m. A wide range of performances will be showcased, including Indian dance, the Wshkiigomang Singers, the Peterborough Ukulele Club for Kids and Highland dancing. The popular mock citizenship test will be on hand for everyone to try out, and new activities have been set up to test visitors’ knowledge of provincial symbols, flowers and animals. Children can enjoy face-painting, henna tattoos and field games at the kids’ zone.

Canada Day parade festivities will kick off at City Hall at 10:30 a.m. with a pre-parade concert featuring local musicians Kristian Paschalis, winner of the 2012 Snofest Idol, and Earl Wilfong. Preparade activities also include face painting, a giant Canadian birthday cake and a decorated bicycle contest.

The parade will begin at noon and make its way down George St. to Morrow Park and will feature about 50 entries including a 75-foot dragon, which consists of a giant papier-mâché head and long, 20-person body, courtesy of the local Taoist Tai Chi group.

This year’s parade theme is Acclaiming Young Canada.

“We’re trying to target youth,” organizer Terri-Lynn Johnston said.

NOTE: In recognition of Canada Day, the New Canadians Centre will be selling limited addition “I’d rather be in Peterborough” T-shirts in red and white colours. The shirts are $15 and can be purchased at the NCC’s Sherbrooke St. office or at Del Crary Park July 1. Proceeds go to the organization’s programing.