North Battleford's Citizenship Ceremony coincides with the annual A Taste of Culture celebration starting in May. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff ) : Angela Brown
Promoting Diversity

A Taste of Culture puts out call for sponsorship

Feb 21, 2019 | 4:53 PM

The Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre (BIRC) is looking for local businesses to step up to sponsor its upcoming A Taste of Culture event.

Now in its twelfth year, the event will feature food booths representing countries from around the world as well as music and dance. The event will run May 31 and June 1 at the Western Development Museum.

“The event is for the different cultures in our community to showcase their heritage, their foods and cultural dress,” BIRC Executive Director Annette McGovern said.

“We are looking for sponsors right now,” she said.

About 15 food booths will be at the event as well as some market tables for other items. Organizers also plan to show some videos highlighting the various cultures for people attending the event to take in.

“We’re trying to get one merchant in who sells spices from India,” McGovern said, adding some vendors from the Philippines will be offering foods that are difficult to find locally.

The event coincides with the Citizenship Ceremony planned for May 31.

McGovern mentioned the Philippines and East Indian populations are the most represented here, among the newcomers to the area. Other groups expected to take part include local Métis, Indigenous peoples, as well as French, German and Hungarian groups, to name a few.

People who wish to have a food booth need to register in advance.

The executive director said the sponsorship support will help cover the cost to put on the event, pay to rent the space and cover fees for entertainment.

She added the event grows each year with over 5,500 people attending in 2018.

“I think it’s really important,” she said. “It brings people together, and creates a common understanding of culture, and where people are coming from. It seems like it unites the community a little bit more each year.”

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

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