Taste of Culture, a multicultural celebration of different traditions, dance, food and more is coming back in late September. (file/Facebook/Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Cultural collage

Taste of Culture returning to the Battlefords

Aug 19, 2021 | 5:56 PM

After a year’s absence, residents in the Battlefords can show their taste a wholly different set of flavours in food, fashion, and more.

A Taste of Culture, a multicultural food, art, and entertainment event, is returning on Sept. 25 after being canceled due to pandemic-related restrictions in 2020. This will be the 12th year of the event, which is hosted by the Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre (BIRC).

Linda Machniak of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce, who’s enjoyed going to the event for years, said it’s evolved from its origins. Originally, Taste of Culture was only designed in a culinary capacity.

“At the beginning, it was tasting different cultural backgrounds of food,” Machniak said. “The last few years, they’ve included dance, singing, and a few different things that have made it a cultural show.”

“It’s always been a real experience to try something different.”

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Annette McGovern, executive director of BIRC, said they make it as inclusive as possible, which includes western cuisine, Chinese food, Indian food, and more. However, they do focus on specialty dishes.

“We have as many cultural foods as we can that can’t be purchased by just going out downtown,” she said.

One of the things McGovern said is most common for people new to an event like this is being surprised at familiarity. Many people, born in Canada and from other countries, don’t realize how similar the cultures are, in everything from clothing and dancing to the food.

“A really good example is fry bread,” McGovern said. “Every culture has it, they just call it something different, tacos, fry bread, naan. They don’t really realize it until they’ve taken a bite.

In addition to trying new things, participants can also strike up conversations with their new neighbours. McGovern said it’s particularly great for immigrant families, who get to wear cultural attire and showcase traditions in a manner they normally don’t do in public. As a result, people connect over similarities.

“They meet a lot of people and it sparks conversations,” McGovern said. “It’s been good for the community to teach people to get along and have mutual respect for each other.”

Because of the pandemic, there are several changes in the format ahead. The event will take place at the Battlefords fairgrounds, in order to space out the patrons. McGovern said they’re hoping to use the grandstands to have headliners outside.

“We’re still going to have the big groups, such as a really cool Metis jigging group out of Manitoba that will be popular here,” she said.

There also may be opportunities to show films and pictures of different cultures.

Prior to A Taste of Culture, a small warmup/fundraiser will take place on Wednesday, with Panamanian dishes available for $20 a plate. McGovern said a local teacher who’s originally from Panama, where her parents own a restaurant, organized the event.

“She’s kind of missing the food there and suggested we make up some dishes and use this as a fundraiser.”

All of the plates will be wrapped and presold. More information can be found by contacting BIRC.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

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