Abbotsford has been celebrating its diversity with a new event series that highlights our community’s rich multiculturalism.
The Culture City: Program Series features free, interactive, family-friendly arts and culture programming and events where attendees can learn all about Abbotsford’s diverse cultures and communities. The series launched with a feature partnership on June 9 with Selxwí:chel Arts and Culture Day (formerly Aboriginal Arts and Culture Day) at Trethewey House Heritage Site, and since then a number of events have been held related to visual arts, crafts, music, dance and writing.
The most recent series partnership was with Archway and United Way for the Taste Around the World event at Jubilee Park on Saturday, Aug. 24. While previous events showcased cultures through the arts, Taste Around the World showcased cultures through food. Attendees got a literal taste of Abbotsford’s diversity by enjoying international cuisine and learning about the dishes’ cultural significance. Mayor Siemens spoke at the event and later sampled some of the cooking, as did Councillors Gibson and Ross. Even more events are scheduled to take place throughout September and October.
The Culture City programs fulfill many objectives of City Council’s Culture Connect culture strategy by making use of a variety of locations to connect people with culture and their community, by embracing Abbotsford’s cultural diversity, by cultivating welcoming environments where all people and backgrounds are represented, and by increasing the visibility of culture in Abbotsford and all it has to offer.
Abbotsford City Council views diversity as one of our community’s greatest strengths. When we took office, we were mindful of the significance of our community’s diverse makeup and how it influences and guides our decision making. Did you know that 23 per cent of our residents are of South Asian descent, 27.6 per cent are immigrants, 33.7 per cent are visible minorities and 38.2 per cent know a non-official language?
The events and programming offered through the Culture City: Program Series not only bring us together to enjoy art, food and community, they also nurture cross-cultural understanding and promote unity. We encourage everyone to check out these programs and experience all that the diverse cultures in our city have to offer.
Abbotsford City Council