The Town of Preeceville hosted a cultural day with many community members showcasing the many cultures in and around the community.
The event was held on September 27 when students from the Preeceville School and the public were all invited to participate.
“The event involved many different cultures showcased in a mini folk festival setting and was a huge success" said Andrea Tonn, Town of Preeceville recreation director. "It was a great way to find out about the different cultures that we have and have had in our community.”
There were many cultural and art displays which were enhanced by a variety of entertainment, Tonn said. There were items available for sale during the lunch and supper hours. The event was free of charge for participants to take advantage and experience the many cultures.
The Irish table featured displays that centred on the country, traditions and culture and traditional Irish stew was served with soda bread and a slice of orange or chocolate Guinness cake. Miles and Anna Russell with some local volunteers manned the table.
The Preeceville Heritage Museum hosted a taco-in-a- bag lunch and supper and provided artifacts on Ukrainian culture.
The Preeceville Figure Skating Club hosted a perogy and sausage lunch and supper.
The Scandinavian culture featured displays and books.
The Aboriginal culture was showcased through storytelling and traditional dance with Robert Severight and his grandsons, Treaune and Demarion Severight of the Cote First Nations. There were samples of bannock and homemade jams and jellies to try. Delma and Val Seaton made the bannock for sampling. Aboriginal singing, dancing and drum playing were demonstrated.
Hein Bertram represented the South African culture with food samples.
The Crossroads Credit Union sponsored the Easter egg demonstration with Doreen Bochnuik, Crossroads representative as she demonstrated how to decorate Easter eggs in the traditional Ukrainian culture. Bochnuik was accompanied by other Crossroads Credit Union members. School students and adults enjoyed trying their hand at decorating eggs.
The East Indian representatives displayed many items from their culture.
John and Leona Carlson represented the Norwegian culture through costumes and informational articles.
Filipino food was made available for lunch.
There were numerous interactive workshops that featured instructions on how to make perogies, Filipino spring rolls, bannock, quilting, beading and decorating Ukrainian Easter eggs.
Children enjoyed the opportunity to paint a Halloween wooden sign that they took home after decorating.
The Filipino Sari-Sari store featured a variety of Asian food for sale.
Other cultures represented by sign boards were: Metis, German, Scottish, Chinese, Dutch, Danish. Mennonite and Hungarian.
Chance Anaka had some of his art work displayed on the walls.
Entertainment was provided by Aboriginal singing, drumming and dancing and Gagandeep Kaur was joined by her husband, Shamsher Singh, Tamara Bansal, Jiwanjot Kaur, Navjot Kaur, Stacey Strykowski, Mandeep Kaur, Sukhpreet Kaur and Gurjit Sidhu when they gave a demonstration in India Bhangra dancing.
Pina and Butch Pinaroc performed a Filipino ballroom dance, sang and also participated in the multi-culture fashion show. Studio Dance One dancers also performed.
Heather Gawrelitza explained the different Ukrainian dance costumes worn by dancers Lyndon Gawrelitza, Kaileb Federuik, Maycee Johnson, Shaylyn Karcha, Sierra Karcha, Layne Englot and Allyssa Mirva.
A multi-culture fashion show was held that displayed many different culture costumes.
Culture days raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their community, said information from organizers. With the support of volunteer groups cultural days take place in hundreds of cities and towns throughout the country over the last weekend of September each year.
