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(Posted 11 a.m., June 24)
Packed house soaks up Orléans multicultural festival
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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 A member
of the Afro-Caribbean Dancers from Ottawa performs during the Orléans Multicultural Festival on Sunday. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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Members of the east end’s multicultural
community packed the Orléans Theatre on Sunday to take in the second annual Orléans Multicultural Festival.
The standing room only crowd was treated to a performance
by the Afro-Caribbean Dancers; a modern contemporary East Indian dance by eight-year-old Chelsea Sudama from Trinidad-Tobago;
and the homegrown sounds of Alex Lacasse and Kira Isabella from Orléans.
After all the singing and dancing the audience was invited to sample a variety of foods at an International Food Fair.
The festival was organized by the Multicultural Association of Orléans which was formed by Orléans Ward Coun. Bob Monette
after he was first elected to council a little over a year ago.
“I feel like a proud father,” said Monette. “Look at this. It’s wonderful. The theatre seats about 250 people and it’s full.”
Among the various dignitaries present were Ottawa-Orléans MP Royal Galipeau and MPP Phil McNeely who saluted the the east end’s multicultural community.
“This festival celebrates our diversity. Regardless of our languages or our customs we all love this country and we all want
the best for our families,” said McNeely, before pointing out some of the areas where the provincial government is trying to improve the situation for new Canadians in Ontario.
Multicultural Association of Orléans chair Qamar Masood was understandably thrilled with the Sunday’s turnout and promised bigger and better things to come.
The organization is already planning a community picnic on Petrie Island in mid-August and they are working on a Trillium Foundation grant application to fund
a one stop kiosk for residents from the multicultural community.
“We’re touching a nerve in the community. There’s a growing need for these types of things as the community grows. The multicultural community is extremely
large in Orléans especially in Avalon,” says Masood.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local
business partners.)
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