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(Posted 7:30
p.m., Oct. 26)
Festival
and Food Fair celebrates east end's vibrant multicultural community
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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 A
member of the Chinese Arts Troupe performs during the Multicultural Association
of Orleans' 4th Annual Festival and Food Fair on Saturday. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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More than
150 people turned out at the Orléans Client Service Centre on Saturday to
celebrate the east end's diverse multicultural community during the Multicultural
Association of Orléans' 4th Annual Festival and Food Fair.
The ethnic mosaic
that forms Orléans multicultural community was evident among the various
presenters which included a Chinese dance troupe, African drummers, a young
instrumentalist from South Asia, and a trio of hip hop dancers who perform
under the name "All Nations".
Local singers
Alex Lacasse and Kira Isabella also performed during the concert portion
of the festival, while Fallingbrook resident Toni Francis acted as emcee.
There were also
two guest speakers including Olympic gold medalist Glenroy Gilbert who brought
his mother along with him.
"Every time
I'm asked to speak at things like this I always begin by thanking my mother
because she's the one who told me that no matter what I decide to do in
life, to always give it 110 per cent. In my case it was in sports, but for
other people it can be in other areas."
"If you
always give 110 per cent then at least you can say at the end of the day
that you did everything you possibly could," said Gilbert who immigrated
to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago with his mother and four siblings when
he was a young boy.
The other guest
speaker was acting Staff Sargeant Debbie Miller, who was one of the first
black women hired by the Ottawa Police Service in 1994. Her story was almost
identical to that of Glenroy Gilbert.
"It's funny
that Glenroy and I both grew up in the same project in the west end by very
strong mothers. My mother moved here from Jamaica with four children. She
worked full-time and raised her family full-time and she told me from a
very young age that whatever you do, give it 110 per cent," said Miller.
"After high
school I wanted to take a year off, but my older brother would have none
of that so I went straight into university which was the best decision I
made, because after university I joined the Ottawa Police Service, much
to the chagrin of mother who wanted me to go into nursing."
"I joined
the Ottawa Police Service because I wanted to make a difference in my community
and inspire others to follow in my footsteps."
After the formal
portion of the festival, the audience was invited up to the second floor
of the Orléans Client Service Centre to sample some South Asian food and
pizza provided by River Pizza.
The Multicultural
Association of Orléans was formed in 2004 to promote and facilitate the
participation of residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds in the larger
community and intercommunity programs. They
also advocate on matters affecting rights, interests and values that are
consistent with that of the mainstream community.
Last year they
received a pair of grants to run a seniors program which currently has more
than 60 participants. To find out more about the Multicultural Association
of Orléans visit www.mao-amo.ca.
(This story
was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local
business partners.)
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