The eighth annual Cultural Expressions Festival has brought people with backgrounds from all over the world to Fredericton’s Officers’ Square this weekend.
The two-day event celebrates different cultures from around the world by showcasing their music, dance, traditions and food.
“This is a great time for the people who want to learn about the cultures, who wants to get along and celebrate together,” said Gopi Adhikari, who originally hails from Nepal. “So I’m feeling so proud that I can celebrate with all the people here.”
Adhikari came to Fredericton six years ago as a refugee. He’s been helping with the festival almost every year he’s lived here and says the growth it has seen is tremendous.
“Year by year we’re getting bigger and bigger,” Adhikari said.
Mayor Mike O’Brien helped to kick off the day’s festivities by addressing the crowd and commending residents on welcoming immigrants with open arms.
He says making newcomers feel comfortable in their new surroundings is key to building a better community.
“When the community puts their arms around and embraces all the different ethnic groups and appreciates their culture and their dance and their song and celebrates their food,” O’Brien said. “It just makes the community stronger.”
“Our future for our community looks bright the way we’re becoming more diverse, the way the community is accepting everybody,” O’Brien said.
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