Canadian Multiculturism Festival

From June 20 to 27, the New Canadians Centre (NCC) will be organizing the first Canadian Multiculturalism Festival in Peterborough. Each year, the NCC supports over 1000 clients hailing from over 100 countries and speaking more than 70 different languages. Each of them brings unique customs, music, dance, food, sports, and stories contributing to a vibrant community.

“Celebrating multiculturalism in Peterborough creates community and helps people to feel like they belong. We are proud to showcase the richness of experience in our community”, says Andy Cragg, Executive Director.

We invite you to join us for a week of programming that tells a story of our multicultural Peterborough through performance, storytelling, film, and food:

Multicultural Food Crawl in partnership with Peterborough DBIA

Taste the flavours of the world at 6 restaurants in downtown Peterborough!

For every $10 you spend between June 20 and July 1, you will receive a stamp in your Multicultural Food Passport. Collect six stamps and enter in a draw to win Boro Gift Cards that you can use downtown!

Pick up your Multicultural Food Passport at the New Canadians Centre or any of the participating restaurants and between June 20 and July 1:

• Curry Mantra
• Levantine Grill
• Hanoi House
• Real Thai Cuisine
• Dirty Burger
• Milk +Tea

“Downtown Peterborough is a culinary hotspot for multicultural cuisine in the region. We are so excited to be partnering with the New Canadians Centre for the Canadian Multiculturalism Festival to acknowledge and celebrate the significant contributions of our international-cuisine and newcomer-owned restaurants and how they have shaped our culinary fabric downtown!”, says Hillary Flood Communications and Marketing Manager of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area.

Flavours of the World Sampling Day

Visit any of our 6 Multicultural Food Crawl restaurant partners and try a sample for free on Saturday June 25 between 12 and 7 pm (while supplies last).

Try It Series 

Try your hand at music, dance, cooking and sports from across the world

• Indian Spices – Tuesday June 21, 1pm at the New Canadians Centre
• Peruvian Flower Making – Tuesday June 21, 5:30pm at the New Canadians Centre
• Taekwondo – Wednesday June 22, 5:30pm at King Edward Park
• Ethiopian Cooking – Thursday June 23, 6pm via Zoom (pick up your ingredient kits at the New Canadians Centre on June 20, 21 or 22)

• Zumba – Friday June 24, 6pm at the Silver Bean Patio (Millennium Park)

Register online at nccpeterborough.ca/multiculturalismfestival to participate!

Cultural Fusions Video Series

We have brought dancers and musicians together to create unique pieces that showcase their craft and culture – watch our social media for the screening of their performances in July!

“The Story Won’t Die + The Magic of Beginnings” in partnership with ReFrame FIlm Festival

The Story Won’t Die (83 minutes, USA, Germany, Denmark, 2021)

Editor: Christopher Robin Bell, David Henry Gerson

A Syrian rapper, tortured by Bashar Al-Assad for his lyrics, uses his music to survive one of our century’s deadliest wars. Together with other creative personalities of the Syrian uprising, a Post-Rock musician, a breakdancer, and visual artists, they tell us their story of revolution and exile in a new documentary reflecting on a global battle for peace, justice and freedom of expression.

The Magic of Beginnings (8 minutes, Canada, 2021)
Director: Shahed Khaito

A local ESL teacher learns Arabic to make the newcomers in her class (including the filmmaker!) feel at home.

Register at nccpeterborough.ca/multiculturalismfestival for a link to view the films online for free between June 20 and 27.

Building A Home Book Reading & Activities 

On Sunday June 26 at 2pm, join author & illustrator Casandra Lee for a reading of her children’s book “Building A Home” followed by some creative art-based activities for children and families.

“Building A Home” takes us on the journeys of six children from Syria, Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Pakistan who are now living, playing, and going to school in Nogojiwanong-Peterborough. The book was commissioned and published by the New Canadians Centre.

Register at nccpeterborough.ca/multiculturalismfestival to participate!

Multiculturalism Panel

On Monday June 27, join us to close our Canadian Multiculturalism Festival event at a panel discussion with Trent Professors Mohmin Rahman and Feyzi Baban and NCC Executive Director Andy Cragg. They will discuss immigration in Canada, local responses to immigration, and perspectives on multiculturalism in Canada and Europe.

Register at nccpeterborough.ca/multiculturalismfestival for the link to the panel discussion.

This “Celebrate Canada” event is sponsored by Canadian Heritage.

The New Canadians Centre (NCC) is a non-profit organization that has been providing services in the Peterborough community since 1979. We empower people who are new to Canada, so they can be recognized as equal and valued members of Canadian society, and we provide leadership to cultivate their meaningful economic, social, and cultural inclusion in our community.

We are located on the Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations.

We are all Treaty people.