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The 3-6 pm Dec. 31 event at the Suncor Agora in Centennial Park, featuring music, food, family-friendly activities and capping off with fireworks, is a first in Sarnia, said Stephanie Ferrera with the Sarnia-Lambton Immigration Task Force.
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“We wanted to look at how others in the world celebrate these new beginnings,” she said.
There’ll be a slideshow with information about how various cultures around the world ring in the new year on display, an 11-language version of O Canada, international music played by a DJ from the Northern Collegiate MAC (Multicultural Awareness Committee) club, Irish dancers, Spanish dancers who will also be teaching the salsa, a land acknowledgment and drum circle, a cookie decorating activity with Scouts Canada, and various buskers and vendors, Ferrera said.
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Outside of the vendors, everything is free, she said.
“We’ve got so many things going on.”
The theme was somewhat inspired by Sarnia’s traditional Canada Day celebrations in Canatara Park, featuring lots of international food vendors, she said.
“But to a smaller degree.”
Hopes are to grow in the years to come if there’s interest, she said.
The task force that’s been focused on boosting employment opportunities for newcomers, including retaining international students at Lambton College after they graduate to help boost the local population, is also focused on creating more events like this to help people from diverse cultures feel welcome, said task strength chairperson Judith Morris.
“When you can see yourself in a community and when you are celebrated in that community in a variety of ways—and this is certainly a good example—then it makes you feel like you want to be part of that community,” she said. “That’s one of the key elements of what we’re trying to do.”
Ferrera, who is also with the Sarnia-Lambton Immigration Partnership and chairs the task force’s community action group, said part of the festival is recognizing the diversity of celebrations that exist in the community “that maybe aren’t as prominent” yet.
“We’re very excited about this event,” she added.
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