July 20th, and 21st marks the 14th anniversary of the Mosaïq Multicultural Festival.
Public Relations Officer Justin Ryan, with the Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area, says the growth of the festival mimics the growth within the city itself.
He adds it first started as a small street festival on St. George, then moved to a corner of Victoria Park before growing into other venues, including the front of City Hall.
“Ands then we got too big, even for that, so last year for the first time we went down to Riverfront Park,” says Ryan. “And we were concerned at the time, would we be able to fill such a vast area? And we were astonished with how completely the entire place filled out, with events, and booths and everything else.”
Ryan says the festival is teaching people about the importance of immigration.
“Culture isn’t just something that you watch, culture is something that you do,” states Ryan. “Having the ability to get involved in workshops, and get hands on with activities, and smell the food, and buy the crafts and take it home and have your kids play sports from around the world, and build Chinese lanterns and crafts and things.”
He adds when it comes to the importance of immigration and multiculturalism, you can talk demographics, and statistics, but it’s dry and doesn’t resonate with people.
“Seeing it, being part of it, and looking around and going ‘I had no idea of the scope of it until I was standing in the middle’ is a very different, very visceral, very tangible way to engage people in understanding really what the impact of multiculturalism will become,” says Ryan.
