The Mosaïq Multicultural Festival is more than just a celebration of different cultures, it is a signpost welcoming immigrants to the area.
Public Relations Officer for the Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area Justin Ryan says for immigrants to thrive here, they need to feel welcomed.
“If you turn up as a newcomer, and you’re wondering ‘am I going to hang around this place, am I going to commit my skills and resources, am I going to bring my entire family and stay here?’ and there’s nothing happening that shows you that immigration and multiculturalism is important, what are the chances we’re actually going to retain them or even attract them in the first place?” says Ryan.
He goes on to argue it’s simply not enough to bring immigrants here, we need to make them feel welcome and a part of the community.
“In a lot of ways, for us, Mosaïq acts as a signpost to the newcomer community as a very vibrant, loud, positive signal that this is a place to call home,” says Ryan.
He says with a shrinking workforce, and an aging population, immigration is one part of the solution to that crisis.
But, Ryan says, even those who may not believe in the economic need will likely still attend.
He adds when they walk down to Riverfront Park on July 20th, and 21st, they’ll see “food that they’ve never had before, and dances and cultures, and activities and events.”
Ryan says people’s kids are “growing up with it in a way that [the parents] never did, and they’re starting to realize from their children’s point of view how much more globally aware their kids are, than we ever were in our own generations.”
More details on the Mosaïq Multicultural Festival can be found HERE.
