As part of the Multicultural Days of Clare from June 25 to 27, Mohamed and Marielle Duranteau from Wontanara Drum & Dance will present a virtual African dance workshop, followed by a presentation of traditional instruments.
Next Friday will mark the start of the first edition of Les Journées Multiculturelles de Clare.
The festival will celebrate the rich traditions of people living in Clare.
The event is being held by Clare’s Welcoming Francophones Community Initiative.
Coordinator for the initiative, Amy Paradis, says its a three year partnership with Citizenship Canada.
“Part of the mandate is to ensure that all people of Clare have a voice within the community,” says Paradis. “We’re working really hard to make inroads with newcomers who arrive to Clare and to make sure everyone in Clare feels at home.”
The festival will feature a roundtable discussion about Francophone newcomers to the area, a demonstration of traditional African instruments and dancing, a day of food and concerts.
COVID-19 compliant events will be held on the initiatives Facebook page.
Paradis says all weekend there will be sidewalk chalk and a scavenger hunt.
“People who are willing to open up and share their cultures, well it gives them a sense of pride that they can put their cultures and heritage on display for others to learn,” says Paradis. “I think it’s great for people who may not know much about some of these other cultures to get a taste of what these cultures are.”
The event calendar can be found here.
The festival will run from Friday June 25th to Sunday June 27th.
