Through this coming weekend, Kamloops Immigrant Services (KIS) is celebrating Welcoming Week by showcasing the programs and services offered to newcomers in the Thompson-Nicola Region and sharing testimonials of newcomers about their welcoming experiences.
During this celebration, KIS will co-host the annual Dearborn Ford Tapestry Festival in McDonald Park in North Kamloops on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The multicultural celebration, organized by Kamloops Immigrant Services in partnership with the North Shore Business Improvement Association, is in its second year and promises to be fun, welcoming, inclusive and entertaining.
“Events like Tapestry play an important role in fostering cultural awareness and, consequently, we hope it helps reduce racism and discrimination in our community,” said Paolo Bigit, diversity outreach coordinator at Kamloops Immigrant Services. “Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy culinary delights, musical performances, dances, displays, historical insights and art representing our vibrant city’s essence.”
KIS executive director France Lamontagne said events like Welcoming Week and the Tapestry Festival celebrate the vibrant tapestry of the community’s diversity.
“In a world that sometimes feels divided, Welcoming Week is a powerful reminder that we are at our best when we come together, embrace our differences, and build bridges of understanding,” Lamontagne said.
The Tapestry Festival features a cultural foodies pavilion, a multicultural neighbourhood, art exhibits, music, dance and more.
