Canada’s diversity was on full display on Saturday as Maple Ridge hosted its Multiculturalism Day celebration in Memorial Peace Park.
The day was filled with dancing and singing from many different cultures, but started with speeches from several local dignitaries.
At Maple Ridge Multicultural Day celebrating multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion in our community.
— Bob D'Eith (@BobDEithMRM) June 24, 2023
Thanks to Ridge Meadows Multicultural Society, Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Katzie Local Immigration Partnership and Family Education & Support Centre for hosting the event. pic.twitter.com/Bb21LqHUGa
MP Marc Dalton referenced the country’s recent population milestone and explained that Canada is a country built on diversity.
“Canada just passed 40 million people about two weeks ago, and I remember when it turned 18 million, so there’s a lot of new people,” said Dalton. “Most of that is now immigration, we are a nation of immigrants. We are richer and more vibrant as a nation for this.”
READ MORE: Canada passes 40 million population milestone amid immigration push
Maple Ridge councillors Onyeka Dozie and Ahmed Yousef are both very familiar with the importance of accepting immigrants into this country, having only moved to Canada 22 and 13 years ago, respectively.
“I am one of the people that have benefited from what Canada is,” said Dozie. “Those of us who came to Canada have every opportunity to explore and be what we want to be.”
Yousef agreed with Dozie, explaining that he lived in many different countries before falling in love with Canada.
“It’s humbling to be here, to be in the company of such great individuals and great cultures and people that have built this country to be the great place that it is that attracts people like myself, Dozie, and many of you from all over the world to come here and raise our families and do our best by those Canadian values that have made this country the great place that it is,” said Yousef.
Once the speeches had concluded, mariachi band Los Dorados serenaded the crowd, followed by performances demonstrating Bulgarian, Rajasthan, Arabic, Caribbean, Romanian, Peruvian, and Brazilian cultures.
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