Brandon celebrates Canadian Multiculturalism Day

Residents from across the community gathered at Brandon City Hall and the Westman Immigrant Services Multicultural Centre on Saturday to celebrate Canadian Multiculturalism Day.

The event showcased the rich cultural diversity that continues to shape the city.

Dressed in colourful traditional attire, representatives from numerous cultural and ethnic communities living in Brandon filled city hall with music, dance and celebration during the morning ceremony.

The festivities later moved to the WIS Multicultural Centre, where families enjoyed free food, storytelling, cultural displays and interactive activities throughout the afternoon.

Westman Multicultural Festival chair Enver Naidoo said the event, which was organized by WIS in partnership with the Westman Multicultural Festival and several community groups, marked the first Canadian Multiculturalism Day celebration of this scale in Brandon.

“This is a nationally designated day, and here in Brandon, we recognized an opportunity to celebrate together as a community,” Naidoo told the Sun.

Naidoo said the celebration was designed not only to bring together various ethnocultural groups, but also to bridge connections between newcomers and long-time residents.

“It’s an opportunity to connect people and celebrate together in the community,” he said.

More than 100 people attended the opening ceremonies at city hall, which featured greetings from elected officials and performances by cultural groups. A youth choir performing the Canadian national anthem was among the highlights of the morning program.

The afternoon festivities at the Westman Multicultural Centre offered opportunities for community members to connect through food, dance, language and family-friendly activities.

Addressing attendees, Naidoo said diversity and inclusion are important to the community.

“The traditions we celebrate and the friendships we form enrich our community, strengthen our sense of belonging and remind us that diversity is one of our biggest strengths,” he said. “Together, we can build stronger communities and a brighter future for this generation and the next.”

Manitoba Métis Federation Southwest region vice-president Will Goodon praised the role of Westman Immigrant Services in fostering cultural understanding across the region.

“What makes Canada great is that we can all come together and celebrate each other,” Goodon said. “That’s how we build strong communities — when we know each other, we’re neighbours, we’re friends and we’re family.”

Spruce Woods MLA Colleen Robbins said Brandon’s multicultural spirit continues to set an example by embracing different cultures through music, food and shared experiences.

Messages of support were also delivered on behalf of Brandon West MLA Wayne Balcaen, who was unable to attend due to family commitments.

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett highlighted the importance of preserving languages, traditions and cultural identities while building an inclusive community.

“We want to create the best opportunities for people to be who they are,” Fawcett said. “It’s a better community for all of us when people continue to share their culture and traditions.”

Naidoo thanked sponsors, community organizations and volunteers for supporting the inaugural large-scale celebration and expressed hope that even larger multicultural events will take place in Brandon in the years ahead.

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