Massey students showcase diversity at Culturama

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This article was published 04/06/2024 (476 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Vincent Massey High School celebrated the cultural diversity of its students during Culturama on Monday.

Planning committee head Eleni Tellidis said the two-day event, which continues today, offers a unique opportunity for the school community to unite and embrace their collective heritage.

“Culturama holds a special place in our hearts, and we are thrilled to bring it back this year,” Tellidis told the Sun. “This event has been happening for many years, but it stopped during COVID-19. We revived it last year, so this is the second year we’ve held it since the pandemic.”

The event has grown significantly since 2006, when it started with four pavilions. Last year, she said, 170 students participated in the pavilions, while this year, the number soared to around 270.

“This increase reflects the heightened enthusiasm among students and the dedication of the teachers who support them,” Tellidis said. “This year, we have 14 pavilions representing 30 countries, though there are more cultures at our school that aren’t represented today. The event allows students to showcase their culture, teach others about their heritage and increase awareness about the diversity within our school.”

The extended lunch hour during Monday’s event, she said, allowed everyone to engage with the celebrations fully, adding students and staff sampled cuisine from various countries, watched cultural dances and songs, admired traditional outfits and explored intriguing displays.

The performances were a highlight, featuring a range of talents. One notable act was by Demi Clearsky-Meches, who performed a jingle dress dance with the First Nation group.

She said the dance originated from Fish Bay, Ont., and has a deep history.

“The jingle dress dance promotes unity and has a powerful story behind it, involving designs that represent different tribes,” she said.

“It felt great to showcase my style of dance and share it with everyone. It’s a nice feeling to dance for others and be part of this event.”

Dabirichukwu Chukwuado led the Nigerian students in a fashion walk showcasing tribal outfits, followed by a dance blending Nigerian cultural music and hip-hop.

“For me, it’s a big deal to showcase where I’m from, especially since I’m not in Nigeria right now,” Chukwuado told the Sun. “We’ve been practising since the beginning of January to prepare for this and it’s fun to display that today.”

Tellidis said the event’s success is largely due to the tremendous effort of dedicated volunteers, including more than 30 teachers and staff, and the student council among others.

“Culturama is self-funded, aiming to break even with food and ticket sales to support next year’s event,” she said. “Some local restaurants also contributed by providing food at discounted prices or donating their space for cooking.”

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