For an 11th year, the Whistler Multicultural Society (WMS) is teaming up with the Whistler Museum and Whistler Public Library to put on the event they describe as "for and by locals."
The upcoming Whistler Multicultural Festival is free, family-friendly and organized by immigrants residing in the Sea to Sky corridor. All locals are encouraged to celebrate their own heritage.
"Since 2013, the Multicultural Festival has been the single annual event in Whistler that intentionally brings together immigrant, Indigenous, culturally diverse cultural ambassadors and local community members," says WMS outreach worker Yami Yeung. "With our growing cultural diversity, it is increasingly important that we recognize, value, and celebrate what this diversity brings to our community. It's a true grassroots celebration of the cultural mosaic we live in every day."
The 2021 census revealed 34 per cent of Whistler's permanent population is made up of immigrants, who combine to represent at least 30 distinct cultures. A press release notes the Festival's goal is to validate hardworking newcomers and migrants who play important roles in the local economy.
Continuing partnerships from regional organizations have been critical. The event will be held at the Library, Museum and Library Plaza, with various Whistler businesses providing volunteer appreciation support.
"The Whistler Multicultural Festival is deeply grateful for the generous fundraising support from local businesses and community-minded companies," Yeung says in a release. "Their contributions help cover essential event costs, from supplies and equipment to volunteer appreciation, and ensure the Festival remains free and accessible for everyone.
"Other local sponsors who continue to show their commitment to inclusion, community-building, and cultural celebration in Whistler. If your business is interested in supporting this important event, please reach out—we’d love to partner with you."
'Understanding and open-mindedness'
Festival visitors can expect a myriad of different activities: tai chi, zumba, Peruvian, Ukrainian, Chilean and Filipino dances, a traditional Burundi musical instrument known as an inānga, and Japanese calligraphy. There will also be a game derived from (although presumably less hazardous than) the South Korean dystopian survival thriller Squid Game.
Residents with their own cultural traditions are invited to share them. Yeung and her peers are "keen to hear the stories of all participants, as well as the background and personal importance of the cultural activity or tradition they have chosen to present." WMS staff are available to help folks who might like to join in, but aren't sure how to start.
Members of the Lil'wat and Squamish Nations will be invited too, a measure Yeung says is "incredibly important." She elaborates the Festival is about building relationships and mutual respect among all cultures that call Whistler home, and that a First Nations presence helps ground the proceedings in a shared commitment to reconciliation.
"Over the 10 years of the Whistler Multicultural Festival, we’ve seen the changing face and growing diversity of Whistler’s amazing cultural mosaic," remarks Yeung. "With residents who have moved here from a growing number of countries, not to mention all those local families who have international and multicultural roots, this is an opportunity to build new connections and understanding across our community.
"Experiencing other cultures and traditions encourages understanding and open-mindedness. It has the power to strengthen social cohesion and create a sense of belonging. Sharing culture can be a real empowerment and validation, supporting self-identity and providing an important way to contribute to the wider community. Whether you’ve just arrived or your family has been here for generations, this is your Festival too. We encourage everyone to come out, bring friends, and celebrate the incredible diversity that makes Whistler so unique."
The Festival takes place on June 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. Visit festival.wmsociety.ca for more details.
