When the first settlers arrived on the Island hundreds of years ago, they were greeted by the Mi’kmaq who shared with them their food, clothing and knowledge of living off the land, says Craig Mackie.
Mackie, the executive director of the P.E.I. Association for Newcomers to Canada (PEIANC), said that tradition of compassion continued on Sunday with thousands gathering to share their cultural backgrounds during the DiverseCity Multicultural Street Festival in downtown Charlottetown.
Mackie said it’s important to continue showing today’s newcomers the same type of respect.
It’s all about looking after each other, he said.
“That’s the kind of respect we want to keep going,” he told a crowd that filled much of downtown Queen Street on Sunday. “It’s about sharing the best of each other’s cultures, languages and ways of living.”
That was the aim of the DiverseCity Multicultural Street Festival, which kicked off its 12th year Sunday with the first of three summer events.
Mackie said the free, family-friendly festival celebrates diversity, inclusion and retention across P.E.I. and has become a “very special day” in the Island’s calendar.
Vendors lined up along lower Queen Street where festival-goers were introduced to international cuisine, crafts and cultural displays.
The Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society once again took part in the street festival as a way for Islanders and visitors alike to meet P.E.I.’s monks.
Venerable Dan said when the monks first came to P.E.I. close to a decade ago, they spent the first several years keeping a low profile.
However, they soon learned that practice wouldn't work well on the Island.
“One of our Island friends told us that you’ve got to make yourself available, that the more people know about you, the less they will bug you,” he said with a laugh. “Everyone was curious to see us on the Island, they hadn’t seen monks before.”
With this in mind, the monks began holding open houses and participating in events like DiverseCity about five years ago as a way to let people know who they are.
Sharma Ameya, who is originally from India but immigrated to the Island last year, spent Sunday volunteering with a City of Charlottetown booth at the festival promoting energy conservation.
He said he was impressed by the festival and that he felt it’s important to celebrate diversity, noting the Island’s multiculturalism was one reason he chose to move to P.E.I.
“(I’ve come to) feel at home. It’s incredible. I chose P.E.I. because I like the culture more than tall buildings. I love the people. It’s a small town with big hearts.”
The next two DiverseCity events will take place in Montague on July 15 and in Alberton for the first time on July 22.
