Carifest Calgary – Celebrating Our Multicultural Heritage

The Cause

To celebrate Canada’s sesquicentennial year in 2017, and reflect the diverse society and landscape of the greater community. The Caribbean Council of Calgary would like to host a Multicultural Parade featuring non-profit, ethno cultural groups in their national costumes, as part of the Carifest Cultural Parade.We want to showcase the music, dance and celebratory dress of the various cultural communities that call Calgary home.
It's Canada's 150th birthday and instead of having a Caribbean cultural parade like we've done in the past - we want to have a multicultural parade from Olympic Plaza to Shaw Millenium Park.
Showcasing Multiculturalism at is finest, onlookers and participants will enjoy a free spectacle of celebration as a variety of groups descend on downtown Calgary with music trucks, carnival costumes, traditional dress and unite to celebrate our City's diversity.
At the end of the parade route onlookers can enjoy a free live entertainment in the form of live musical and dance performances as well as purchase authentic cultural food and drinks from the various vendors.
In conjunction with our enhanced parade theme and promote this significant aspect of our culture. We'd like to host a Junior Carnival Parade inside Shaw Millennium Park. The Junior Carnival will give the children the opportunity to celebrate Caribbean culture and share it with their community. Participation in the parade is open to all Calgary youth.
Young masqueraders will 'jump up'/dance through the venue in brightly colored costumes. This mini parade (scheduled for 4pm -Caribbean time!), similar to the Carnival on the roadway provides an opportunity for our children to embrace their culture and will be open to all children in attendance. Under the direction of expert costume makers and volunteers, young masqueraders will create their own costumes as part of the kid zone in the park.
The aim of the enhance project is to provide a memorable event for our guests in celebration of Canada 150. And to align with our stated mandate to create vibrancy around our unique and diverse culture. We expect an increased attendance due to a enhanced social media campaign to promote our festival throughout Alberta. We anticipate that patrons will be more engaged as we'll be providing a unique experience in honour of Canada150.

Who Will it Benefit?

The entire Calgarian community will benefit from this multicultural parade of song and dance. The participants who volunteer their time will have the pleasure of displaying the most beautiful aspects of their culture while enjoying the parade route and interacting with onlookers.
Those watching on will learn about the cultures of their neighbours and friends. Calgarian families can enjoy a free activity for the day that is fun for all ages.
Vendors at the park will get to expose their business to a wide variety of clientele but also help in promoting the diverse cultures showcased during the parade.
Entertainers at the free show being held at Shaw Millenium Park enjoy a platform to share their talent and culture with the City while providing family-friendly entertainment for all.