[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ebruary marks the month-long celebration of Black History Month and, along with it, the appreciation of cultural diversity. This year, the Office of the Dean of Students’ at Woodsworth College will be collaborating with more than a dozen cultural groups on campus to put on the Woodsworth Multicultural Fair.
The 15 participating groups represent cultures from across the globe, including the Croatian Studies Student Union, the Organization of Latin American Students, the Somali Students’ Association, and the Ukrainian Students’ Club.
The fair will be taking place on February 16 from 4:00–8:00 pm in Woodsworth’s Kruger Hall. Its aim is for attendees to gain a new sense of appreciation for the many different cultures one can encounter at the university and throughout Toronto. Each of the invited groups are preparing traditional food, art, clothes and music in order to enhance this unique opportunity to learn about multiple cultures.
Immediately prior to the fair, a free educational panel on Black History Month will be taking place in Waters’ Lounge. The panel will be hosted by the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office in conjunction with the Woodsworth Dean’s Office.
Fourth-year and Kenyan-born student Aadil Nathani is one of the event’s organizers, and he believes that the event will help further the values of multiculturalism that are already present on campus.
“The Multicultural Fair will hopefully show attendees that all cultures are beautiful,” Nathani says. “There is no need to negatively stereotype or be afraid of cultural infusion. Canada would not be the same without immigrants and without the cultures we have brought with us.”
The event will also have a DJ playing music from around the world, a photo booth, and refreshments. Nathani and the rest of the team at Woodsworth’s Office of the Dean of Students invite all students to take part in this unique celebration of culture.
