Canadian Multiculturalism Day celebrated at Scarborough Museum

TORONTO, June 27, 2013 /CNW/ - Scarborough Museum and its cultural partners celebrated Canadian Multiculturalism Day today with an evening of music, dance, food, visual art and Scarborough history.

"Toronto is renowned for its cultural diversity and Scarborough is one of its most diverse areas," said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City's Economic Development Committee. "Diversity is the heart of Scarborough's history, and the bedrock on which we are building our future."

"Scarborough Museum - through these events and its ongoing activities - has become known and respected as an inclusive and creative space for new Canadians in the surrounding community and throughout Scarborough," said Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38 Scarborough Centre).

The evening's activities reflected the many diverse cultures of Scarborough's residents. Visitors tasted cultural sweets from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, France, India, Italy, Jamaica and Sri Lanka, among others. Museum youth volunteers showed their style of Bollywood dancing and invited guests to try on a sari while the Scarborough group Sinhá Bahia de Capoeira Canada presented the thrilling Afro-Brazilian art form, Capoeira.

The event also featured two exhibits. FootPrints is a project of the museum's Youth Photography Collective, which is a mentorship program that teaches members to document their community through photography and oral history interviews. The 10 images in the exhibit celebrate Scarborough's natural elements through themes of ecological preservation, nature's cycles and a collective concern for the area's natural heritage.

The second exhibit, Destination Scarborough, presents the oral history of local immigration. Destination Scarborough was launched during the museum's 50^th anniversary last year and it returns to the museum after a year at various locations across the city.

This Celebrate Canada event was supported by a Government of Canada Department of Canadian Heritage grant. Cultural partners included the Scarborough Historical Society and the museum's many volunteers, including Scarborough Fare and the Adult Cultural Council.

Scarborough Museum is one of 10 museums operated by the City of Toronto. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/scarboroughmuseum.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SOURCE: City of Toronto

Media contact: Shane Gerard, Senior Communications Coordinator, 416-397-5711, [email protected]