~ ALICE &
Friends Circle™
representing Romania at BC Multicultural Week 2025 ~
ALICE & Friends Circle™, has been invited by Culture Chats BC Association to represent Romania at their annual multicultural arts event – occasion which marks the opening of the BC Multiculturalism Week in our province.
Although, officially we are not a performing group or a band,
our cultural delegation was more than ready to take on the challenge.
our cultural delegation was more than ready to take on the challenge.
Our presentation at this event began in a literary
manner, with Circle's message for the ongoing BC Multicultural Week 2025.
In addition, we brought with us several well-established highlights featuring
our old culture – an authentic Romanian song (delivered live by a very talented
Romanian youth), we exemplified few beautiful folk costumes of our country (few
ladies of our cultural delegation were wearing complete traditional outfits),
we brought a little bit of spirituality with us (the present icon is
attesting ‘par excellence’ that aspect, Romania being a predominately Christian
country), as well as a safe amount of national pride (graciously
gathered under the Romanian flag).
At the end of our demonstration on stage, in the closing remarks of my brief speech, I emphasized that in less than 2 weeks, on December 1st, we will celebrate Romania’s National Day, and I was glad to be able to invite the audience to reach out to us if they wish to learn more about our country, about our customs, about our history and about our lasting existence.
At the end of our demonstration on stage, in the closing remarks of my brief speech, I emphasized that in less than 2 weeks, on December 1st, we will celebrate Romania’s National Day, and I was glad to be able to invite the audience to reach out to us if they wish to learn more about our country, about our customs, about our history and about our lasting existence.
I enjoyed very much working with Asmita Lawrence (the founding director
of this Association) and Craita Isbasescu (a member of their board of
directors, of a Romanian descendent).
For
our Circle, this type of participation goes under the category of Community
engagements.
Participating
at this event, for me it was interesting to see how the worlds of literature, culture and human experiences could nicely converge.
Key note speakers, singers, dancers, writers, thinkers, crafters, storytellers
came together, talking about their passions, about their lives, about their
hopes and dreams, all together illuminating the intricate tapestry of our
multicultural society and the interplay between the personal vision and the collective
identity.
Without any doubt (for me personally), it was a very interesting
experience, where these many arts could become both a mirror and a window, reflecting
our world while offering vistas into the lives, struggles and triumphs of those
who shape it.
Also,
while at this page, I would like to emphasize a bit the significance of BC Multiculturalism
Week in our province.
Every year, BC proclaims the third week of November as the
Multiculturalism Week, in order to celebrate the province’s multicultural
communities, their contributions, and the way diversity strengthens BC’s
society. The celebration underscores values of inclusion, equity and respect,
promoting a society free from racism, where all residents have equal
opportunities to participate in community life.
BC is Canada’s most ethnically diverse
province, home to more than 200 First Nations, Métis, Inuit & urban
Indigenous communities, alongside residents originating from over 200 countries.
Each year, the province also welcomes more than 40,000 new immigrants,
highlighting the ongoing enrichment of its multicultural fabric.
From a historical perspective, BC Multicultural Week
is guided by the British Columbia Multiculturalism Act (1993),
which aims to enhance cross-cultural understanding and ensure that public
policies, services and programs are sensitive and responsive to the
multicultural reality of the province.
Ministries and organizations report annually on their efforts to uphold multicultural principles, ensuring alignment with the values of respect, inclusion and equity.
Ministries and organizations report annually on their efforts to uphold multicultural principles, ensuring alignment with the values of respect, inclusion and equity.
Different individuals, schools, workplaces and community
groups usually participate by hosting cultural displays, performances,
educational activities and storytelling events. Social media campaigns such as #BCMulticulturalismWeek
encourage residents to share stories and support inclusion throughout the
province. Clearly, BC Multicultural Week 2025 is an opportunity for
all British Columbians to celebrate diversity, learn about different cultures
and acknowledge the contributions of multicultural communities to the
province’s social and cultural development.
Wrapping up my briefing here, as we all journey through the
week ahead of us, I invite you to be reminded that each member of our society contributes
a unique perspective, drawing from diverse backgrounds, experiences and
traditions, while creating a rich mosaic of narratives that speak to both the
universal and the particular. Through these lenses, we not only examine the
mechanics of arts, but we also uncover the rich socio-cultural currents that
act as a catalyst for dialogue, empathy and understanding, bridging temporal
and social boundaries.
Sincerely,
Alice
Sincerely,
Alice
"No culture
can live, if it attempts to be exclusive."
(Mahatma
Gandhi)
● Here is the message received from the organizer
● Stay tuned....more photos will come...
