Canada is a country that is blessed with a plethora of cultures that broaden our experiences and deepen our understanding of others from around the world and within our country. In Burlington, there are many cultural activities and events occurring that we hear very little about. This column is being written to help promote these numerous opportunities and encourage participation to embrace our community’s wealth of diversity.

This month’s feature organization is One Burlington. One Burlington’s mission is dedicated to creating and facilitating opportunities for people of different backgrounds to come together in a cordial and peaceful manner, in order to learn about and experience aspects of each other’s faith and culture. They believe a diverse, integrated Burlington is a stronger, kinder, and more interesting community to live in.

The organization loves the unity that flows from embracing the multi-faith and multicultural reality of Burlington. They believe the contributions of our diverse cultural, community, environmental, faith, and service groups continually strengthen Burlington, making it an exceptional place to live, and are a foundational part of the prosperity enjoyed in our area.

One Burlington’s outreach is done through free community events. They started in 2018 with a summer fair and expanded annually with musical presentations. In 2021, they have gone online to keep sharing.

For fall 2021, they have the following presentations for you to enjoy:

  • Appreciating Indigenous Heritage video; in honour of Indigenous heritage, this video was screened during Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and is available now for you to see on YouTube at https://youtu.be/hEbhypMWElg. Come learn about Indigenous culture in our community.
  • On October 16, they presented their main multicultural event with a variety of area musicians and performers through a Zoom session. Faith representatives shared the meanings of inclusion and togetherness, while performances included the Enchorus Children’s Choir, Sikh Youth Dancing, Caribbean Pan Drummers, classical pianist Renée Huynh, the Don Ko Daiko Drummers, Ukrainian Bandura music, the GuZheng Chinese Zither Group, Filipino Tinikling Pole Dancers, plus Chris McKhool and the Sultans of String.
  • On October 27, a Zoom seminar about Islamic heritage, featuring adherents and educators, is being offered. Register to participate at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtfu6hpjouGdV8_c2HPSfPoJX08S0UoUnX   If the link does not work, please email:  OneBurlingtonEvents@gmail.com 
    Presenters at the Islamic heritage seminar include:
    • Dr. Brian Carwana – Director, Encounter World Religions Centre, Guelph
    • Dr. Todd Lawson – Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto
    • Hanadi Al-Masri – Halton Multicultural Council
    • Imam A. Q. Mufti – Interfaith Council of Halton
    • Jewel Amoah – Halton District School Board
    • Sita Jayaraman – Halton Catholic District School Board

One Burlington envisions our city and region growing beyond a place of mutual awareness and tolerance to a place of mutual respect and understanding, leading to shared goodwill amongst the residents of our diverse community, and to unity in diversity.

Local-news.ca would love to post information about your Burlington cultural organization. You can post your events that are open to our community on our calendar by emailing events@local-news.ca. Or submit an article directly to our editor for review at articles@local-news.ca. If you would like us to write your article, email us at contact@local-news.ca.