A weeklong showcase of food, fashion, music and tradition will be presented at York University for the annual cultural celebration organized by the York Federation of Students (YFS).
Multicultural Week, running Jan. 20 to 26, gives students the unique opportunity to experience many of the world’s vibrant cultures that are thriving here on campus and around the globe.
Each year, organizers introduce new events and awards, and encourage all clubs and groups to participate.
For more information on how to participate, or how to be involved in the awards, visit www.yfs.ca.
Here’s a roundup of scheduled events for 2017 YFS Multicultural Week:
Friday, Jan. 20
Soccer World Cup – 9am to 3pm, The Hangar (Downsview Park)
• The goal of the YFS MCW Soccer World Cup tournaments is to bring clubs together for some friendly competition in the spirit of MCW. Participating clubs will have the chance to claim the title of being MCW World Cup Champions. Clubs should demonstrate spirit and sportsmanship with other teams. Apart from playing a good game of soccer, clubs will be judges based on their enthusiasm for the game, respect for other teams and overall spirit during the tournament.
Monday, Jan. 23 to Friday, Jan. 27
Cultural Intersection Visual Art Exhibition – 11:30am to 5:30pm, Samuel J. Zacks Gallery, Stong College
• The exhibit focuses on artistic expressions of culture. Participants are encouraged to share their creative expression of social and political commentary regarding their own unique cultural heritage and/or lived experience in Canada. The exhibition seeks to promote the artistic talents of participants by displaying their work – photography, painting, drawing, print, collage and/or mixed media in a gallery setting.
Monday, Jan. 23
Opening Ceremony – 11:30am to noon, Student Centre
• Multicultural Week celebrations will officially open with an event recognizing and honouring the traditions and history of the Mississauga’s of New Credit First Nations.
Multicultural Parade – noon to 1pm, Student Centre
• The parade will display the diversity of culture at York University by celebrating unique differences and traditions. Clubs will portray different cultures, history, political aspirations and identities with clothing, flags, music and more.
Cultural Couture Fashion Show – 3 to 6pm, Student Centre
• This event will display fashion from across the world and showcase how it is a form of expression, with a language of its own. Culture Couture will showcase the world’s most timeless, dynamic and beautiful fashion trends from across the globe.
Tuesday, Jan. 24
YFS World Food Fair – 11am to 2pm, The Underground (Student Centre)
• Food is a universal language, infusing meals with the unique traditions and cooking practices of our cultures, while highlighting the local spices and ingredients from different places. The World Food Fair showcases a sampling of culinary culture from across the globe. There will be a large and diverse menu to sample from, including everything from kothu to roti to baklava, tacos to fufu, pealla to lasagna, and more.
YFS Cross Cultural Workshops – 3 to 6pm, The Underground (Student Centre)
• Cultural practices, customs and traditions are all important aspects of our identities. The aim of this event is to teach members about different cultures – from language to clothing to history – and explain the history behind different customs.
Decolonizing Multiculturalism – 6pm, 307 Student Centre
• Decolonization of multiculturalism will be a teach-in focus on the intersectionality of these two processes. This event will explore the ways community can advocate for an inclusive process of colonization while unpacking the process of colonization on this land and globally.
Wednesday, Jan. 25
Global Tour – 10am to 4pm, Ross Link, Vari Hall and Central Square
• Students will have the opportunity to travel the world by strolling through campus. Clubs’ pavilions in the Global Tour will showcase their culture’s art, history and traditions.
Thursday, Jan. 26
Cultural Explosion Performance – 2 to 6pm, Aviva Centre
• This performance is an exceptional showcase designed to highlight the unique artistic practices of diverse cultures including dance, music and more.
For more, visit www.yfs.ca.