KW Multicultural Festival returns in-person for 55th year
The Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival returned to Victoria Park in Kitchener for the first time in three years.
In the previous two years, the festival was forced to pivot online, with 2019 being the last year the festival was held in-person.
“It’s fantastic to be back,” said Mac Summers, with the KW Multicultural Festival. “We’re just trying to deliver the same great festival."
This year is the 55th year the festival has taken place.
"It's about celebrating the diversity of this amazing community we have," said Lucia Harrison, CEO of the KW Multicultural Centre. "We have performances on stage, dancing, singing, a marketplace with international products from around the world, food vendors selling food from around the world, and a Pow Wow happening on Rouse Island.
"I think the sharing of food and music just helps everyone see their similarities and the things they love and I think that's what draws everyone together."
The event is also one of the largest of its kind in Canada and annually draws upwards of 40,000 people over its two-day run.
"Canada has a lot of people from different cultures, so seeing stuff from other countries, it feels amazing," said one event attendee.
The festival, which remains free, relies on a number of volunteers to ensure it runs smoothly.
“Hundreds and hundreds of volunteer hours, not only on the part of our organization, the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, but all the volunteers who come out specifically for the festival, the community groups, their own volunteers who are manning the food tents,” said Summers. “These are all different community associations who are doing their own fundraising.”
JUNO AWARD-WINNING ARTISTS PERFORMING
In addition to community performers, a number of Juno-winning artists performed over the two days.
Headliners include Juno-nominated acts Battle of Santiago, multi-award-winning band Twin Flames, and K-W artist Rufus John.
“People are so delighted that we are able to be back in the park, and we are to. We’re fortunate that city and public health thing just sort of worked out, and we’re finally back where we don’t have to worry about how many people can be here,” said Summers.
The festival ran on Saturday and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m. both days.
"We've been here for the last two days, it's just a fantastic time," said John Goodman, acting chief of Waterloo Regional Police Service. "We're working with our partners just engaging, just having a great time."
A full list of performers and food vendors that were at the festival is available online.
With reporting from CTV Kitchener's William Aiello.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors call for action as growing number of Canadians dying from common food preservative
Doctors are among those calling for tighter regulation of sodium nitrite as a growing number of Canadians are dying after intentionally ingesting unsafe quantities of the common food preservative in its pure form.
BREAKING
BREAKING | Well-known Brampton, Ont. real estate agent, media personality savagely attacked outside home
A well-known real estate agent and media personality in Brampton, Ont. has been viciously attacked in broad daylight in his own driveway by three men, two of whom appear to be wielding an axe and a machete.
Police seize handguns, drugs in alleged Ontario, U.S. criminal takedown
Police in Ontario say they have taken down a criminal network they allege trafficked cocaine and fentanyl and smuggled guns into Canada from the U.S.
Trump says he took the Fifth in New York civil investigation
Donald Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination as he testified under oath Wednesday in the New York attorney general's long-running civil investigation into his business dealings, the former U.S. president said in a statement.
Two children at centre of Sask. Amber Alert found safe in South Dakota, suspect arrested
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota said it has arrested the man wanted in connection with an Amber Alert in Saskatchewan.
Can the spread of monkeypox be stopped?
Since May, nearly 90 countries have reported more than 31,000 cases of monkeypox. The World Health Organization classified the escalating outbreak of the once-rare disease as an international emergency in July; the U.S. declared it a national emergency last week.
N.S. boosts cash reward for information in boy's shooting death to $250,000
Nova Scotia’s unsolved crimes program is offering its largest reward ever for information in the case of a little boy shot and killed in Dartmouth in December.
Canadian Forces Snowbirds grounded in wake of B.C. crash
The Royal Canadian Air Force has grounded the Snowbirds aerobatic team after one of the aircraft suffered a hard landing last week in northern British Columbia.
Some air passengers take claims to court, seeking compensation for delays, missing bags
With some airlines denying compensation for delayed flights or missing baggage, a few Canadian passengers are taking their claims to court.
London
-
London police chief acknowledges mistakes were made in arrest of doxed transgender activist, Twitch streamer
London police are speaking out Wednesday in relation to a transgender activist and Twitch streamer who claims she was the victim of swatting by police, specifically in relation to the woman being misgendered while in police custody.
-
Search and rescue underway for boater missing in Port Burwell
A search and rescue operation is underway for a boater who went missing on Lake Erie off the coast of Port Burwell on Tuesday.
-
'A man of the people': Goderich mourns passing of Mayor John Grace
Tributes are pouring in for Goderich Mayor John Grace, who passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday.
Windsor
-
Assault victim allegedly stabbed multiple times after opening apartment door: Windsor police
A random attacker allegedly sprayed a victim with an unknown noxious substance and stabbed them multiple times when they answered the front door, Windsor police are investigating.
-
Hundreds of charges laid after Ontario police bust group accused of smuggling guns, fentanyl
A nearly ten-months long investigation by multiple Ontario police services has resulted in more than 400 criminal charges laid on a group of 22 individuals accused of smuggling guns and drugs over the Canadian-U.S. border.
-
ESHC warns of increase in COVID-19 cases as hospital is over 122% capacity
Erie Shores HealthCare is urging people to remain cautious as COVID cases spike in Windsor-Essex and the hospital is already at 122 per cent occupancy.
Barrie
-
Public help Barrie Police arrest theft suspects
Barrie Police arrested two suspects accused of theft, thanks to help from the public.
-
Aurora seniors set to walk 90 kilometres to support the food bank
A retired couple is set to make a 90-kilometre trek to help feed those in need to mark a milestone birthday.
-
Painswick park picked for pickleball pads
There’s a new game in town, and city staff are counting on eight fingers how many new pickleball courts they’ll need to meet the demand.
Northern Ontario
-
Police say suspect in Hwy. 69 crash was suspended, driving stolen vehicle
A 37-year-old from Toronto has been charged in connection with a two-vehicle crash Aug. 8 on Highway 69 in Servos Township south of Greater Sudbury.
-
Human rights tribunal dismisses northern Ont. man's complaint about pronoun use
In what appears to be a less-than-serious complaint, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has dismissed a complaint levied against the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit related to pronoun use.
-
Timmins police charge young person with assault
A 12-year-old in Timmins has been charged with assault following an incident Tuesday evening at a Park Avenue schoolyard.
Ottawa
-
Ottawa woman missing for 42 years had been living outside Canada before her death
The disappearance of an Ottawa woman has been solved more than 40 years after she went missing. While she has since passed away, it's been revealed she's been living outside the country for decades.
-
Here's how long you wait to see a doctor in an Ottawa hospital emergency department
The wait time to see a doctor in an Ottawa hospital emergency room exceeded the provincial average in June, with two hospitals in the province's top 10 for wait times.
-
Ontario health minister won't rule out privatization as option to help ER crisis
Ontario's health minister isn't ruling out privatization in health care as the government looks at ways to deal with a major staff shortage straining hospitals across the province.
Toronto
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Well-known Brampton, Ont. real estate agent, media personality savagely attacked outside home
A well-known real estate agent and media personality in Brampton, Ont. has been viciously attacked in broad daylight in his own driveway by three men, two of whom appear to be wielding an axe and a machete.
-
Hundreds of charges laid after Ontario police bust group accused of smuggling guns, fentanyl
A nearly ten-months long investigation by multiple Ontario police services has resulted in more than 400 criminal charges laid on a group of 22 individuals accused of smuggling guns and drugs over the Canadian-U.S. border.
-
These are the new powers Doug Ford wants to give the mayor of Toronto
Here's a rundown of some of the changes Doug Ford's government is proposing for the mayor’s office.
Montreal
-
Religious minorities feel less safe, welcome in Quebec since Bill 21 was adopted: survey
A new study shows that religious minorities in Quebec, particularly women, feel less safe and less welcome in the social fabric of society since the adoption of the province's secularism law, commonly known as Bill 21.
-
Remains of priest removed from Kahnawake church grounds
The remains of a priest who allegedly sexually abused Indigenous children in Quebec was exhumed Wednesday morning. Jesuit priest Father Leon Lajoie was buried on the grounds of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Kahnawake in 1999.
-
Montreal public health investigating 3 cases of Legionnaires' Disease
Montreal public health officials are investigating three cases of Legionnaires' Disease, including one death.
Atlantic
-
'Fall from grace': Former CEO of IWK Health Centre sentenced to 5 months in jail for fraud
The former CEO of the IWK Health Centre has been sentenced to five months in jail for using public money to pay for more than $45,000 worth of personal expenses.
-
Essential Newfoundland highway to stay open as out-of-control wildfires grow
Two out-of-control wildfires in central Newfoundland covered more than 200 square kilometres on Wednesday morning, and Environment Canada warned the flames could cover much of the island in smoke.
-
N.S. boosts cash reward for information in boy's shooting death to $250,000
Nova Scotia’s unsolved crimes program is offering its largest reward ever for information in the case of a little boy shot and killed in Dartmouth in December.
Winnipeg
-
Police make arrest in connection to River East weekend shooting
Winnipeg police arrested and charged a 34-year-old man in connection to a shooting on Bonner Avenue Sunday morning.
-
Doctors call for action as growing number of Canadians dying from common food preservative
Doctors are among those calling for tighter regulation of sodium nitrite as a growing number of Canadians are dying after intentionally ingesting unsafe quantities of the common food preservative in its pure form.
-
73-year-old injured in St. Clements home invasion: RCMP
A Winnipeg man faces numerous charges after a home invasion Saturday that injured a 73-year-old woman.
Calgary
-
Vehicle in downtown hit-and-run that injured pedestrian found, driver still sought
The pedestrian, a woman in her 20s, was taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.
-
Court appearance put over for man accused in deadly Banff bar dispute
The man accused of killing a 26-year-old Banff man last week is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
-
Oil production booms in Alberta
Daily crude oil production in Alberta has increased in 2022 amid high demand and high price environment, according to economists.
Edmonton
-
Oilers superfan Ben Stelter dies
Ben Stelter has died. His father made the announcement on social media on Wednesday.
-
Southeast LRT delays caused by cracks on piers 'deeply disappointing': mayor
The Valley Line Southeast LRT will not open this summer as planned. The CEO of TransEd announced at Davies Station on Wednesday cracks had been found on three concrete piers that support the elevated tracks.
-
Indigenous theatre space to be integrated within 2022 Fringe Festival
A teepee was raised at the Fringe Festival grounds on Thursday morning to kick off the Indigenous theatre space, pêhonân.
Vancouver
-
Vancouver-area renters: Here's where it's cheapest, and where you'd pay the most
It's no surprise to renters and would-be renters that it costs a lot to live in the Vancouver area, but a recent report suggests there are some spots where tenants pay a bit less.
-
Some evacuation orders lifted near Keremeos, B.C., wildfire
Evacuation orders were lifted for about 50 properties near a wildfire in Keremeos, B.C., as crews expect to see subdued conditions over the coming days.
-
B.C. actress returns home to recover after July 4 shooting in L.A.
A B.C. performer is recovering after taking a bullet to the chest in Los Angeles last month.