Gala dinner celebrates Sudbury's multicultural heritage

The event started with a moment of silence for the victims of the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, but culminated with a celebration of Sudbury's multicultural heritage.

The Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association hosted its annual gala fundraiser at the Caruso Club Saturday, and celebrated its 51st anniversary.

The association represents more than 40 diverse ethnic groups in the city, and helps newcomers to Canada and Sudbury settle in the city with a number of programs, including French and English classes, translation services and introductions to useful services in the city.

The gala is the association's biggest fundraiser, and raised around $32,000 last year.

“This year we hope we'll match it,” said Dr. Remi Ogundimu, president of the Multicultural and Folk Arts Association.

In speeches at the gala, Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre, and MPP Glenn Thibeault both spoke about their pride in Canada's multicultural heritage and how multiple ethnic groups have been able to co-exist here in peace, especially in light of the tragedy in Paris.

With an ambitious mandate from Canada's new Liberal government to welcome 25,000 new Syrian refugees to the country by January, Ogundimu said the Multicultural and Folk Arts Association will be ready to welcome any who choose to settle in Sudbury.

“We are ready to welcome potential refugees, but under our mandate we cannot actually apply to bring them in,” she said. “Once they are in, we are more than ready to help them settle as newcomers.”