Canada’s signature red and white, along with orange shirts reading Every Child Matters, adorned the people who lined the shores of Ramsey Lake today as Sudbury came together to celebrate Canada Day, hosted this year in a joint effort between the Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association and Science North, where the event was held.
A mix of fun, food, music and dancing filled the day, and it was clear from those in attendance that people were happy to be out in the sun -- and out at all, really.
This is the first in-person Canada Day celebration since the pandemic arrived in 2020.
Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association said the partnership blossomed with the need to make the last two events virtual and they decided to keep it going as a trial for this year.
So how’s it going, you ask?
“From what I see,” said Bela Ravi as she looks at the hundreds surrounding her, “things are good, things are very good.”
Ravi is the longtime president of the Folks Arts Association and Sudbury.com caught up with her as she headed to try the wide range of food options available, including offerings from the Vietnamese Association Sudbury, India-Canada Association of Sudbury, The Afro-Heritage Association of Sudbury, and the Nigerian Community of Greater Sudbury.
Ravi said she is not only excited for the chance to celebrate, but also, to see the new Canadians in Sudbury have the opportunity to get out and meet their new neighbours.
“I am excited about just meeting people and seeing people, and of course, I love my food. I'm going to be stopping at every booth,” she said with a laugh. “But also, just having everybody out. After two years, so many new Canadians are getting to come out and celebrate for the first time. They haven't met people, they haven't made friends, they've been alone. There's been a lot of that loneliness and I'm hoping this event helps.” she said.
If you have any photos of the day - or the fireworks - email them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured on Sudbury.com.
