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A two-day event at the University of Windsor’s Toldo Lancer Centre on the weekend celebrated the city’s diversity with family oriented activities that offered a “one-stop-shop event” where people can learn more about what’s available in the community.
The first #YQG Togetherfest, organized by the recently formed Rotary-WIDE and the Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA) featured some 60 vendors and community service agencies, along with games and live entertainment March 9-10.
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The new Rotary-WIDE (which stands for “we’re inclusive, diverse and equitable) seeks to reach out to the community to bring people together, said the club’s Janet Kelly, co-chair of the event.
“We decided that we wanted to put on an event that was very inclusive and diverse to try to bring ethnic groups, social clubs, social services all together to give people information in the community,” Kelly said.
Rotary and BANA have worked together on many events over the years, said Kelly, so it made sense to organize a family oriented inclusive event that services a growing ethnic community and provide them with information about services they may not have known about.
Aside from games and activities for the family, Togetherfest featured entertainment form a variety of ethnic organizations, including Marutham Arts (Tamil cultural and vocal instruments,) Academie Ste Cecile Dancers, Yaren Ekti on the violin, the Slovak Domovina Dancers, and the Tatry Song and Dance Ensemble.
On top of providing family time and community information, one goal of the event is to make sure there is a second one next year, said Kelly.
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Patrick Kelly, of BANA, also co-chaired Togetherfest.
“Our motto is ‘be yourself,’” Patrick said. “We’re all encouraging people to be their true, authentic selves.”
“(Togetherfest) is an opportunity to bring services and activities and exposure to folks in the west end that don’t normally get access to local community programs (and) to vendors, and do it in a fun environment,” he said.
Organizers tried to target services that are not storefront operations that people may not visit, he said.
Some of the community services present at the event included New Beginnings, Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women, fire, police and EMS services, and Windsor-Essex Neighbourhood Ambassadors.
“You have really unique tapestry between cultural, community (and) wellness in Windsor-Essex that the average person doesn’t get to see on a daily basis,” said Patrick Kelly. “So rather than trying to hunt down 50-60 or 70 (agencies and vendors) … we’re giving them a one-stop shop and the chance to learn a little bit more about Windsor.”
bamacleod@postmedia.com
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