African Cultural Winter Celebration, hosted by REACH Multicultural Family Center (MFC)
By Jenny Francis The Afro News Burnaby
An important community event took place at Eastburn Community Centre in Burnaby on 12 December 2009. The 3rd annual African Cultural Winter Celebration, hosted by REACH Multicultural Family Center (MFC) brought together approximately two hundred people from all over the world. Following prayers in Arabic and English, guests enjoyed a delicious halal meal prepared by Iraqi and African women, musical entertainment by the Togolese Ensemble and Zion’s Children of God (from Congo), and inspired storytelling by Jean-Pierre Makosso. Welcoming speeches were offered by guests of honour including NDP MP Peter Julian; Burnaby City Counsellors Sav Dhaliwal and Paul McDonell; Ros Salvador, a lawyer with the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre; and Lina Fabiano, interim Executive Director of REACH Community Health Centre. After the performances, a crowd of adults and children hit the dance floor, shaking it to the sound of DJ beats. At the end of the night, laundry baskets filled with donated gifts were distributed to sixty-five families and individuals. Guests and organisers expressed their appreciation for the generosity of the donors (local businesses and individuals) who contributed items to the baskets.
