With two levels of entertainment, foods and socializing, St. Thomas University International Students Association (STUISA) Multicultural Fair was a treat for all who attended.
When the fair began a few years ago, it was small, but has since grown along with the international student population.
Judy Coates, the international student advisor at St. Thomas, said diversity became more visible by introducing the fair to the community.
“By having students showcase their cultures in a fair like this is a great way to (make the diversity more visible),” said Coates.
Sabrina Sotiriu, the president of STUISA, said she is happy with how the fair went this year.
“We can wholeheartedly say that the turnout was great and that we are happy with the final result of the fair,” she said. “We had a lot of people coming to the fair, including Graydon Nicholas, the Lieutenant-Governor. He was there during the talent show.”
The Student Union Building’s Atrium was wafting with the smells of the food from 12 different countries including Ukraine, Lebanon, Japan and even Canada.
Janice Ryan, a campus minister at St. Thomas, was at the fair with her daughter for the fifth time and said she enjoys each fair because they’re all different. She added that in this setting, you don’t only get to meet the countries but have the chance to see how “each country has a real pride in sharing their food.”
“Each is so rich because it has all these wonderful cultures being expressed through their food,” said Ryan.
Students also enjoyed the evening of food and culture.
Tiffany Kyle and Lacey Russell, two first year students, were enjoying the foods from different countries.
“It has been cool. They say in Canada we live to eat, but in the other countries they eat to live,” said Russell. “You can see that in how things are prepared and presented.”
A Canadian student with Ukrainian heritage, Rosalynn Alessi, volunteered to make food for the fair. She made perogies and a Ukrainian soup called borsh.
“It is a beet soup with lots of other vegetables. It is typically a big holiday soup,” said Alessi.
The fair also had booths from all over the world, displaying different cultures from different countries.
Kyle and Russell got to experience a Japanese tea ceremony at one of the cultural booths.
They were taught the proper way to hold the teacup and before the tea is drunk, sugar is eaten to cut down on the bitterness.
Also, many cultures were shown in both the talent and the fashion shows.
In the talent show, Shirley Lin, a Jamaican student, performed with Steven Lecky. They sang and danced to popular songs by Tami Chynn and Sean Paul and Estelle.
Lin said the thought of a full house didn’t make her nervous.
“When I practiced yesterday, I wasn’t too nervous. So I’m looking forward to tonight with a full crowd.”
The fair was attended by many in the Fredericton community, as well as the students and staff of St. Thomas. A wide variety of people came together over food, music and cross-cultural boundaries to have a great evening.
Placing all these cultures under one roof worked great, said Alessi.
“I don’t think you really get to notice how many different cultures there are in Fredericton until they are all brought together at the same time.”
