By Spencer Sterritt

Multicultural fest explores a diverse Nanaimo

Jun 23, 2017 | 4:46 PM

NANAIMO — Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter is pulling back the curtain once again to show off an inclusive Nanaimo with the 2017 multicultural festival.

Kait McDonald, one of the main organizers of the free 2017 event, said there’s a misconception the City isn’t very diverse and the festival is a chance “for everyone to come together and see just how (varied) Nanaimo is.”

Starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 24 in the Old City Quarter, local artists, musicians and chefs will be joined by other artists from around the world, as well as organizations such as the VIU international student program and immigrant welcome centre.

“It’s a really welcoming, safe, gentle space to come,” McDonald said. “There’s lots to see, lots to love and lots to learn.”

Bill Helin, a Tsimshian First Nation and Norwegian artist living in Qualicum Beach, will be at the festival working on a seven-foot tall wood sculpture with his chainsaw, hacking away while also showing off his jewelry works.

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He said it’s important to include First Nations in multicultural festivals because often they’re shunted to the side.

“Hopefully through these types of events it progresses in a way where once we start to enjoy all the cultures and realize First Nations art, even though it’s had difficulty assimilating and blending in, is growing abundantly in size and quality of presentation,” he said.

This is the first multicultural festival Helin has taken part in. He said it’s a chance to highlight his roots and show where he came from, specifically on his mother’s Norwegian side.

“I love the art form and certainly the blending of the Viking and Tsimshian warrior has a nice ring to it. I love the art forms of my mother’s Norwegian history, so I’m starting to incorporate that a bit more.”

The 2017 festival will also be the first one not involved with the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association, who shut down after losing funding from the City of Nanaimo earlier this year.

“We weren’t sure if it was going to happen,” McDonald said. “It’s been a much tighter timeline with a lot fewer resources this time around.” She said passion from the Nanaimo community and vendors has kept the festival vibrant.

The Old City Quarter did receive $6,400 from the City’s downtown events fund to keep the festival afloat.

A full schedule of events can be found online.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spnecer_sterrit