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Festival organizers
invite new Canadians When a local man was growing up, Peterborough had the second largest white population in the country. When Michael Martyn later left Peterborough during the 1990s, he says, the city was still not rich in multiculturalism. However, when he returned 10 years later, he immediately noticed the diversity of ethnic languages, foods and cultures that had become a part of Peterborough. As an organizer of this year’s Peterborough Folk Festival, Michael says the annual outdoor event is an ideal opportunity to celebrate the city’s variety of cultures. This year, the Peterborough Folk Festival incorporates contemporary aboriginal artists and features Canadian finger-style acoustic guitarist Don Ross, blues guitarist George Leach, folk artist Leela Gilday and harmonica player Dave Mowat. “We wanted to promote aboriginal artists,” says Michael, noting this is the first in 15 years of the festival when a particular theme has been officially planned. “I think it’s essential we provide a place where people can express their own creativity.” This year’s festival encompasses a variety of genres of music, including the work of Galitcha, a combination of east Indian and western music. Over the next few years, organizers are going to target new Canadians living locally and “embrace them in the festival. It’s the only way we make progress, I think.” Carmela Valles, executive director of the New Canadians’ Centre, says the centre has been approached by a folk festival organizer about local artists new to Canada. Carmela says she connected a professional classical violinist from Poland with the organizer. “We have quite a number of clients who play a specific instrument,” says Carmela. Carmela supports the idea. She says the centre works to match volunteers with people who have similar interests. “Peterborough is a friendly city in that way. We know a lot of artists.” For example, the centre has connected a poet from Peru with the Lakefield literary festival two years in a row. “We also know of one newcomer who is a volunteer member of the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra.” “We have a very diverse pool of volunteers,” she says. “Some are artists. That’s how we go about it.” Michael looks forward to the time when Peterborough’s folk festival will provide a venue for new Canadians to express themselves. |
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