‘It’s very enjoyable’: DiverseCity Competition hosts 4th occasion in Summerside

Quincy Cumayas has been in Canada for a yr, however she discovered herself centre stage at Sunday’s DiverseCity competition occasion in Summerside, P.E.I., singing for the attendees.

It was the 10-year-old’s first time attending considered one of these occasions, however she has sung at different occasions previously the place she sang issues like O Canada and the Filipino nationwide anthem.

The occasion introduced a variety of various cultures collectively on the Lefurgey Cultural Centre.

“It’s very fun actually. I can, like, meet other people, like, other cultures,” mentioned Cumayas, who began singing when she was simply three years previous.

She mentioned she appreciated the occasion and would come again to one other.

The occasion, placed on by the Immigration and Refugee Services Association, is about as much as assist join Islanders with newcomers, permitting each to study extra about their respective cultures.

Longtime attendee Said Akbar Sadat has been coming to DiverseCity occasions since 2018. He’s initially from Afghanistan, however got here to the Island in 2007. He was on the competition serving up conventional Afghani meals.

“They love it, they said it’s a unique food, Afghani food,” mentioned Sadat.

He began getting ready meals at 4 a.m. after which drove to the occasion 5 hours later.

Sadat mentioned he loved making an attempt totally different meals, similar to Filipino, Indian and Mexican choices.

Event co-ordinator Hai Nguyen, who’s initially from Vietnam, mentioned he enjoys seeing folks from different backgrounds come collectively.

“I feel so happy when I see them, you know, with different kind of languages,” he mentioned.

Even if Nguyen cannot perceive the languages within the musical performances, he nonetheless enjoys it.

“We have dancing, we have singing, and we have instruments … but actually I really enjoy the melody,” mentioned Nguyen.

DiverseCity’s Summerside occasion was the fourth of seven occasions deliberate this summer time, with the subsequent one in Three Rivers on Aug. 3.