Respecting all cultures

Photo: Allan Brooks Nature Centre

RespectFest takes place in Vernon Sept. 18-24

A week of free activities and educational events will fill RespectFest in Vernon this September.

Funded through a Canada 150 grant marking the nation's birthday, the festival “builds on local programs that celebrate diversity and multiculturalism,” said Annette Sharkey of the Social Planning Council.

The festival is being held Sept. 18-24 at various venues, including the downtown area and Allan Brooks Nature Centre. Thirty community organizations and groups are taking part.

There will also be a strong focus on the region's indigenous communities from the Okanagan and Splatsin nations.

“Canada's birthday is not a time of celebration for our Indigenous communities,” Sharkey said during a presentation to city council this week. “We want to acknowledge we understand this.”

Molly Bono of the Okanagan Indian Band will be holding a three-part History of First Peoples workshop at the Vernon branch of the Okanagan Regional Library during RespectFest looking at pre-contact, contact and reconciliation and healing. Tickets for the public are limited.

Among the other activities, the Downtown Vernon Association is holding a multicultural festival in Civic Square on Sept. 23. An estimated 5,000 people will be involved in dance, music and other performances.