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Feature: Fusion Festival in western province celebrates Canada's diversity

Xinhua, July 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Over two days each summer, Fusion Festival are held in Surrey, just outside of Vancouver in the west coast province of British Columbia, with a view to setting an example of how central and important multiculturalism and diversity are to Canadian culture.

It looks good, it sounds good and it definitely tastes good.

On Sunday, a Xinhua reporter visited Surrey's 9th annual Fusion Festival and shared the value of multiculturalism with the locals.

In 1971, Canada became the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as an official policy, which means that Canada affirms the value and dignity of all Canadians regardless of race, ethnicity, language or religion.

Mary Rukavina, Surrey manager of special events, told Xinhua the festival was about their uniqueness, and even their differences.

"It's really about exactly what the name of the event is, fusing all of the countries, all of the cultures together in one beautiful event over two days. I mean, where else can you go to an event and visit the world, 40 countries, over two days."

Surrey has a young, diverse population, more than 30 percent of which are of South Asian descent. It's also home to dozens of other groups of immigrants, ex-pats and ethnic minorities.

Back in 2008, the Canadian government named Surrey the Cultural Capital of Canada. It was a designation that city officials here took to heart and one that inspired them to create a lasting legacy.

"The city decided to carry it on. Now it's been nine years, this is the ninth annual, and really it's a celebration of music, food and culture, and Surrey, being one of the most diverse cities in Canada, has a great reason to celebrate," Rukavina said.

Fusion Festival has become a kind of food Olympics, with dozens of national pavilions creating a hub of cuisines from around the world.

At the Chinese pavilion, the host told Xinhua that Surrey deserves the reputation as one of the country's most diverse communities.

Nola Young with Hua Xia Multiculture Society said: "I think Surrey is a little bit special. The event has been nine years because Surrey has a big Indian community, a Chinese community and a Vietnamese community and other communities, so I think this is why it's special in Surrey."

The festival is a free event that attracts more than 90,000 visitors each year. Endi