Cultures of the world celebrated in Maple Ridge

Published 8:00 pm Monday, June 29, 2026

By Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News Staff

Thousands, including City of Maple Ridge dignitaries, dignitaries from the City of Pitt Meadows, school board and provincial dignitaries welcomed visitors to Memorial Peace Park for Canadian Multiculturalism Day. (Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Katzie Local Immigration Partnership/Special to The News)

Marley from El Salvador sang the national anthem, with Marvielle from the Philippines, in English and French. (Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Katzie Local Immigration Partnership/Special to The News)

Marvielle from the Philippines sang the national anthem, along with Marley from El Salvador, in English and French. (Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Katzie Local Immigration Partnership/Special to The News)

Cultures from around the world welcomed visitors to Memorial Peace Park on Saturday for the annual Canadian Multiculturalism Day.

Thousands of people took part in the event, visiting all of the pavilions representing 18 different cultures.

Marvielle from the Philippines and Marley from El Salvador sang the Canadian national anthem in both English and French.

Nayra Aarin is a young Bangladeshi-Canadian student in Grade 3, performed a beautiful traditional folk dance performance set to patriotic Bangla music.

The Palestinian Cultural Society of BC showcased the rich heritage, culture, and traditions of Palestine for the first time ever.

They had live Palestinian drummers performing traditional folk music and a live Palestinian Dabke performance by Turath Troupe.

A group representing Indonesia participated with an Indonesian Pavilion also for the first time.

They shared a little bit of home through batik, Indonesian coffee, traditional dance, music, snacks, and conversations with the community.

A delegation representing Bulgaria also took part in the event.

“We were honoured to represent Bulgaria at the Multiculturalism Day Canada Festival in Maple Ridge, sharing the beauty of our traditions,” said the group online.

Other countries represented included Rwanda, El Salvador, Mexico, Philippines, Peru, South Korea, India, and more.

There was also a Canadian pavilion this year.

The Kiwanis Club of Golden Ears sponsored a culture passport which festival goers could take with them to each pavilion and have stamped. Then they entered their completed passports into a draw for some great local prizes.

City of Maple Ridge Mayor Dan Ruimy was at the event with members of council, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Lisa Beare, Maple Ridge East MLA Lawrence Mok, Chair of the SD42 school board Elaine Yamamoto, Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge MP Marc Dalton, and Coun. Bob Meachen and Coun. Mike Hayes, also took part in the celebrations.

This year marked the ninth year of the event put on by the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Katzie Local Immigration Partnership.