The Moose Jaw Multicultural Council (MJMC) hosted its eighth annual international dinner event titled “An Evening Around the World” back in November and results are now in following this year’s fundraiser.
The event took place at St. Andrew’s United Church on Nov. 15 and raised $3,567.18 to support the organization’s array of program options for Moose Jaw’s diverse residents.
“It actually went so good. We overheard some people saying that it was the best one yet, so that was really exciting to hear people talking about it like that,” announced Melissa Mitchell, manager of the Newcomer Welcome Centre which is a branch of the MJMC.
An Evening Around the World offered guests the unique opportunity to explore global cultures locally through food and entertainment. Community members volunteered to prepare a wide variety of international dishes including Ukrainian perogies, Nigerian Jollof rice, Ethiopian injera and lentils, and Syrian elmali kurabiye.
The event also featured live entertainment including Columbian and Kuduro-style dances and musical performances from Syria, Vietnam, and Nigeria.
“We’ve just expanded our décor a little bit,” Mitchell noted about this year’s dinner, adding that most of the experience remained the same because of its ongoing popularity.
“Last time we had an Ethiopian coffee experience, and we had that again this year because it worked really well… and we added henna tattoos, which was a huge success. People loved it and (also loved) the different menu items; it was successful.”
By highlighting the rich cultural diversity within the community, the fundraiser sought to not only delight guests but to also spread awareness of the council’s range of programs and initiatives.
The event first started in the MJMC classrooms and offered a way for newcomers to share insights into their background by sharing food, song, and entertainment.
Mitchell said the event’s current form dates back to around March 2023 when the organization’s International Dinner was first rebranded and evolved to serve as a fundraiser for the MJMC. The event is also now typically held in November.
This year’s event raised less than in 2023, but Mitchell emphasized that spirits remain high. “It was a little bit less than we raised last year; however, it was still very successful in our hearts. Any funds that are raised always helps.
“We held it particularly because of the excitement it brought to our clients and the students, (who were) able to showcase their cultures in a fun way to the community… and that just makes them so happy to be able to share that with people,” she noted.
Given the proven success of the international dinner event, the MJMC is planning to host it once again at a time and date to be announced in 2025.
“We are so grateful for the community that we’re a part of. They are always so supportive of any of our events or fundraisers,” Mitchell said. “We really do appreciate our sponsors for this event because, without them, we wouldn’t be able to do it.”
The dinner was made possible thanks to generous sponsors including Golden West, the Town ‘N’ Country Mall, Blue Whale Financial, McDougall Acres Grainex Inc., Carpet One, and Jin Cheng International Real Estate Ltd.
The Moose Jaw Newcomer Welcome Centre is located at 432 Main Street North and can be reached at 306-692-6892. To access the building, use the doors facing Main Street.
The MJMC office is based out of St. Andrew’s United Church at 60 Athabasca Street East.
To learn more about the work done by the MJMC, visit MJMCInc.ca or call 306-692-0533. You can also follow the local multicultural council at ‘Moose Jaw Multicultural Council’ on Facebook.
Aaron Walker
Reporter
Moose Jaw Express
