C4D Contests
By Ken Herar
The results from the Abbotsford News Diversity Challenge School Essay Contest are in. After sifting through close to three hundred colouring contest and hundred essay entries the judges have narrowed it down to the top three for each category. They are two winners from Mission and four from Abbotsford. The choices weren’t easy to make; many students displayed strong efforts, either through their pens or crayons in showcasing what multicultural means to their heart. The purpose of this contest was not solely to pick winners, but to tap into our youth and create a discussion on we can connect our various cultures, here in the Fraser Valley together. I am proud to say, these students get what multiculturalism means and live it through their activities. Its always exciting to phone the parents and hear the joy in the phone notifying them that their child was selected as a winner. The kids are equally just as excited to hear the news.
The Cycling4Diversity Foundation team had the opportunity to visit 10 schools in the Abbotsford/Mission area speaking about cultural diversity and to encourage students to be part of this contest. Many schools had the entire class participate, which is a wonderful way to celebrate multiculturalism with your fellow classmates. The future looks bright and I was personally honoured to be part of it all for the past two months.
The winners from colouring contest are as follows ages (5-10): Tamanna Gill (Abbotsford), Hannah Barker (Mission) and Scarlett Verbeek (Abbotsford). The winners from the essay contest are as follows ages (11-13): Isabella T (Mission), Aneesha Kaur Sran (Abbotsford) and Oleg Moskvin (Abbotsford). The question we posed for the 300 word essay contest was: What does multiculturalism mean to you and your family? Here is a quick snapshot of what some of these winners had to say.
Isabella T said: “ Multiculturalism means no one culture, race, religion is any more important or better, than any other culture, race or religion. We are all created equal. Different, but equal.”
Aneesha Kaur Sran said: “ Multiculturalism means that we are introduced to new activities and traditions. Multiculturalism is the state of where someone like me won’t be afraid to accept their own culture because they are afraid of what others will think or if they will be accepted. Multiculturalism means that I will be free to be myself and live my culture in my own cultural identity.”
Oleg Moskvin, who came from Russia seven years ago enjoys his Canadian multicultural experience with his family, meeting people from all backgrounds and dining at restaurants from all parts of the globe. He said: “ Having multiculturalism in Abbotsford is a great opportunity to explore different kinds of cultures. In Russia, you don’t really see any other people than Russian or Ukrainian people.”
I would like to thank the judges, who participated in this process and for their insight: Kris Foulds, Deesh Sekhon, Rick Rake, Carol Hamilton and Harwant Brar. Also, I would like to acknowledge Abbotsford Coun. Lester Barkman and Norm MacLeod for joining us at some the schools and being part of the Cycling4Diversity Foundation family.