The 10^th annual Antibes Multicultural Festival, held August 17 at the Antibes Community Centre (140 Antibes Dr.), started on a positive note: it was a warm and sunny day and the turnout was good.

The festival has long been a big part of activities at the Centre, which opened to grand fanfare in 1999 after several years of planning by Toronto council, the local community, Toronto Parks and Recreation and the neighbouring condominium boards, which own the property.  The Antibes Multicultural Festival’s goal  has been to “foster cooperation and appreciation” among the myriad cultural groups representative in the area, many of whom are from the former Soviet republics, the Philippines, Korea, Iran, China, the Caribbean and South Asian communities, as well as the Middle East.

Councillor Mike Feldman (Ward 10 York Centre) was on hand to officially open the afternoon entertainment program, which began with the Sheraton black-tie band. Maureen Simpson, Chair of the Antibes Steering Committee and long-time resident, was host and emcee.

Benoit Tardif, a Youth Outreach Worker at Antibes C.C., presented a series of awards to the Community Centre’s youth volunteers. Many of them were part of the ongoing activities at the event and missed collecting their awards. There were delicious free foods offered at the outdoor pavilions, where visitors could taste spring rolls and pancit noodles at the Filipino 7th Day Adventist Church booth, hot dogs and buttered corn, and falafels from King David Falafel and Pizza. Indoors, there were dumplings, red rice and sesame balls with red bean paste at the Chinese pavilion, and a wide range of Caribbean treats offered at the Jamaican pavilion. Guests were treated to a full roster of cultural displays reflecting the varied backgrounds of the community. This included Russian folk songs, rhythmic, Hawaiian and belly dancing (the ultimate crowd-pleaser!), among other performances.

Art Studio 2000, a local art school, featured displays inside the Centre from a number of artists in the community.

There was also no shortage of activities for children, including face painting, henna, a jumping castle, and an arts and crafts table, with a canvas painting workshop, sponsored by Action for Neighbourhood Change.

Despite a few bursts of wind that blew papers and paints around, the kids got their creative juices flowing, spreading out on every available surface to produce “little painted masterpieces” of the day’s events.

Police and fire vehicles were also on site for most of the afternoon. Toronto Fire Services demonstrated a pumper vehicle used at car accident scenes, which the local fire hall noted are all too common in the city. Festival emcee, Maureen Simpson, encouraged residents to “make friends” with Fire Services and the Police, and to be aware of how they can help “before you have to call 911.”

 By Julia Kuzeljevich