By County of Essex Warden, Gary McNamara|\u00a0<\/span>April 3rd<\/span><\/i>, 2021<\/p>\n

Of all the events I attend in my capacity as Warden of Essex County, Carrousel of the Nations is easily one of the most rewarding, inspiring and educational. For more than four decades it has been a movable feast, celebrating the multitude of cultures that make Windsor-Essex so diverse and dynamic and allowing locals to travel the globe without ever leaving their region.<\/p>\n

Organizers took it to the next level this year, pivoting creatively in the midst of the pandemic to create an illuminating, virtual experience that enabled Windsor-Essex residents to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of more than 25 distinct cultures and communities, from African to Bavarian to Korean, Italian and Ukrainian.

$\"Traditional$
Traditional German fare at the Bavarian Village.<\/p><\/div>The online format worked so well because this award-winning extravaganza, the longest-running festival in Windsor and the oldest cultural festival in all of Ontario, has never been a destination so much as a point of departure. For many, Carrousel of the Nations marks the first time they have been exposed to a particular food or culture. It is usually not the last. The festival marks the beginning of the journey and they will continue to explore those traditions on their own time and in their own way.<\/p>\n
Education and engagement like this are really at the heart of what the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County (MCC) is all about. The dedicated staff and volunteers help newcomers adjust and adapt to life in Canada while ensuring their stories and identities are not lost but rather woven into the fabric of this diverse and dynamic community.<\/p>\n
The success stories we hear about every year at the Herb Gray Harmony Awards are a testament to the vital work the MCC does bringing people together in a spirit of fellowship and friendship, eliminating cultural and linguistic barriers with smiles, support and outstretched hands. Newcomers who arrive in Windsor unable to speak English and without a family network are soon flourishing and fluent, with children attending college and university, pursuing dreams and better lives that would not have been possible without the MCC.<\/p>\n
We all know how important diversity is for workplaces to prosper and the MCC\u2019s Diversity Dynamics campaign with ENWIN has been a tremendous success, utilizing social media to highlight positive practices, success stories and steps that organizations can take to improve their operations and communities by placing an emphasis on inclusivity and cultural competence.<\/p>\n
The MCC has been an incredibly positive and progressive influence since its founding in April of 1973, less than two years after then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau adopted multiculturalism as the official policy of the government of Canada. It has helped thousands upon thousands of newcomers carve out fulfilling lives in Windsor-Essex and helped ensure our welcoming community embraces them with open arms.<\/p>\n
$\"\"$ Newcomers have enriched our community in myriad ways over the decades and they have proven crucial to the growth and diversification of our economy. Whether they are working in our factories or on our farms, or traveling the hallways of our hospitals, schools and government buildings, newcomers working for businesses big and small are the engine that helps drive our local economy. Newcomers are industrious and innovative and the work of the MCC allows them to achieve their dreams and maximize their potential for the benefit of themselves and our entire region.<\/p>\n
The MCC engages, educates and inspires. Its unwavering commitment to building a tolerant and inclusive community brings people together and lifts up all of Windsor Essex.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.2.2″ background_color=”#8c9299″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” custom_padding=”0px|0|0px|0px|false|false” locked=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”MCC Harmony” subhead=”An inside look at the people, programs, and projects that make our community so welcoming.” text_orientation=”center” background_overlay_color=”rgba(83,90,128,0.3)” content_max_width=”90%” _builder_version=”4.2.2″ title_font=”Noto Serif|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”87px” title_line_height=”1.1em” content_font=”Noto Sans||||||||” content_font_size=”18px” content_line_height=”2em” subhead_font=”Noto Sans||||||||” subhead_text_align=”center” subhead_text_color=”#ffffff” subhead_font_size=”33px” subhead_line_height=”2em” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/MulticulturalCouncil-WindsorEssexCounty-1.jpg” custom_button_one=”on” button_one_text_size=”17px” button_one_text_color=”#ffffff” button_one_bg_color=”#ff6b5a” button_one_border_width=”7px” button_one_border_color=”#ff6b5a” button_one_border_radius=”100px” […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" fullwidth=\"on\" admin_label=\"Header\" _builder_version=\"4.2.2\" background_color=\"#8c9299\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" custom_padding=\"0px|0|0px|0px|false|false\" locked=\"off\"][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=\"MCC Harmony\" subhead=\"An inside look at the people, programs, and projects that make our community so welcoming.\" text_orientation=\"center\" background_overlay_color=\"rgba(83,90,128,0.3)\" content_max_width=\"90%\" _builder_version=\"4.2.2\" title_font=\"Noto Serif|700|||||||\" title_text_align=\"center\" title_text_color=\"#ffffff\" title_font_size=\"87px\" title_line_height=\"1.1em\" content_font=\"Noto Sans||||||||\" content_font_size=\"18px\" content_line_height=\"2em\" subhead_font=\"Noto Sans||||||||\" subhead_text_align=\"center\" subhead_text_color=\"#ffffff\" subhead_font_size=\"33px\" subhead_line_height=\"2em\" background_color=\"rgba(255,255,255,0)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MCC-Multicultural-Day-Celebration-Mike-Kovaliv-Photographer.jpg\" parallax=\"on\" parallax_method=\"on\" custom_button_one=\"on\" button_one_text_size=\"17px\" button_one_text_color=\"#ffffff\" button_one_bg_color=\"#ff6b5a\" button_one_border_width=\"7px\" button_one_border_color=\"#ff6b5a\" button_one_border_radius=\"100px\" button_one_font=\"Noto Sans|700||on|||||\" button_one_use_icon=\"off\" custom_margin=\"|||\" custom_padding=\"110px||110px||true\" custom_padding_tablet=\"100px|||\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" animation_style=\"fade\" animation_direction=\"top\" title_font_size_tablet=\"40px\" title_font_size_phone=\"\" title_font_size_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" subhead_font_size_tablet=\"\" subhead_font_size_phone=\"20px\" subhead_font_size_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" subhead_line_height_tablet=\"\" subhead_line_height_phone=\"1.5em\" subhead_line_height_last_edited=\"on|phone\" title_text_shadow_style=\"preset5\" title_text_shadow_color=\"#000000\" subhead_text_shadow_style=\"preset5\" subhead_text_shadow_horizontal_length=\"0.12em\" subhead_text_shadow_vertical_length=\"0.09em\" subhead_text_shadow_color=\"#000000\" button_one_text_color_hover=\"#ffffff\" button_one_border_color_hover=\"#ff9e59\" button_one_border_radius_hover=\"100px\" button_one_bg_color_hover=\"#ff9e59\" button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=\"on\" button_one_text_color__hover=\"#ffffff\" button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=\"on\" button_one_border_color__hover=\"#ff9e59\" button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=\"on\" button_one_border_radius__hover=\"100px\" button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=\"off\" button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=\"on\" button_one_bg_color__hover=\"#ff9e59\" button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=\"off\"][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"3.22\" custom_padding=\"100px|0px|100px|0px|true|false\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"2_5,3_5\" _builder_version=\"4.2.2\" custom_padding=\"|11px||||\"][et_pb_column type=\"2_5\" _builder_version=\"4.2.2\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-01-28-at-2.17.34-PM-e1612475517679.png\" _builder_version=\"4.2.2\" max_width=\"60%\" module_alignment=\"center\"][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\"3_5\" _builder_version=\"4.2.2\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.2.2\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]\n
Windsor: Our Diversity is Our Strength<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n \n\nBy City of Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens | <\/span>March 22nd<\/span><\/i>, 2021\n\nOne of the great honours for me as Mayor is representing individuals and families from a wide range of cultures and nationalities. Windsor\u2019s close proximity to the United States, low cost of living, prosperous economy, abundant natural areas, warm weather and friendly residents have all combined to make it a destination of choice for people from around the world. <\/span>\n\nMore than 25% of Windsor\u2019s population was born outside of Canada, making it one of the most diverse cities in Canada. That means about one in four residents in our community has left loved ones and a familiar way of life to take a chance on the many opportunities for economic and personal growth that our city has to offer.<\/span><\/span>\n\n $\"Quote$ If you are one of these residents, you have my utmost gratitude. I wholeheartedly welcome and applaud your courage and determination to seek a better life for yourself and your family in our community.<\/span>\n<\/span><\/span>\n\nImmigrants to Windsor have consistently proven they have the skills, knowledge, grit and resourcefulness we need to keep our city and country moving forward. That is one of the reasons we proudly opened our doors to more than a thousand Syrian refugees in 2015.<\/span>\n\nIt is why our institutions of higher education increased recruitment efforts, multiplying the number of international students attending our College and University from a few hundred a decade ago to thousands in 2020. Windsor has historically stood out as a sanctuary for those seeking a better way of life. It was the first stop along the Underground Railroad where fugitive enslaved Americans finally found freedom. <\/span><\/span>We have a long history of embracing residents and visitors from all faiths, ethnicities, nationalities and cultural backgrounds.<\/span><\/span>\n\nThe Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County (MCC) has been at the forefront of helping us live up to our reputation as a welcoming community. For nearly 50 years, the MCC has led efforts to make all those who join our community feel like they belong and have a fair chance to thrive. From providing professional interpretation and translation services, English classes, orientation and settlement assistance, this small, non-profit organization plays an outsized role in building a solid foundation for newcomers to succeed. <\/span><\/span>\n\nIn addition to offering these important services to individuals and families, the MCC works hard to cultivate inclusion and help us better appreciate the values of diversity. Each year it hosts a number of community events that pay tribute to the cultures and people that make Windsor special, while promoting understanding and harmony. <\/span><\/span>\n\n $\"\"$ Key among these is the popular Carrousel of the Nations, an award-winning and much-anticipated summertime festival featuring global villages that celebrate unique foods, music, dancing and customs from around the world. Generations of residents and visitors have made countless happy memories and established strong social bonds across cultures over the 45-year history of this Windsor tradition. <\/span><\/span>\n\nWhile the COVID-19 pandemic derailed plans for the regularly scheduled program this year, the MCC quickly adapted the festivities to an online format so that residents could enjoy the lively performances, and even taste international flavours thanks to takeout and delivery services, from the comfort and safety of their homes. Other MCC-supported initiatives, like the Children\u2019s Art Exchange which features creative works by youngsters from our Twin Cities abroad, also took on a digital format to keep the spirit of multiculturalism alive.<\/span>\n\n I look forward to being able to gather safely in person once again to enjoy and celebrate one another\u2019s company and cultures. Until then, I thank the MCC for launching this new community blog initiative to help us stay connected and informed during these challenging times so that we can continue to do our best to stay well, stay home and stay safe.<\/span>\n\n \n\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]","_et_gb_content_width":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10944"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10944"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10944\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12380,"href":"https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10944\/revisions\/12380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themcc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}