Ambassador of Colombia visits Aylmer’s first Latin Festival
Greg Newing
Around 1,400 visitors to Parc Commémoratif enjoyed a weekend full of Latin American dance, music and other arts at Aylmer’s first HOLA Fiesta Latina festival on May 6 and 7. The event was organized to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Héritage Colombien – a local organization that promotes Colombian arts, culture and Spanish learning. The festival featured a diverse range of traditional dance from across Colombia and Mexico, along with workshops and live music.
“We organized this festival to share our culture with the community. Héritage Colombien is based in Aylmer and promotes dance, art, music and the Spanish language. Visitors can see all of that in one place at today’s festival which we are hosting in Aylmer for the first time,” said Milena Casas, Founder and Director of Héritage Colombien.
In a show of support, Colombia’s Ambassador to Canada, Carlos Arturo Morales, attended the event on Sunday. In his remarks he expressed his appreciation to Héritage Colombien for sharing the richness and diversity of Colombian culture.
Visitors to the festival were also invited to participate in painting a large, colourful, mural inspired by Colombia’s Nariño region. The completed mural was unveiled at the end of the festival and will be permanently placed on the outside wall of Bistro Mexicana next to Parc Commémoratif. “You have illuminated and brought life to our streets and have created the first Colombian mural in the City of Gatineau. The Latin American community is here and we can’t forget that,” said Ms. Casas, thanking local artist Claudia Salguero who led the mural workshop. Chef and co-owner of Bistro Mexicana Kevin Clement was also present at the event and shared his appreciation for the mural, “It warms my heart to put this on display, I am going to take care of it as a treasure. We are here to help and here to cherish your community.”
For those interested to support future activities like HOLA Fiesta Latina, Héritage Colombien has launched a Go Fund Me fundraiser campaign at https://gofund.me/ee4cc800. For more information about Héritage Colombien and their upcoming events and activities, visit www.heritagecolombien.com or the organization’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Image 1
Héritage Colombien dance group with founder Milena Casas (front centre) at Hola! Fiesta Latin, May 6 – 7. Photo credit: Greg Newing
Image 2
Traditional Colombian dance (Héritage Colombien founder Milena Casas, right).
Photo credit: Greg Newing.
Image 3
Children painting community mural featuring Colombia’s Nariño province.
Photo credit: Greg Newing
Image 4
Visitors to the festival enjoy mural painting workshops.
Photo credit: Greg Newing
Image 5
Dancer from the Mexican Aztlan Ballet.
Photo credit: Alana Repstock.
Image 6
Dancers from the Héritage Colombien dance group.
Photo credit: Greg Newing
Image 7
Traditional dance inspired by Afro-Colombian culture .
Photo credit: Greg Newing.
Image 8
Colombian Ambassador Carlos Arturo Morales (right) with Director of Héritage Colombien Milena Cases (second from right), dancer Sofia Cely Casas (centre), Colombian Consul Lina Cuellar (second from left), and mural artist Claudia Salguero (left).
Photo credit: Héritage Colombien.
Image 9
Community mural inspired by Colombia’s Nariño region. The mural will be placed on the outer wall of Bistro Mexicana on rue Principale.
Photo credit: Héritage Colombien.
