It’s hard to find anywhere else in Calgary, where over a dozen nations can come together in solidarity and in common purpose to celebrate their cultures, than at the annual The Immigrant Education Society (TIES) fashion show.
In its sixth year, the fashion show has become an integral part of the annual TIES Multicultural Festival, which showcases multiculturalism within Canada’s third most diverse city.
This year, 16 different nations represented by the students and instructors from the TIES Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program walked the red carpet to show off their traditional and sometimes non-traditional cultural wear.
“Because often they don’t have that language to express, it’s just another way to express themselves. They do come from very rich cultures in terms of food and dress—look at all the embroidery, the extra jewelry, right?” said Patrica Len, a LINC instructor with TIES.
“They have so much to show and give, and they almost feel like they don’t have a chance to do that unless it’s at a community event or a festival like this. So if we wouldn’t have festivals like this, it would be hard. Where else would they go and do that?”
She said that common shared humanity through the sharing of dress connected students in a way that few other cultural activities could or can.
“We also do a lot of potluck parties where we bring food. But sometimes the food, somebody can’t have that food. They don’t eat meat, or they’re vegetarian, or they’re halal. It’s great to have the different foods to try, but not everybody can try a food. Whereas the fashion show, you’re representing the clothes, and everybody can look and see the difference,” said Len.
“Wearing an outfit which makes you more likely to come up to someone, ‘where’s that country? That’s beautiful.’ And get that kind of connection going.”
Sally Zhao, CEO of TIES said that the fashion show and the festival were a great way for people to learn more about each other.
“Our students are from more than 80 different countries, so you can imagine how diverse it is. This is a tangible way for people to see the beauty of diversity. We often talk about how beautiful it is to be diverse, right? But this very tangible way to see the beauty through clothing,” she said.
TIES has staff and students from nearly half of the 195 recognized nations by the United Nations, and Zhao said that although the fashion show represented just a fraction of that number, giving people a taste of that diversity was important.
Nations like Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Colombia, Ethiopia, Egypt, China, Nigeria, Ukraine, Myanmar, Lebanon, and Colombia had people walk the red carpet, among many other cultures.
The festival also included participation from seven different civic partners and numerous graduates from TIES’ entrepreneurial program as part of their festival marketplace.
Zhao said the importance of the festival to TIES and participants has increased in response to the anti-immigrant sentiment that has grown in Canada.
“This is even more important time-wise, and to show we are stronger together and only when everybody thrives. If anyone falls behind, that is a negative impact on the whole society and everybody’s contribution to the economy and to the cohesiveness of the society,” she said.
